Child Injury – Phobia RTA
15/07/2009Child injured in road traffic accident (aged 4 years)
In a child accident injury solicitor case decided in 2009, a child aged 4 years was injured whilst as a passenger in a car which was hit from behind. It was raining heavily at the time of the accident and the child developed a phobic anxiety disorder. If it rained the child would screamed uncontrollably. The child at birth had suffered from cerebral palsy and retardation.
The child’s education was not affected except that often he would scream uncontrollably if it was raining while he was in school. At the child’s accident trial 8.5 years after the accident, the child was still suffering from the phobia but the symptoms were much improved. The child still continued to suffer from stress and anxiety.
The judge, after considering all the child’s accident and injury evidence, was of the view that the child was suffering from moderate to severe psychiatric injuries. The judge awarded £15,000 compensation for the injury. A
total award of £28,000 which included items of loss and expenses.
