Seven figure settlement recovered for a tourist

While visiting the UK, the client was involved in a serious hit‑and‑run collision involving a drunk driver. She was crossing the road in the early hours when a driver, who was found to be around twice over the alcohol limit – struck her and left the scene. She landed on her head and sustained a very severe brain injury, remaining in a coma for many weeks.

The consequences were life‑changing, she experienced significant cognitive difficulties, changes in her personality, weakness and sensory loss on one side of her body, visual impairment, and challenges with language. She also struggled with low mood and was unable to manage her finances independently.

Because she lived overseas, her recovery came with added pressures. She was receiving treatment far from home, and her family had to manage the shock and uncertainty from another country.

Tasks that once felt routine became difficult, and she needed support with thinking, memory, concentration and processing information. The effects of her brain injury also led to changes in her personality, emotional and behavioural challenges, physical limitations and visual loss. These injuries touched every part of her daily life and made it harder for her to manage independently.

Because she lives abroad, her family also had to navigate the added complexity of arranging care, treatment and financial protection in her home country. Coordinating support across borders and ensuring her long‑term needs were fully understood required specialist evidence and added pressure at an already difficult time.

Once the extent of her injuries became clear, senior associate Matthew Tuff began securing substantial interim payments – totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. These were vital in funding early rehabilitation and medical assistance, allowing her to access the right treatment straight away rather than waiting until the end of the case.

The case was not straightforward, throughout the claim, the defendant continued to argue contributory negligence, suggesting that the client was partly responsible for what happened. This added pressure for her family, who were already managing the impact of her injuries from overseas.

To build a clear picture of her long‑term needs, we obtained evidence from a rehabilitation consultant, neurologist, neuropsychologist, neuropsychiatrist and ophthalmologist. We also instructed specialists in her home country so we could properly understand the care, support and financial protection she would require once she returned home.

Court proceedings were issued in the High Court to protect her position while negotiations continued, ensuring her case kept moving at the right pace.

The rehabilitation funded through interim payments gave her access to a full multi‑disciplinary team, including neuropsychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and neuropsychiatry.

With strong determination, and the support of her family, she made considerable progress. The programme helped her manage cognitive difficulties, emotional changes and physical limitations, and provided structure at a time of significant uncertainty.

The final settlement reflects her lifelong care needs, the support she will continue to rely on, and the financial protection required because she lives abroad. It provides stability for her future and reassurance for her family.