Personal injury news

Pensioner considers personal injury claim
after bus accident

A woman is considering consulting personal injury solicitors after suffering a serious head injury whilst travelling on a bus.

Barbara Botten was returning home from a shopping trip to Bluewater in Kent when the driver slammed on the brakes, sending her flying from her side-facing seat and causing her to strike her head on a rail.

The 77-year-old was left with a 15-inch flap of skin hanging from her skull and blood pouring from the wound. A female bus passenger tried to stem the bleeding and comforted Mrs Botten until paramedics arrived.

She was taken to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford where doctors were forced to put 200 stitches into the head wound. She lost two pints of blood and remained in the hospital for four days before being allowed home.

Her husband, 84-year-old Bill, said, "She looked awful in the hospital. I thought I was hardy, I saw men in the war with no arms or legs but this is different, this is my wife.

"Apparently the driver hit the breaks so hard the bus almost ended up on its nose. Barbara was covered in blood, it was all over her hair and dress.

"Drivers need to remember they are serving the public, not driving around a load of animals."

The Bottens, who have been married for 55 years, are discussing the possibility of approaching a personal injury solicitor to help them make a compensation claim against the bus company.