Multiple personal injury claim after serious collision in Guildford

On 23 October 2015, a mother and daughter were shopping in Guildford Town Centre. As they walked towards the Friary Centre, an elderly driver mounted the pavement and was involved in a serious collision. A number of people were injured.

The mother and daughter both suffered physical and psychological injuries. The incident also had a significant psychological impact on the father and husband, who was at the scene of the collision.

Our lawyers acted for the three family members affected by the collision. We pursued personal injury claims for the mother and daughter for the physical and psychological injuries they had suffered.

The father’s circumstances were different. Although he had not suffered a physical injury, he suffered psychological injuries after witnessing the collision involving his wife and daughter. His claim therefore involved a specific and more complex area of personal injury law.

For the father’s claim to succeed, a number of legal tests needed to be established.

First, he needed to demonstrate a close tie of love and affection with the people who had been injured or endangered. In this case, they were his wife and daughter.

He also needed to have been sufficiently close to the incident in both time and place. This requirement was met because he was at the scene of the accident.

Finally, it was necessary to show that he had suffered a psychiatric injury as a result of directly seeing or hearing the accident or its immediate aftermath. The father experienced nightmares and flashbacks for a number of months following the collision.

Our lawyers secured compensation for the mother and daughter as part of their personal injury claims against the driver. We also secured compensation for the father for the psychological injuries he suffered.

The case demonstrates how the consequences of a serious road traffic collision can extend beyond physical injuries. It also shows the additional legal requirements that can apply when someone suffers psychological injury after witnessing a serious accident involving close family members.