Car Accident Victim Wins Damages Claim

A young woman who suffered life-changing injuries in a car crash has had her compensation settlement approved by the High Court.

Georgina Cotterill, then 20, was being driven back from Bournemouth beach by a friend, Jennifer Tilley, the morning after the two had spent the night sleeping in Miss Tilley’s car. Miss Tilley lost control of her vehicle on the road between Ringwood and Fordingbridge and hit an oncoming car.

Miss Tilley was killed in the accident and Miss Cotterill suffered a traumatic brain injury. She was in a coma for two weeks and has been left with impaired cognitive function, recurring headaches and behavioural problems.

When Miss Cotterill brought a claim against Miss Tilley’s estate, the insurance company agreed that some blame could be attached to Miss Tilley but argued that Miss Cotterill must bear some of the responsibility for what had happened to her as she had consented to being a passenger in the vehicle when she should have known that Miss Tilley’s ability to drive was impaired.

Judge William Birtles found the allegations of contributory negligence on Miss Cotterill’s part ‘absolutely baffling’ and agreed, in principle, the settlement of her claim. The undisclosed amount includes a lump sum and index-linked annual periodical payments to cover the cost of her care and rehabilitation.