Personal injury news

Car accident victim finally wins right to pursue
personal injury claim

A Nottinghamshire man who was seriously hurt in a car crash in Thailand has won the right to appeal after his personal injury claim for compensation was dismissed five years ago.

Peter Smith suffered head injuries and two badly broken legs in a horrific road smash in Korat that left his driver and two other people dead. He has not been able to work since and doctors have told him he may never walk again.

Describing the car accident, he said, "Luckily an ambulance came along shortly after the accident, otherwise I would have bled to death because my femur was sticking out of my leg."

The 50-year-old former electrical engineer originally brought his compensation claim against Kvaerner Cementation Foundations (KCF), the firm for who he was working at the time of the road accident. However, the case was thrown out of court in 2001 when KCF's regional manager denied giving the driver of the car permission to use the vehicle, thereby excusing the company of any liability.

After five long years of battling, Mr Smith has finally won permission to have his personal injury claim heard again. The Court of Appeal in London found that his original hearing had not been conducted properly and so gave him the go-ahead to pursue the case once more.

Speaking after the decision, he said, "It has been a long time coming. I've been fighting for years to get the case heard again - most of it without legal representation."

Mr Smith has revealed he is now searching for a no win, no fee solicitor to help him pursue his personal injury claim.