Ayr solicitors help injured bus passenger recover after crash

Our client was on a bus with his friends when the driver took a corner too fast and the bus left the road and ended up in a field.

“We’d been picked up from our village and had another person to collect. The bus driver was going faster than he should’ve been. People were screaming ironically as a wind up but then the screams became more worried. The next thing I remember was waking up and seeing my friends faces covered in blood.”

When the bus left the road, our client had been thrown to the other side of the bus.

“There was glass everywhere - me and my friends managed to get out through the front windscreen and we just waited for someone to come. I think I was the first person to be taken away in the ambulance as the paramedics thought I had concussion.”

Our client obtained minor physical injuries but the accident left him traumatised.

“The physical injuries weren’t as significant as the emotional ones. The emotional injuries were horrible.”

It took him almost two years before he could even face contacting a solicitor.

“At first I wasn’t going to do anything, it wasn’t about the money. I just wanted something positive to come out of it.

“My mum’s friend recommended Digby Brown so we got in touch –  we liked that if we didn’t win we wouldn’t have to pay anything.”

His case was passed to Damian White, Partner in our Ayr office, who arranged for Compensate funding, similar to No Win No Fee, which covered all the expenses.

“Damian was superb, I emailed quite a lot and he would always get back to me quickly. He explained everything so I knew exactly what was going on at all times.”

After obtaining expert medical reports, it became clear that our client was suffering from PTSD after the accident. Damian arranged for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions to help him deal with the mental impact of the accident.

“It wasn’t all about just getting the case over and done with. The CBT was put in place because it was right for me. It wasn’t easy reliving what happened but it helped me deal with it all and move forward.

“Damian wanted me to get what I deserved which was to get better. It made such a difference to my recovery.”

In the end, Damian secured a significant four-figure sum for our client.

“I was ecstatic when the final offer came in. I knew some of the other people in the crash who had been with other firms but hadn’t got as much as I did. On top of that, I had the CBT treatment which helped me get over what happened. It didn’t just help with the crash, I use it a lot in everyday life.

“I would tell anyone who finds themselves in my position just to do it. Get in touch with Digby Brown - you’ve got nothing to lose.”