A man who was badly injured in a collision with a bus more than a decade ago has been awarded millions in compensation after a judge deemed him incapable of independent living.
As the Huddersfield Examiner reports, the man, who was aged just 11 when the bus hit him in 2001, has been embroiled in a life of crime and drug and alcohol abuse, said to be a result of catastrophic head injuries.
However, it’s hoped that the compensation package will help him stay out of trouble with the police, with top judge Mr Justice Kenneth Parker dictating that the amount will need to be substantial enough to allow the man to have 24-hour care for the rest of his life.
The decision was made after hearing how the man, now in his early 20s, has endured a number of unsuccessful stints in various institutions in the years since the accident. One of these included compulsory detainment in a mental hospital, where it became obvious that he suffered from “a severe personality disorder”.
Insurers for the bus company accepted 70% liability for the accident – but hotly disputed the amount of damages due to the man.
The judge, however, ruled that his need for 24-hour personalised care arose directly from the brain damage he suffered in the collision.
Given that the man was prone to homesickness, Judge Parker also ruled that he would be able to live for at least part of the time in his own home, close to his family in Halifax.
The man was awarded £140,000 for his pain and suffering, with the total compensation amount expected to run into several million pounds over his lifetime.
