Posted: November 28th, 2015
A teenager, who successfully made a claim for compensation for injuries she sustained in a traffic accident when she was just six years old against her mother, has received a €1.3 million compensation settlement.
The accident occurred on the 26th November 2005, when Beth Cullen – then aged just six years old, from Wicklow – was travelling as a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Caroline Barrett, along the infamous Nine Bends, part of the N11. As a result of the accident, beth became blind in her left eye, deaf in her left ear, and lost her sense of smell.
William Cullen, Beth’s father, proceeded to make a claim for compensation on his daughter’s behalf against Ms Barrett. In the claim, he alleged that – as well as not having enough regard for their daughter’s safety – Ms Barrett could not adequately steer, stop or manoeuvre the family car that she had been driving. As such, she caused the crash which resulted in Beth’s serious injuries.
Ms Barrett’s insurance company conceded liability for the accident, and the parties proceeded to negotiate a compensation settlement for Beth. When the sum – €1.3 million – was agreed upon, the case proceeded to the High Court. As the claim was made on behalf of a minor, a judge had to approve the settlement before it could be awarded.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross oversaw proceedings in the High Court earlier this month. After hearing the circumstances of the case, and details of how Beth was managing to do well in school in spite of her obvious difficulties, Judge Cross approved the settlement for car crash compensation, wishing Beth well for the future.
Categories: Car Accidents
