A man who suffered quadriplegic injuries and severe brain damage following a head-on crash has had a €6.5 million settlement of compensation for serious road traffic accident injuries approved in the High Court.
Alan Kavanagh (41) from New Ross, County Wexford, suffered his serious injuries when he and his daughter were involved in a head-on crash with a van recklessly being driven by Liam Toohey of Nenagh, County Tipperary in November 2004.
Having sustained multiple fractures and brain damage which left him in a quadriplegic condition, Alan is completely dependent on others for nursing care, is unable to feed himself and is confined to a wheelchair. Fortunately for Alan´s daughter, the only injury she sustained in the accident was a broken finger.
At the High Court in Dublin, Ms Justice Mary Irvine heard that Alan had made a claim for serious road traffic accident injuries compensation through his brother against Toohey and the owner of the van – John Heffernan, a haulage contractor, also of Nenagh, County Tipperary. Responsibility for Alan´s injuries had been accepted before the court hearing, and the case was before the judge for assessment of damages only.
Ms Justice Mary Irvine was told in court that Alan was currently living in a nursing home for the elderly which was not suitable for his needs; however a settlement of €6.5 million had been proposed in settlement of the claim for compensation for serious road traffic accident injuries which would provide financial security for the rest of Alan´s life and enable the family to afford the level of care he required.
After hearing evidence from Loretto Power – Alan´s partner and the mother of his daughter – that the family was happy with the proposed settlement of compensation, Ms Justice Mary Irvine gave the settlement her approval – saying that it was an excellent settlement which gave Alan the best chance of meeting his future requirements.