£6 million payout for crash girl
A "DELIGHTFUL and happy" 11-year-old girl who suffered "catastrophic" injuries in a motorway smash at Walshford won almost £6m compensation on Tuesday. Jade Robinson was just over two years old and strapped into a child seat in the family car when it was hit from behind by a van driver from Leeds on the M1 near Wetherby, on November 2 1997.
Her counsel, Richard Davies QC, said that despite her catastrophic brain injuries, she remained a "delightful and happy" child, largely due to the "extraordinary courage and fortitude" of her parents, John and Sharon, who both work for the Prison Service.
Mr and Mrs Robinson, and their son, Sean were also injured when the family car spun out of control and struck the central reservation. But Jade was by far the most gravely wounded, Mr Davies told London's High Court.
After the collision, Jade's injuries were so serious her parents feared she would not survive. But she improved after emergency treatment at Harrogate Hospital and, three weeks later, was able to move to a hospital near the family home in Norfolk.
Through her mother, Jade sued the insurers of Alan Wray, the Leeds van driver involved in the crash. Mr Davies told the court Mr Wray had admitted liability at an early stage and his insurers agreed to settle her claim for 5,750,000.
Describing her disabilities as "multi-faceted", Mr Davies said they "added up to a very dire picture".
As well as having the learning age of a three-year-old, Mr Davies said Jade can only stagger a few yards without falling.
She is completely deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other and also has problems with her vision. Although her family can understand her, "a stranger would not find it that easy", he said.
She also suffers from epilepsy and is stricken by occasional "absences".
Describing Jade as "by and large a happy girl", the QC added that she would require "24-hour support throughout the remainder of her life".
Jade's solicitor, Tom Cook, said after the settlement: "It's only too easy to imagine the devastating effect the accident has had on Jade and her family."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Ripon
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 9 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
