Russell, cannot remember how he sustained his head injuryin December 2001. It has affected his life significantly and he can no longer return to his pre-accident job as a television producer and cameraman.
His head injurycaused damage to his eyesight, the loss of his sense of smell and balance mechanism, difficulties with his memory, concentration, organisation, planning, prioritisation, his self confidence and the ability to multi-task. He has an enhanced risk of epilepsy and has trouble sleeping.
Russell was crossing a busy, four lane road in central London and was almost across when a jeep hit him. The driver did not stop and swerved across the lanes to escape from the scene of the accident. Other drivers who saw what happened followed and stopped the driver.
Russell was unconscious and taken to a London hospital by air ambulance. He had a CT scan showed he had suffered a brain haemorrhage. He stayed in hospital for three months, had short term memory loss and he was confused and experienced paranoid delusions. He was left with severe bladder problems and needed surgery.
The firm's specialist head injury team handled a claim for damages against the driver's insurers for Russell. Originally liability was denied for over a year by the defendants, who then accepted 85% liability for the accident claiming that because Russell was running across the road he should be held 15% contributory negligent. This point was vigorously disputed and was eventually settled at 92.5% in Russell's favour.
The firm secured interim payments totalling £50,000 for Russell to help him deal with the expenses that he had incurred as a result of the incident.
Joint experts were instructed in neurology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, audiologicial medicine, urology and employment to determine the value of his claim which settled for £200,000 just weeks before trial.
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All the staff I have spoken to at Alexander Harris have been polite and have made details very clear and easy to understand. Alexander Harris are a very professional and approachable business: Debbie, Bucks
