£2m damages for race circuit groundsman

A racing circuit groundsman has been awarded more than £2 million in damages after an incident at work left him with severe head injuries.

David Johnson was left brain-damaged after being blown by a gust of wind from a lorry as he gathered metal advertising hoardings at the Castle Combe track at the end of the racing season in November 2008. The 63-year-old had worked at the circuit for 20 years at the time of the accident but will now need 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

Mr Johnson and his wife Angela, of Chippenham in Wiltshire, will use the money to move into a specially modified bungalow in Devizes. The settlement against Castle Combe Circuit Ltd was approved by Mr Justice Mackay in London’s High Court, which heard that Mr Johnson will be paid a lump sum of £2 million plus £250,000 for one year, after which he will receive annual index-linked payments of £205,000.

Laura Thompson, Solicitor in the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team at IBB Solicitors said:

“This was a tragic accident in which Mr Johnson suffered serious brain injury for which he requires continuous care. This award, which includes a lump sum payment of £2,000,000 and subsequent annual payments thereafter, will allow him to move out of hospital and into a new home with his wife – something that he has always wanted despite the significance of his injury.”

IBB Solicitors has built a reputation for quality of service in pursuing compensation in cases involving accident, illness or death,including accidents at work. If you would like advice on personal injury issues, you can contact a member of IBB’s Personal Injury team, call us on 01895 207972 or email PI@ibblaw.co.uk.