Paralysed girl given £5.1m award

A girl left wheelchair-bound after a car driven by her nanny was involved in a crash has been awarded £5.1m compensation.

Tania Chapman-Fortune, now 12, from Sussex, was three when she lost the use of her legs and much of the use of her arms after the head-on collision on 5 November, 1994.

Her mother, Judy Chapman-Fortune, was at the High Court in London on Monday for settlement of the damages claim against nanny Carrie Elphick, who was also seriously injured in the crash.

The judge, Mr Justice Owen, said he was satisfied the £5.1m sum, which will be paid by Ms Elphick's insurers, was an "entirely fair and appropriate settlement".

Before she was injured Tania was a beautiful, affectionate and happy little girl

Judy Chapman-Fortune

He said: "This is a very tragic case, but what is perhaps most important for Tania and for her mother is that... her future is entirely secure."

Tania was a back-seat passenger when Ms Elphick drove on to the wrong side of the road and collided with another vehicle on the A22 Uckfield bypass, in Uckfield, East Sussex.

She was sitting on a child's booster seat and strapped in by the car's seat belt.

Secure future

Her injuries mean she is dependent on 24-hour care and needs extensive therapy and equipment to help with even the simplest tasks, such as dressing herself and cutting up food.

Mrs Chapman-Fortune said: "Before she was injured Tania was a beautiful, affectionate and happy little girl who was normal in every way.

"Since her accident I have done everything in my power to allow Tania to continue to live as full a life as possible.

"It is such a relief to know the money will be there to provide the care when she needs it and to secure her future."

The judge heard liability was never an issue and the only matter to be resolved was the level of compensation to be paid.