Case Study: Winns Recovers GNAAS Call-Out Fee for Charity

Winn Solicitors specialises in recovering compensation for those who have suffered injury after a non-fault accident.

Some circumstances call for the use of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, a fantastic donations-based emergency service that delivers quick and effective medical treatment in emergency scenarios.

Able to get to incident scenes quicker, their medical specialists fly to the accident site before stabilising the injured party and taking them to the hospital.

Their costs are paid for exclusively by public donations, so they were extremely grateful when our dedicated Serious and Technical Injury Team managed to recover their call-out costs and get them back to GNAAS.

In our latest case study, we find out how they helped and how we supported them in return:

What happened?

Our client was enjoying an evening out in Newcastle city centre with friends. As the group walked along High Bridge, a driver ignored ‘no entry’ signs and drove at speed onto High Bridge.

Losing control of the vehicle, the driver mounted the pavement and crushed our client against a building, pinning them to the wall. One of the client’s friends, a retired firefighter, prevented the vehicle from reversing for fear of the effect this may have on our client’s injuries.

The need for GNAAS’ quick response time was crucial as the client drifted in and out of consciousness.

How did GNAAS support the client?

GNAAS medics were on the scene within eight minutes of receiving the call and were able to provide treatment as soon as our client was freed by the fire brigade.

Our client lost a significant amount of blood, making it a priority to get them to the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital (RVI) without delays. GNAAS medics provided life-saving treatment at the scene before transferring the patient to the RVI – a journey which took the air ambulance only four minutes.

What injuries were sustained?

Our client suffered significant injuries in the accident, resulting in multiple surgeries and skin grafts across two months of hospitalisation in an effort to save their leg from amputation. Their injuries included:

• An open distal femoral fracture to his left leg
• Significant degloving injury to his left calf and thigh
• Head/brain injury

Why was the client keen to include mission costs in the claim?

Acting on behalf of the client, Claire Farrell, one of our experienced solicitors, discussed with our client possible expenses that could be included in their claim.

She said: “When it became apparent that our client had received the assistance of GNAAS following the accident, I discussed with them the fact that GNAAS is a charity and not, as many incorrectly believe, funded as part of the NHS. 

“I explained that, if our client wished to do so, I could include GNAAS’s mission costs within their Schedule of Special Damages on a subrogated basis on behalf of the charity and, attempt to recover these from the Defendant’s insurer.

“Such costs would not be deducted from our client’s damages, rather they would be recovered as a completely separate head of claim.”

“Our client was surprised to hear that GNAAS is not funded as part of the NHS and felt strongly that as they had saved their life and, at the very least, saved their left leg that we should include their mission costs within their claim so this amazing charity could recover their costs and ensure they are able to continue their life-saving work.”

How did Winns support our client?

Facing the prospect of a life altered by significant injury, our dedicated Serious and Technical Injury Team set about recovering compensation to support our client as they rehabilitated.

Needing to adjust their life to a different future, this should never be done alone in the aftermath of a non-fault accident.

Claire, the solicitor in charge of the claim, liaised with the client, keeping them up to date throughout, and pursuing their claim against the other side’s insurers.

Through diligence, an excellent understanding of the serious injury claim legal landscape, and a determination to assist our client, Claire was able to recover a settlement of nearly £200,000, including the mission costs for GNAAS, which went to the charity.

What did GNAAS say?

Ben Sisson, specialist fundraiser at GNAAS, said: “We are very grateful for the support from Winns, who have managed to recover the costs of a mission by our critical care team.

“As a charity, we do not receive any government funding, and it costs approximately £8.5m to remain operational, so we really appreciate this donation.

“The money will help our doctors, paramedics, and pilots continue to help critically ill or injured people across the region.”

How can Winns help you?

If you’ve suffered an injury because of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible to make a claim with Winns.

Our teams are experienced, diligent, and hard working in recovering the compensation you deserve to aid your recovery or adaptation to a life permanently altered by injury.

By arranging swift medical assessment, treatment, and legal backing throughout the process, our one-stop-shop accident management service is widely revered as market-leading, with multiple awards to demonstrate this.

Working on a no-win no-fee basis, if your claim isn’t successful you don’t pay a penny. If it is successful, you pay a set percentage that is agreed upon at the outset by you and doesn’t alter should the claim become more complex than first thought.

With that reassurance, with no upfront costs, and no spiralling legal fees, now is the time to give our team a call and discuss your circumstances.

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