In a shocking incident, a woman from County Cork was awarded a hefty six-figure compensation after a van accidentally hit her knee while she was saving a parking spot for her husband. Josephine Higgins, 68, was standing in a parking bay on Main Street, Carrigtwohill, when van driver Richard Coleman struck her knee. Despite the relatively minor collision, it led to significant personal injuries, including a psychiatric adjustment disorder.
The court ruled in Ms Higgins’s favour, awarding her €170,564, including €60,000 for lost earnings over four years. Ms Higgins, who owns a large property portfolio with her husband, originally claimed €1.75 million, citing lost income opportunities and additional property management costs. However, the judge dismissed this as “wholly unreasonable, excessive and unrealistic,” explaining that the claim lacked solid evidence.
Mr Justice Micheál P. O’Higgins did acknowledge that the van driver misjudged the situation and hit Ms Higgins, who was waiting for her husband. The court found that her injury impacted her ability to manage her properties effectively, hence the compensation for lost earnings.
The judge criticised the overblown claim for lost earnings but accepted that Ms Higgins’s motivation stemmed from a desire to secure her children’s future care needs. Despite the setbacks, the decision serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of careful driving and accurate legal claims. Stay safe out there!