A Leicestershire woman who was severely injured in a car crash has shared her story, revealing how she even get involved in a charity to help others following her ordeal.
Kate Theedom was involved in a three-vehicle crash in May 2020. She had been trying to avoid someone in the road when a van went into the back of her, pushing her into oncoming traffic where she was hit again by another car travelling in the opposite direction.
Picture: Kate Theedom
As a result, she suffered a head injury, damage to internal organs and several major bone fractures. She required admission to intensive care, emergency surgery and extensive treatment including numerous surgeries on her jaw and both ankles over the next few years.
Four years and one day on from the incident, as well as ongoing support, a claim was settled through legal director and personal injury solicitor, Dianne Collins that enabled Kate to move forward with her life.
Speaking about her experience, Kate said: “When I was in hospital an occupational therapist gave me information about solicitors, and my brother contacted Nelsons on my behalf. After about three weeks in hospital, I was back home in a wheelchair when Dianne phoned me, and we had a long conversation. Dianne’s understanding and reassurance made me feel that I was in safe hands.
“Dianne then worked to find out what my life was like before the crash, which was crucial for the claim and to plan ahead. From there, I felt I was able to focus on my recovery while Dianne worked on my behalf, keeping me informed at every step of the way.
“There were times when I felt frustrated over the delays from the other side, but Dianne was always there to talk things through and manage my expectations. My claim settled after 4 years; it could have continued, but it was starting to hang over me and I wanted to settle so I could start moving forward with my life. The claim was calculated based on what I would need in future to maintain my recovery. I’m now leading a very different life, I know there is still a long way to go, but I am grateful for the support from Nelsons in getting here.”
While Kate has made significant progress since the crash, it is likely she will need further surgeries in the future. Added to this is the emotional impact of what she experienced and how her life suddenly changed.
Dianne Collins, legal director and personal injury solicitor at Nelsons, said: “When it comes to working with clients who have gone through immense trauma and are facing a long recovery process, it is so important we look at the big picture, the long-term impact of the injuries and the client’s future needs.
“As personal injury specialists, it is our role to advocate for and guide clients to ensure they are getting the best possible outcome for their circumstances. This is not just a sum of money to compensate them for their injuries – it ensures that they receive the best private rehabilitation as early as possible in their recovery process. In Kate’s case, there were many twists and turns to navigate. While Kate’s journey is far from over, I hope the work Nelsons has done has given her some of her life back and the opportunity to look forward to the future”.
Sometime into her recovery Kate talked to her daughter about feeling isolated and whether there was any way of connecting with people who have had similar experiences and were going through a similar recovery process. After doing some research, she came across RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims in the UK. It provides information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes and engages in evidence-based policy and campaigning work to fight for justice for victims and reduce road danger.
Through her experience, Kate has now also been asked by the charity to coordinate a new group tailored to support people injured in crashes.
Picture credit: RoadPeace
She said: “From learning so much through my experience, I really felt like I wanted to help others as it is such a novel experience and anyone going through it would be re-inventing the wheel each time. Everyone has their own experience but there is also so much we have in common. Initially I got involved with the Befriender programme at RoadPeace, which involves having a phone conversation with someone who has experienced a road crash of some sort. I am now coordinating a national injured group as this is an area that hasn’t been explored as much – much of RoadPeace’s work is with bereaved relatives, who have lost loved ones in road crashes”.
RoadPeace is the national charity for road crash victims in the UK. It provides information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes and engages in evidence-based policy and campaigning work to fight for justice for victims and reduce road danger.
Rebecca Morris, head of communications at RoadPeace, said: “Every day in the UK, five people are killed and 80 are seriously injured in road crashes, on average. Road collisions cause unimaginable pain to victims, their families and entire communities. The impact is profound and far-reaching, leaving lives shattered forever.
“At RoadPeace, we work to amplify the voices of victims and raise awareness of the devastation caused by road crashes. Kate’s story is a powerful example of how sharing personal experiences can help others and we are very grateful to her.”
