Compensation claim news
14/09/2007

Woman with "magnificent intellect" loses motorcycle accident claim

A West Midlands woman who made a personal injury compensation claim for £10 million after alleging that a motorcycle accident ruined her "magnificent intellect" has been awarded only £1.1 million.

The 40-year-old Dutch-born woman suffered head injuries when she was involved in a road accident whilst riding pillion on a scooter in London in 2000 and subsequently contacted a personal injury solicitor to make an accident claim.

She claimed that her IQ, which she described as in the "very superior range" had been affected by the motorcycle accident and that her earning potential had therefore been reduced.

Insurers contested her claim, however, and pointed out the fact that after the road accident she was still working as a high-level manager for a leading telecommunications company and earning in excess of £100,000 a year.

The woman refused to accept the initial damages offered by the insurers and took her case to the High Court, insisting that she would have been able to earn more than £140,000 a year if the motorcycle accident had not occurred.

A judge refused to accept the West Midlands woman's claims and instead ordered her to receive personal injury compensation of just £1.1 million. Because the woman decided against using the services of a no win, no fee solicitor, she is now facing having to use some of her injury compensation to pay legal costs of £150,000.