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15th September 2009
Lifeboat volunteer forced to jump ship due to injuries receives compensation
Injured in a Car Accident
A lifeboat volunteer, who received a royal honour for decades of life-saving, has been awarded compensation after a car accident forced him to quit.
UNISON helped Robert Briggs, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, after he suffered whiplash injuries when his car was hit from behind on the M27 in November 2005.
Mr Briggs, from Hayling Island, Hampshire, who had to see a chiropractor for two years for his injuries, had been a member of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) since 1986 and a senior helmsman since 1995.
He also received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for long service in 2003.
But the 50-year-old has been forced to remain on dry land since he sustained the serious injuries, which saw him fail the medical needed to remain a crew member.
He had to take four weeks off work from his job as a Trading Services Manager at Portsmouth Council.
And he suffered from a psychological condition that prevented him from applying for new jobs to further his career, including being unable to drive for long distances.
Whiplash injuries can be debilitating
The UK’s largest public sector union helped Mr Briggs receive £6,000 in accident compensation from the other driver’s insurers.
Mr Briggs said:
“Everything changed overnight after the accident, I never realised how debilitating whiplash injuries could be.
“I lost the ability to carry on with my lifeboat volunteering, which was devastating, not only because it was something that I loved doing and had won a number of honours for, but it was also a major part of my social life.
“The injuries have also made me afraid to do things that I took for granted before, including stopping me power kiting with the Kite Fliers Association.”
Victims of road accidents are not obliged to instruct their insurance company’s solicitors
Phil Wood, UNISON’s Regional Secretary for the South East region, said:
“We are pleased to have secured compensation following Mr Briggs’ accident.
“Back and neck injuries can ruin lives and he lost confidence, energy and was forced to give up his volunteering passion and hobbies.
“Mr Briggs had dedicated decades to saving lives on the lifeboat.
“For a man that has always been active this is a devastating blow.”
Sara Pacini, from Thompsons Solicitors, said:
“Victims of road accidents are not obliged to instruct their insurance company’s solicitors.
“At Thompsons we will always work to gain the maximum amount of compensation in the smallest amount of time for all of our clients.”
Personal Injury Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury as a result of a road traffic accident, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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