7:40am Thursday 17th May 2007
By Stephanie Tye
A MOTHER who was left with a hole the size of a tangerine in her head after a piece of stone crashed through her car windscreen has been awarded nearly £300,000 compensation.
The accident happened in January 2001 on the A419 when Mary Paul, of Deacon Street, Swindon, and her husband Bob were travelling towards Blunsdon in their blue Volkswagen Caravelle.
As they were driving along a 5lb piece of Cotswold stone, which was believed to have been dislodged from the axle of a lorry, crashed through the window, hitting Mrs Paul, who was then 49, in the head.
The 6in rock hit her with such force that it shattered her skull, leaving some bone fragments dangerously close to her brain.
Mrs Paul, a carpet fitter, was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital before being transferred to Oxford's John Radcliffe Infirmary where she was operated on.
The injury caused permanent brain damage and she needed metal plates fitted in her skull to close the gap.
Doctors said she was just millimetres from death, and the fact that the sun visors in the car were down - absorbing some of the impact - could have saved her life.
Talking about the day of the accident Mr Paul said: "It was a terrifying experience.
"I turned to see my wife slumped against the door with blood pouring from her face."
Solicitors Thring Townsend handled the couple's personal injury case.
Having established that the piece of stone that smashed through the windscreen was from a quarry firm, partner Huw Ponting submitted a claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau under the Untraced Drivers Agreement.
Solicitor Anna Cole then negotiated with the Motor Insurers' Bureau and won settlements of more than £32,000 for Mr Paul and more than £270,000 for his wife.
"The settlement acknowledges the ongoing health issues faced by Mrs Paul and the permanent changes to their lives," said Mr Ponting.
"Mrs Paul now suffers from permanent headaches, has lost her sense of smell and taste and has lost the close bonds of affection with her family as the accident left her unable to express her feelings."
He said every penny of the settlement was vital to ensure Mr and Mrs Paul's long-term future.
"It will go directly into a trust fund to make certain that, long term, they are able to meet the ongoing costs of care and treatment," he said.
"We were pleased to be able to recover the significant damages required to give Mr and Mrs Paul the future financial security that they need."
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