Forest Gate road accident victim in line for �2.6m compensation

A Forest Gate college student, catastrophically injured when he was involved in an accidentr with a vehicle is in line for up to �2.6 million compensation after a High Court ruling.

Jubair Ali, then of Stock Street, Plaistow, was studying at Havering College in January 2006, when the accident occurred as he and a group of friends were crossing the A127 Southend Arterial Road, following their lunchbreak.

Mr Ali, who had been hoping to become a police officer or a firefighter after graduating, suffered a broken back as well as serious head injuries, when the car, driven by an uninsured motorist, struck him just after noon.

The 23-year-old, now living in Ismalia Road, Forest Gate, claimed damages from the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), the industry body which deals with claims against uninsured drivers, for the extremely serious injuries he sustained.

MIB lawyers argued Mr Ali could have used a nearby footbridge to cross the dual carriageway safely and had failed to follow the Green Cross Code.

However, a compromise was reached whereby Mr Ali is now guaranteed compensation on the basis of 80 per cent liability.

His counsel, John Leighton-Williams QC, said his injuries were of such severity that, even after a 20 per cent deduction, about �2.6m in damages will now be sought on his behalf.

The barrister said the care package now in place for Mr Ali costs �106,000-a-year to fund.

Judge Anthony Thornton QC, who heard all the evidence in the case before the settlement was reached, “unhesitatingly” approved the compromise.

The exact amount of Mr Ali’s payout has yet to be assessed, but Judge Thornton remarked: “On any view, a seven-figure sum can be put forward as the very minimum he can be expected to receive.”