€1m payout for man who sued wife after she crashed into bin truck
A 71-YEAR-OLD man who was injured when a car driven by his wife crashed into the back of a bin truck has settled his High Court action for €1m.
Farmer Patrick Meehan suffered severe injuries in the accident. His counsel Frank Callinan said Mr Meehan still needed a crutch to walk and now needed 24-hour care.
Mr Meehan, who is also a retired lorry driver, of Gortward, Mountcharles, Co Donegal, had sued his wife Marie Meehan as a result of the accident on December 18, 2012.
It was claimed the car she was driving suddenly and without warning collided with the rear of a rubbish truck, which was parked on the hard shoulder near Grange, Co Sligo.
It was also claimed there was a failure to have any proper regard for the presence of Mr Meehan as a front-seat passenger in the car, and a failure to see or respond adequately to the presence of the truck.
The court was told Mr Meehan sustained severe injuries, including several fractures, and also suffered significant cognitive impairment as a result of the accident.
Liability was admitted in the case.
Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Anthony Barr said the very stark conflict in the medical evidence represented a very big risk in the case.
The amount offered, he said, would go a long way towards looking after Mr Meehan and, on balance, the judge said it was best to take the offer.
The court heard Mrs Meehan and the Meehan family were happy with the offer.