£46,224 awarded for PTSD following aircraft accident | Case Study

Solicitors secured £46,224 in compensation for a 40 year-old man suffering post-traumatic stress disorder following an aeroplane accident nine years earlier.

Injury details

The claimant and his wife were motoring down the M1 near Kegworth when a British Midland Airways Beoing 737 crashed landed on the embankment at the side of the M1 close to their car.

The claimant put his own feelings to one side and rushed to help the passengers of the aircraft with no thought for his own safety. He was the first person at the crash site and spent more than 3 hours assisting the emergency service workers to move passengers out of the aircraft and providing first aid where possible.

As a result of the incident and the traumatic events he had witnessed, the claimant suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. He re-lived the events on a regular basis, suffered from recollections causing him to lose interest in life generally. The recollections disturbed his sleep making him irritable and aggressive. He found it difficult to concentrate and he suffered from guilt and attacks of sweating and dizziness.

For some time after the incident, the claimant refused to believe that he had a problem, he became emotionally withdrawn and his relationships with others suffered as a result. He was unable to apply himself to his work and as a result he lost his sales job 2 years after the accident .

He was able to find another job but this entailed a lot of motorway travelling. Whilst travelling he witnessed another incident, this time a multiple car accident on the motorway pile up and this event made him realise that he was suffering from PTSD and needed treatment.

The claimant was successfully treated for PTSD as an outpatient and through a period of residential care.

Allegation

It was alleged that the airline were liable under applicable law as the failed landing was the cause of the claimant's injury.

The claimant was in fear of his life, witnessed death and traumatic injuries and suffered physical and psychological injuries.

Conclusion and settlement

Liability was not admitted and the matter progressed to a Court hearing.

Compensation of £17,000 was awarded by the Court for "pain, suffering and loss of amenity."

The remainder of the compensation was made up of loss of earnings and medical costs.

Aircraft accident compensation claim