Personal injury news

Brain-damaged woman receives personal
injury compensation

A woman who was left with permanent brain damage after being hit by a car while crossing the road in Los Angeles has been awarded a multi-million pound personal injury compensation package.

19-year-old Alice Mowatt of South Nutfield, Surrey, was on the last day of her holiday in September 2002, and almost died as a result of the road traffic accident. Doctors were forced to induce a coma to control the swelling in her brain and she was even given her last rites.

Against all the odds, she pulled through but was left with brain damage which affected her memory, her senses of smell and taste, as well as her cognitive functions.

Her personal injury compensation claim was made against the city of Los Angeles, which was responsible for the pedestrian crossing where the car accident happened. She alleged that authorities knew the crossing was dangerous yet did nothing about it.

A jury at Los Angeles County Court agreed with Miss Mowatt and she was awarded a settlement worth £6.8million. Authorities are planning to appeal against the judgement.