£75,000 Interim Payment for Pothole Slip

A man who suffered severe brain damage when he slipped and fell on an uneven public road in North London has received an interim payment of £75,000.

Kyle Bullock, 33, was walking with friends down a steep and poorly maintained road when the accident happened. Having dropped a little way behind the others, he began jogging in order to catch them up, but he tripped over a deep pothole. He lost his balance and fell to the ground before rolling down the hill and striking his head on the edge of another pothole.

In hospital, it was found that Mr Bullock had suffered a severe brain injury as well as multiple fractures to his skull. He was therefore transferred to a specialist neurology and neurosurgical hospital for further treatment.

After months of rehabilitation, Mr Bullock has not fully recovered from his injuries and requires assistance with everyday tasks. As a result of the accident he suffered a personality change, which led to the breakdown of his relationship with his partner, and he is no longer able to work.

A claim was brought against a subsidiary company of Haringey Council, which was responsible for the upkeep of the road. The organisation contended, however, that the potholes were not the cause of Mr Bullock’s accident.

Eventually, however, the company was prepared to accept the majority of the responsibility for the accident. Mr Bullock was granted an interim award of £75,000 prior to the full amount of his claim for compensation being quantified.