Posted: September 24th, 2020
At the High Court a car crash compensation settlement agreement has been approved by Justice Kevin Cross as a result of a woman involved being left in a paralysed condition following a road traffic collision that occurred in 2016.
Sally Crossan, native of Lifford was involved in a crash with another car when she sustain life changing injuries in what was termed a “ferocious collision”. The judge was informed that she no longer has any control of her four limbs and she had to remain in hospital for for 19 months following the incident in question.
For Mrs Crossan in court, Liam Reidy SC, Richard Lyons SC and solicitor Pat McMyler said that she was driving just outside of Lifford towards Letterkenny when the crash occurred. She had just dropped her son to school. She was stuck in the crash vehicle until firemen were able to cut her out safely some 35 minutes later.
It was relayed to Justice Cross that Ms Crossan’s brain injuries were recognised as ‘significant’ quite soon after the accident but it was not until 18 months after the accident that it was seen that she was suffering with locked-in syndrome. Her cognitive state remains in tact and she can communicate using words.
Due to the events surrounded the road traffic accident, a compensation claim was submitted against the driver of the other car involved – Christine Henry, Greenhills, Manorcunningham – and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI).
The allegations against Ms Henry included that she had not been driving her car safely while maintaining a proper lookout for with other road users. The action against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland was in relation to a large amount of oil that was discovered on the road where the accident occurred.
There had been no agreement in relation to liability in the case, a source of distress for Mr Crossan’s family according to Justice Cross. Mrs Crossan has been been absolves of any liability, however. However, today the court was told that the two actions have been consolidated and a settlement agreement has now been reached.
John Crossan, Sally’s husband has been providing care for his wife since the accident. He has given up his full time job to do so and he also settled a separate compensation action.
Both road traffic compensation settlements are not being made public. Justice Cross praised John Crossan on the care that he has been giving his wife since the accident occurred.
Categories: Road Traffic Accidents
