Helping Anna rebuild her future after a devastating M6 Toll crash

Anna, 48, ran a pub with her husband and enjoyed walking her dogs, swimming and bowling with friends. She had driven north to visit her sister, with her young son asleep in the car, when an ordinary family journey took a frightening turn at a toll booth on the M6 Toll.

As Anna reached for her bank card to pay, a speeding car driven by someone under the influence of drugs overturned and crashed into the driver's side of her vehicle.

“It was as if a bomb had gone off,” she recalled.

Her son woke in shock, and people nearby helped them both out of the car. At first, Anna was desperate to get away from the scene. She was taken to a service station to meet her sister, who quickly realised something was wrong. Anna was confused, struggling to remember even her son's birthday, and was in significant pain. Her sister took her to hospital.

The injuries went far beyond the immediate shock of the collision. Anna was left with severe back and shoulder pain, blurred vision, migraines and tinnitus. Everyday tasks became difficult. She needed help from her husband to get dressed and manage things she had previously done for herself.

Just as difficult was the loss of confidence. Someone who had enjoyed an active social life, Anna began struggling in social situations. The thought of travelling frightened her, and for a long time she could not bring herself to drive.

The consequences also reached into her working life. Anna was unable to work for a year and initially returned only part-time because of fatigue. She and her husband eventually left the pub they had run together. The crash was not the only reason for that decision, but its effect on her health and confidence made returning to the trade much harder.

Anna decided to seek legal advice and turned to Consumer Legal Association (CLA) member firm Express Solicitors, where Road Traffic Accidents Partner Daniel Jamieson took on her case.

Daniel obtained CCTV footage from the police, gathered witness evidence and arranged medical assessments, including specialist reports on Anna's neurological symptoms, hearing and psychological wellbeing. This helped demonstrate not only the injuries she had suffered, but also how they continued to affect her independence and ability to earn a living.

The other driver's insurer admitted liability. Express Solicitors then challenged an initial settlement offer, ensuring the final outcome properly reflected Anna's longer-term difficulties, including the risk that her injuries could limit her future employment opportunities.

The settlement provided financial recognition of those lasting consequences and greater security as Anna looked to the future. For her, the legal support was also about having someone listen, understand the full impact of the collision and help her navigate a difficult process.

The driver responsible was convicted, disqualified from driving for three years and given a suspended prison sentence. But for Anna and her family, the effects did not end with the criminal case.

Anna's experience is a reminder of why safe choices on the road matter this During Road Safety Week. This year's theme, Safe People on the Move, is about protecting everyone who shares our roads. Dangerous driving can change a family's life in seconds, while the physical, emotional and financial consequences can last for years.

Anna's story also shows why access to specialist legal representation matters when lives are turned upside down: it can help injured people secure support and a more stable future.