Injury compensation claims

A Latvian man who came to England to work is seeking spinal injury compensation after being paralysed in a horrific crash in July 2008.

Jevgenijs Samohins was the driver of a Toyota MPV that was hit head-on by a heavy goods vehicle. The crash – which took place on the A141 – killed three fellow Latvians who were passengers in the vehicle. Two of these were not wearing seatbelts. All seven Latvians who were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident had only been in the country for a few days after arriving from their homeland to work.

Mr Samohins has been left with a “significant degree of paralysis” from his spinal injury, and is seeking compensation accordingly. He is adamant that the accident was not his fault and maintains that the incident was caused by the HGV – a scania skip lorry – moving onto his side of the road. Despite Mr Samohins attempts at an emergency avoidance procedure, a head on collision ensued. The driver of the HGV – Dennis Ellingham was unhurt in the accident.

Mr Samohins spent months in hospital recovering from his injuries and is now unable to work. He is claiming spinal injury compensation from the insurers of the heavy goods vehicle to provide compensation for his injuries, and to provide for his care in the future.