When Danielle* left home with her baby for a short walk to the park, she had no reason to think her life was about to change forever. Days away from returning to her role in fundraising after maternity leave, she was looking forward to settling back into work while caring for her three children.
As she crossed a road, a driver – later convicted and imprisoned for dangerous driving and drink driving – swerved into the wrong lane while distracted by directions on his phone. Danielle immediately pushed the pram out of the car’s path, saving her baby’s life. A moment later, she was struck by the vehicle and thrown onto the road. The driver fled the scene.
Catastrophic injuries and a devastated family
Danielle suffered a life‑changing traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures and internal injuries, and spent weeks in a coma. Enable Law was instructed while she remained unconscious. Our senior associate, Julia Prior, worked closely with her husband from the earliest days of her admission to ensure her urgent care needs were recognised and met.
Her injury meant she was unable to care for herself or her children, and she ultimately had to be medically retired from a job she loved. The impact on her family was profound.
Immediate rehabilitation: support from day one
One of the most significant features of Danielle’s case was the insurer’s willingness to fund rehabilitation immediately. With Enable Law’s early intervention, a package of hospital‑based support was agreed from the very beginning – even while Danielle was still in a coma.
Because she required more care than the NHS could provide alone, additional agency nurses were brought in. However, using the funding from the insurance company we were able to secure dedicated support workers to ensure that Danielle had continuity and familiar faces around her. When she later returned home, the same support workers and therapy team continued working with her, making the transition less overwhelming and promoting recovery.
This consistency, combined with Danielle’s determination, helped her achieve the best possible outcome, physically and cognitively, despite the permanence of her injuries.
Danielle’s own hard work
Danielle has worked relentlessly through physical, cognitive and psychological therapies. Her injury has taken away some of her independence and ability to manage household tasks. She now receives support from a personal assistant for family administration, along with help from a cleaner and gardener so she can focus her limited energy on parenting and rehabilitation.
Although Danielle did not initially have insight into her cognitive impairments – which is not uncommon for people with brain injuries, who may not recognise changes in themselves as others do – physical injuries are often easier to identify and address, with visible progress through physiotherapy. Despite being resistant at times to having so many treating therapists involved in her life, she persevered, encouraged by her family and driven by a strong determination to do everything she could to improve her outcome.
The settlement she received means she can continue these therapies long‑term, access specialist support when she attempts voluntary or paid work in the future and maintain financial independence without relying solely on her husband.
Her recovery has also involved rebuilding the bond with her youngest child, from whom she was separated while in hospital, and supporting her older children through the emotional impact of the incident. With psychological support, the whole family have worked hard to heal together.
Three years of work, and a settlement that brings security
Danielle’s case required three years of detailed preparation. Julia and her team gathered extensive medical evidence, instructed expert therapists, coordinated rehabilitation, and prepared the claim for negotiation.
The case concluded at a settlement meeting, where Danielle achieved a strong result that provides long‑term security. Although no amount of money can undo the harm or return her to her former life, the settlement ensures she has the care, therapies and stability she needs.
A message from Danielle’s husband
“We cannot thank Julia and Enable Law enough for the support they gave us over what has been an incredibly traumatic three‑year period. From the very beginning, they fought our corner every step of the way, making sure our needs were fully understood and properly represented.
Throughout the whole process, the team were compassionate, professional, and always available to guide us through what often felt overwhelming. Their expertise and determination ultimately secured a settlement that has made a huge difference to our future.
Because of Enable Law, we were able to focus on getting through a very difficult time as a family without constantly worrying about the financial impact. Knowing we had such a dedicated team on our side gave us real peace of mind.
We would not hesitate to recommend Enable Law to anyone going through a serious claim. Their support and professionalism have truly changed our lives”
Looking ahead
Danielle will continue to require therapy and support for the rest of her life. While she has made remarkable progress, her injuries remain permanent and her life has been altered forever. The settlement gives her the opportunity to continue her rehabilitation, maintain independence, and ensure stability for her family.
Her story demonstrates the importance of early rehabilitation, consistent therapeutic support, and specialist legal representation for those who suffer catastrophic brain injuries.
How Enable Law can help you
When someone experiences a catastrophic accident, it’s easy to think that involving a lawyer can wait until recovery is underway. However, at Enable Law, we believe your lawyer can be an advocate and advisor from the very moment you are admitted to hospital.
At Enable Law we have a dedicated team of personal injury solicitors that help road crash victims and their loved ones get their lives back on track following a serious injury. To have a free chat with a member of our team about the ways we may be able to help you call us on 0800 044 8488 or fill in our contact form so we can call you back at a time convenient for you.
*Name has been changed
