New hope for road accident victim in compensation claim

A motorist severely injured in a crash has been granted over £40,000 by London's Civil Appeal Court.

Stephen Cain, 47, of Feltwell, took his case to the appeal court after his original claim was rejected due to a solicitor submitting his claim one day after the expiration of a the three-year time limit, the Ford and Brandon Times reports.

Mr Cain told the news source he was glad "we have not got to go through the hassle of going through it all again".

The injuries suffered by Mr Cain in August 2004 left him severely disabled despite major reconstructive surgery, although the car insurance company involved accepted full liability, paying him £90,000 in costs.

However, the company sought repayment after Mr Cain's claim was thrown out due to the expiration of the personal injury claims time limit, forcing him to take the case to the appeals court which waived the limit and awarded him a further £41,000.

The three-year limit applies to all personal injury compensation claims, unless the party involved is under 18 at the time of the incident, in which case they have until the day before their 21st birthday to lodge a complaint.