May 15th, 2009
A girl who was left severely brain damaged after she was starved of oxygen has secured a compensation payout of £4.8 million.
Jodie Stock, now 19, was born at the Royal Free Hospital but her mother suffered a placental abruption in the hours leading up to her birth. However, doctors did not perform an emergency Caesarean section, the BBC reports.
Consequently, Jodie was left with learning difficulties, epilepsy and motor problems and will need care for the rest of her life.
Through her mother Janet Taylor, Jodie took legal action against the North Central Strategic Health Authority.
It admitted 80 per cent liability for the injuries Jodie sustained and agreed to a payout of a £1.45 million lump sum and £106,160 a year for the rest of her life.
The family’s solicitor said the compensation will give Jodie’s parents "peace of mind" that she will be adequately cared for after they are gone.
According to the Centre for Neuro Skills, over 1,000 children die or suffer permanent brain injury every year in the UK because of shortage of oxygen around the time of birth.
Tags: Bbc, Bbc Reports, Brain Injury, Caesarean Section, Doctors, Epilepsy, Janet Taylor, Learning Difficulties, Left Brain, Lump Sum, Mother Janet, Neuro Skills, Oxygen, Parents, Peace Of Mind, Placental Abruption, Solicitor, Strategic Health Authority, Time Of Birth
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May 11th, 2009
Compensation has been secured for a man who was left brain damaged after an accident at work.
The 39-year-old, who did not want to be named, was working for A&P Falmouth in 2004 when he was hit on the head by welding equipment while painting a ship, the Shields Gazette reports.
He now suffers deafness, memory loss and a lack of concentration, as well as epilepsy and headaches, as a result of the brain damage he sustained.
The victim – with the assistance of his mother – took legal action against A&P Falmouth and an out-of-court settlement has now been agreed via the company’s insurers.
"This money will help cover his daily living costs, now that he can no longer earn a wage," remarked his mother.
Employers must deal with any hazards that are likely to arise and might cause serious injury to their workforce.
A compensation claim can be made if it can be proved that employers breached this duty of care and that this resulted in accident or injury.
Payouts for brain injuries will usually be more substantial since they must cover the costs of the victim’s long-term care.
Tags: Accident Compensation, Amp, Brain Damage, Brain Injuries, Compensation Claim, Court Settlement, Duty Of Care, Epilepsy, Falmouth, Headaches, Lack Of Concentration, Left Brain, Long Term Care, Memory Loss, Money, Shields Gazette, Welding Equipment, Work Compensation, Workforce
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April 30th, 2009
A man who was left permanently brain damaged after hospital staff did not properly treat him for a head injury is to receive more than £1 million in compensation.
Joseph Neale, now 65, fell from a skip in summer 2002 and was taken to North Tyneside Hospital.
Although he was examined by staff, it was not noticed that Mr Neale had bleeding on the brain and he was placed on a general ward.
It was only when Mr Neale’s condition began to deteriorate overnight that he was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital for emergency treatment.
Unfortunately, it was too late to repair the injury and Mr Neale was left with permanent brain damage and now needs 24-hour care.
His daughter Helen Todd took legal action against Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which has now agreed to a seven-figure payout to cover Mr Neale’s care.
"It is incredibly distressing to see someone you love in that condition, but for it to have happened as a result of someone else’s errors makes it even more galling," she commented.
As with all compensation claims, the clinical negligence (including the misdiagnosis of a medical condition) must cause further injury, pain or suffering in order for the case to be successful and a payout to be made.
Tags: 1 Million, 1m, Bleeding On The Brain, Brain Damage, Clinical Negligence, Daughter Helen, Emergency Treatment, Foundation Trust, Head Injury, Helen Todd, Hospital Staff, Left Brain, Medical Condition, Misdiagnosis, Newcastle General Hospital, Nhs, North Tyneside Hospital, Northumbria, Suffering
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February 16th, 2009
A teenager is taking legal action against Disney after being left brain damaged by a heart attack she claims was caused by repeatedly riding the Tower of Terror ride.
According to the Daily Express, Leanne Deacon went on the thrill ride seven times during a family holiday in Orlando in 2005.
After the last ride, her heart stopped and she suffered a stroke which left her confined to a wheelchair and in need of constant care.
She is now seeking legal action through her mother June in a bid to claim over £10,000 from Disney, claiming that the company was negligent and did not provide the appropriate restraints for people on the ride.
Disney has declined to comment on the case.
Anyone injured in an accident at a theme park may be eligible to claim compensation if it can be proven that the owners or operators were at fault and should seek legal advice in order to investigate their options.
Tags: Constant Care, Daily Express, Disney, Family Holiday, Heart Attack, Leanne Deacon, Left Brain, Legal Advice, Restraints, Seven Times, Stroke, Suffering Heart, Teenager, Theme Park, Thrill Ride, Tower Of Terror, Wheelchair
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February 2nd, 2009
A child who developed cerebral palsy after his birth was poorly managed has been awarded compensation to cover care for the rest of his life.
Oscar Riches, now seven, was born at the Eastbourne District General Hospital, but delays in his birth left his brain starved of oxygen, the Press Association reports.
As a result, he now has little mobility, severe learning difficulties and epilepsy. He is not expected to live beyond his 20s.
His mother sued the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which admitted that the locum doctor who delivered Oscar was responsible, admitted that a Caesarean should have been performed immediately and agreed to a compensation payout.
Oscar will now receive a lump sum payout of £1.11 million, as well as annual payments for as long as he lives.
According to Scope, one in 400 children in the UK suffers from cerebral palsy. Around ten per cent of cerebral palsy compensation claims are due to complications at birth.
Tags: Cerebral Palsy, Child Birth, Child Brain, Clinical Negligence, Compensation Claims, District General Hospital, Doctor Who, East Sussex Hospitals Nhs Trust, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Epilepsy, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Learning Difficulties, Left Brain, Locum Doctor, Lump Sum Payout, Oscar, Oxygen, Scope, Sussex
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