In a trial in February, the Claimant not only claimed compensation for her injuries, but also for her injuries causing her financial and IT consultancy firm to go into administration to which she was a 50% shareholder. The Surrey business woman calculated her loss to be at £54 million – a figure she wished to claim a proportion of due to her injuries.
The Judge commented that the Claimant was a highly successful business woman who, prior to the surgery, was confident, happy, and outgoing. He commented that the repercussions of the surgery had affected all areas of her life, including her marriage. He stated that some of the reward also reflected her possible future loss of earnings taking into account her psychiatric symptoms and loss of confidence as a result of the accident; especially when conducting business face to face.
Within the compensation, the judge also made allowance for the cost of reconstructive surgery to the Claimant’s face estimated at £80,000.
Although this news story is uncommon in terms of the high amount of compensation awarded, it does serve to make readers aware of the potentially devastating effects of having surgery carried out negligently. Not only this, but the story also highlights the different items of loss which can be claimed for in the event you do make a Clinical Negligence or Personal Injury Claim. It seems that the majority of this Claimant’s compensation was made up of past and future loss of earnings. This is a loss which anyone may be able to claim for if they have suffered injury due to the negligence of another, and as a result, were absent from work unpaid or receiving a reduced pay, such as SSP.
Any treatment received in the past or needed in the future that is coming at a cost to you will also be an item of loss which can be claimed back.