Disabled woman gets £8.5m payout

8.34.28am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Mar 2007

A woman in need of 24-hour care since being knocked down while using a pedestrian crossing has been awarded £8.5m compensation. Leanne Evans, 22, of Erdington, Birmingham, was 13 when she suffered a serious brain injury as a result of being struck by the car. She now relies on a wheelchair, has severe memory trouble and needs eight carers to look after her.

The payment was awarded by the High Court in London. Her solicitor, Richard Langton, of Russell Jones and Walker, said the compensation was one of the largest ever given to anyone because of personal injury but her case had been exceptional.

"She was an extremely bright girl with an equally bright future in front of her," he said. "The fact she happened to be crossing the road at that proper place on that day in April nine years ago has resulted in her life being turned upside down. "She deserves as much help as possible to allow her to live as normal a life as she can."

Her father, Ivor Evans, said the money would be used to help pay for the constant medical care she needs and also to give her a chance to go out like other people her age. He and his wife, Sandra, have given up work to look after her and have moved to a new house which has been specially adapted for her needs.

The money will be administered by the Court of Protection throughout the rest of her life. Mr Langton said the car driver involved was convicted of careless driving and given a £75 fine.