Mum suffered horrific injuries after dangerous driver causes serious crash

The day after St Valentine’s Day Kirsty Dawson was travelling along the A907 when another driver – who was speeding in an attempt to overtake a long queue of traffic – suddenly pulled in front of her vehicle.

The 36-year-old was forced to slam on the brakes and swerve to avoid a collision.

But by attempting to avoid the car in front she veered into the opposite lane and crashed head-on with another car.

Although Kirsty’s quick-thinking saved her life it still proved to be serious.

The mum from Grangemouth suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, a broken right thigh and lacerations from broken glass due to the car accident – her Peugeot 206 was also completely destroyed.

The driver of the vehicle she inadvertently collided with was also injured – and the driver that cut in front of Kirsty was convicted of causing injury by driving dangerously.

Before the crash Kirsty was working as a support worker who aided homeless people but her injuries meant she couldn’t work so she lost earnings.

She also needed help from family with home life – everything from domestic chores to getting dressed to helping care for her child who was two-years-old at the time.

After getting help from Ashley Sturrock, Partner in our Edinburgh office, the insurance company for the other driver originally offered a little over £100,000 but we advised Kirsty to refuse this as the evidence we gathered on her losses suggested this amount was not fair.

A second offer of £150,000 was then made by the insurers but again, Ashley did not think was fair.

Finally, after a third offer from the insurer, Kirsty’s case settled for £210,000.

Kirsty said: “I can’t actually remember much of the crash but I do know I’m lucky to be alive.

“Ashley was absolutely brilliant. I could tell she was willing to go all the way to help to try and get as good a settlement as possible.”