Early on New Year’s Day of this year, 83 year old Shelagh Leach and her husband were out walking their daughter’s dog in Hastings, Sussex. Their route took them past a BP petrol station where Mrs Leach decided to stop and buy a newspaper. However, as she waited to cross the road, Shelagh was struck by a Vauxhall Vectra which hit her with such force that the impact of the collision threw backwards her off her feet and broke both of her legs.

The motorist responsible (later named as Paul Barnard) had been travelling at speed when he attempted to drive into the petrol station but, having misjudged the angles required for entrance, swerved and mounted the kerb upon which Mrs Leach was standing. As if the accident he caused wasn’t bad enough, Barnard then reversed back into the road and drove off, leaving Mrs Leach with serious injuries and in a considerable amount of pain.

Today marks the day when her solicitors launch legal action against Barnard’s insurers, Churchill, for a compensation payment of £100,000 to £150,000 for the emotional and physical trauma Mrs Leach has suffered. Once an active and healthy person who enjoyed walking, Shelagh has been immobilised by her injuries, which at the time of the incident required her to have emergency surgery and remain in hospital for two months. Although Barnard has now been convicted for the reckless and irresponsible nature of his driving, it is clear that the effects of his actions are still taking their toll.