Student wins £4.8m payout

A young man who was left severely brain damaged after being knocked down by a van driver has been awarded damages of £4.8 million.

Peter Hines was on the esplanade at Bognor Regis, West Sussex, with a group of old school friends when the accident happened in September 2000.

The 20-year-old, who planned to study drama and theatre management at Winchester College, was thrown 30ft in the air and landed on his head.

He was in a coma for three months and is now confined to a wheelchair.

He cannot fully communicate although he recognises his family.

He will have to live with the full knowledge of the damage that he has caused to a family for the rest of his life

Trevor Hines, father

His father, Trevor, a 54-year-old property director, said after the hearing at the High Court in London, that the family had forgiven the van driver, James McGahey.

He said: "He will have to live with the full knowledge of the damage that he has caused to a family for the rest of his life."

Mr Hines, of Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire, said his son would never be the same.

"He was an outgoing, fun-loving young man who was always the centre of the party with a love of sport, the outdoors and people," he said.

The court heard Mr McGahey was driving his employer's van in his own time and was therefore not insured, but his employer's insurers were required to pay the damages.

'New chapter'

The settlement was reached on the basis of 87.5% liability in Mr Hines's favour.

Now 23, he is undergoing rehabilitation at Queen Elizabeth's Foundation Brain Injury Centre at Banstead, Surrey, but hopes to return soon to his parent's home and then live independently with carers.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Holland said: "I do hope this is the start of a new chapter in Peter's life."

The award, which includes a contingency fund of £1.25 million and an annual tax free sum of £90,000, is valued at about £4.8 million.

Trevor Hines said the family would still have to find another £1 million to cover the costs of specialist care and accommodation.