Passenger injured in Tipperary car crash settles action for €1.1m

Teenager suffered head injury and multiple spinal fractures and sued driver of the car

It was claimed there was a failure to retain the car on the road surface in a safe and appropriate manner and a failure to stop, swerve, slow down, or in any other way control the car so as to avoid the collision. File picture

A young man who, it was claimed, suffered a traumatic brain injury when the car in which he was a passenger went off the road has settled a High Court action for €1.1m.

Cian Slevin was 16 years of age when the accident happened on the road between Newcastle and Cappoquinn, Co Tipperary, at 10pm on January 27, 2021.

Mr Slevin’s counsel, Patrick Treacy, instructed by Cian O’Carroll solicitors, told the court that the driver of the car was 19 years of age. 

He said Cian Slevin was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and his head hit the ceiling of the car.

Counsel said it appeared that the car failed to negotiate a left bend on the road and careered off into a stream.

Cian Slevin, now aged 22, from Ardfinnan, Co Tipperary, had sued the driver of the car, Feidhlim Ryder, aged 24, from Newcastle, Co Tipperary, as a result of the accident on January 27, 2021.

In the proceedings, it was claimed there was a failure to retain the car on the road surface in a safe and appropriate manner and a failure to stop, swerve, slow down, or in any other way control the car so as to avoid the collision.

It was further claimed the car was driven at excessive speed such as rendered the driver incapable of controlling his vehicle.

All of the claims were denied.

Counsel said the settlement was reached after a protracted mediation. 

Mr Slevin suffered a head injury and multiple spinal fractures, said counsel, adding that it was their case that Mr Slevin suffered a significant traumatic brain injury.

The court heard that the Ryder side did not accept that the degree of cognitive impairment was to the extent of that claimed by the Slevin side.

Mr Treacy told the court there was a “vulnerability in the case".

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was fair and reasonable. He noted there was a real litigation risk in the case.