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Woman secures a 7 figure settlement following a car accident
A woman has been awarded £1.6 million in compensation following a car accident which left her with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and in constant pain.
The woman’s insurance company had incorrectly valued her claim at around £25,000. However, a year after the accident, she instructed specialist solicitors, who were able to evaluate how her symptoms had fully impacted her, how her life had changed since the accident and how she would be affected from her injuries in the future.
The woman’s employer was also refunded sick pay worth more than £47,000, while £14,000 of benefits plus NHS charges were refunded to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a poorly understood condition in which a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain.
Although most cases of CRPS are triggered by an injury, the resulting pain is much more severe and long-lasting than normal.
The pain is usually confined to one limb, but it can sometimes spread to other parts of the body
The skin of the affected body part can become so sensitive that just a slight touch, bump or even a change in temperature can provoke intense pain.
Affected areas can also become swollen, stiff or undergo fluctuating changes in colour or temperature.
Many cases of CRPS gradually improve to some degree over time. However, some cases of CRPS never go away, and the affected person will experience pain for many years.
Treatment for CRPS involves four main aspects:
- Education and self-management – being given clear information about your condition and advice on any steps you can take to help manage your condition yourself;
- Physical rehabilitation - treatment to help manage your symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term physical problems, such as physiotherapy exercises;
- Pain relief - treatments to help reduce your pain, such as anticonvulsants or antidepressants;
- psychological support – interventions to help you cope with the emotional impact of living with CRPS, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Since the accident, the injured woman has experienced constant pain in her right arm which will never be fully relieved. The pain has spread to her upper back and left arm. As a result, she relies heavily on pain medication and has been left unable to work, with future employment prospects remaining limited. She suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), meaning she has significant anxiety about car travel and needed to have driving lessons and an adapted car to enable her to return to driving short distances.
Johnathan Steventon-Kiy, specialist personal injury lawyer, says:
“As this success story demonstrates, it is hugely important that specialist solicitors are instructed to pursue these types of cases. Had this woman received £25,000, she would have under settled her case and would not have received the compensation she needed to finance her life with the injuries she has.”
Contact our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 413 463 or visit www.biscoes-law.co.uk for more information. You can also follow us on twitter using the handle @biscoesmedneg