Man Left Paralysed After Car Crash Secures £8.35m Care Package
12/01/2010
A man from Wakefield whose life was torn apart when he was left paralysed from the neck down following a car crash has been awarded a long-term care package worth more than £8m.
Lukasz Borowski, now 27, living in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was awarded the settlement at a Newcastle High Court hearing after a crash in 2005 left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound for life.
The £8.35m settlement was secured by leading lawyer John Davis from Irwin Mitchell. Mr Davis said the settlement was calculated carefully to reflect the huge impact the crash had on Mr Borowski's life and will provide for his long-term care needs.
Mr Davis said the settlement was valued at nearly £10.5m in total but Mr Borowski accepted a 20% reduction as he was not wearing a seatbelt.
Mr Davis added: "Mr Borowski's life was changed forever in an instant, as a result of a crash that was not his fault. He will be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life but cannot move himself and needs help with almost all aspects of daily life – he’ll never work again.
"His spinal injury is severe and he has been left with permanent paralysis – he has no effective movements or skin sensation below the shoulders."
Mr Borowski was travelling in the back of a colleague's car as they travelled along Whittlesey Road in March, Cambridgeshire in November 2005, on their way to work at fruit and vegetable producer, MBM.
The driver lost control of the car and crashed into a deep ditch at the side of the road. It emerged that the driver was not insured and she was convicted of related offences in May 2006.
Mr Borowski sustained spinal cord damage and a fractured spine. He was also left brain damaged when the broken vertebrae blocked the supply of oxygen to his brain.
Mr Davis added: "This case underlines the devastating impact that careless road users can have. They are not only risking their own lives but can have a shattering effect on the lives of others, too.
"Mr Borowski's injuries are not just physical. He shows signs of a changed personality, suffers memory problems, attention deficit and a lack of concentration. He is bright and intelligent, and can be charming and considerate, but also suffers from rapid mood swings.
"At Irwin Mitchell we go into every case fighting to get the very best results for our clients – this money will go towards ensuring he is given the best possible care. It will never compensate for what has happened but will allow Mr Borowski to live his life as fully as possible.
"The sum was calculated carefully with the assistance of a team of healthcare experts to reflect accurately what Mr Borowski will need to keep him as well cared-for, secure and comfortable as possible for the rest of his life."
The settlement was reached with the Motor Insurer' Bureau, which protects the injured victims of uninsured drivers.
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