Head injury news
15/12/2009

Former boy band star settles car accident compensation claim

A man from Ireland who suffered life changing brain injury and multiple personal injuries as a passenger in a car crash in 2004 is to receive car accident compensation of £3 million in an out-of-court settlement.

The case was due to be heard In Belfast's High Court because the driver of the car was from Omagh, County Tyrone, but was settled by insurers' for the defendant who admitted liability.

The 26-year-old car accident victim had been embarking on a pop career with an Irish boy band and had already played supporting spots for major bands at the time of the accident.

He was returning from Scotland with other band members when the car he was a rear seat passenger in collided with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist and the driver's five-year old son, died in the incident.

The former singer, who had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was in a coma for several weeks and suffered severe head injury.

He is no longer able to sing as he was required to have a tracheotomy in the course of his emergency treatment. He continues to suffer from the physical and psychological trauma of his injuries and experts suggest there is unlikely to be significant change that would enable him to return to full-time work.

The claimant's personal injury solicitor said the amount of car accident compensation "reflects the severity of the injuries and [my client's] future needs for health care and support".