A young mother who lost her leg in a horror hit-and-run crash has settled a £1 million legal claim against the driver.
Kerrie Lavery, 26, was walking home from a mental health charity event in October 2021 when she and her friend Alanah Boyle were struck by a BMW travelling at 80mph – double the speed limit.
The high-speed crash severed Miss Lavery’s right leg. Miss Boyle, meanwhile, suffered an injury to her pelvis, elbow and PTSD.
Driver Thomas Granger, 48, was jailed for 33 months last year after he was convicted of causing serious injury by driving dangerously and failing to stop at the scene.
Chris Stewart, partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, said what happened was ‘agonising and life-changing and something no young mother should have to endure.’
Lawyers had filed a legal claim at the Court of Session in a bid to secure a lifetime’s supply of medical treatment for Miss Lavery.
However Mr Stewart said: ‘I can’t comment on specifics around the civil claim but I can confirm the action has now settled which means Kerrie can access the best possible medical treatment for the rest of her life as well as secure her financial future after the crash impacted her ability to work.
‘Kerrie has already proven her strength and determination throughout her recovery from physios to prosecution hearings to simply staying upbeat for her wee boy.
‘Of course, there are hard days but I know she also has a positive and tight-knit network of friends and family who offer support.
‘I hope that Kerrie, Alanah and their families may now have the means to move forwards into the peaceful and positive future they deserve.’
Granger, who was jailed in May last year, was also banned from driving for seven years.
Sheriff William Gallacher, passing sentence at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, told him his behaviour could ‘only be described as disgraceful’.
Sheriff Gallacher added: ‘Your driving was dangerous and left people with serious, life-long injuries – the victim impact statements made for profound and difficult reading – added to your leaving the scene which can only be described as incomprehensible.’
Afterwards Miss Lavery told of the devastation the crash caused to her.
She said: ‘I can’t pretend the collision didn’t have a profound impact on my life, because it did.
‘No one expects to suffer an injury like this, but I’ve tried to do my best to stay positive and keep leading as normal a life as possible as I really believe that “life-changing” doesn’t have to mean “life ending”.
‘I don’t really know what to say about the driver… he got more jail time than I expected, so that’s something.
‘I’m not a bitter or vengeful person but I think it is right that he is held accountable as everything that happened around this incident sends a really strong message to people about road safety and justice so it’s important that it has, I guess, an appropriate ending.’
The crash took place after Miss Lavery and friends walked home after failing to find a taxi.
Miss Lavery and Miss Boyle were arm-in-arm when they were hit by the BMW near a pedestrian crossing in Glasgow’s Great Western Road.