A north-east woman struck by a car 10 years ago has launched an appeal to the Supreme Court for more compensation.
Lesley Jackson, 23, suffered serious head injuries, memory loss and a smashed pelvis in the accident outside her family home on the A98 Banff to Fraserburgh road near New Byth in January 2004.
Aged 13 at the time, she had been crossing the road after leaving a school bus. She was struck by a Ford Fiesta and catapulted over its roof as she made her way across the rural carriageway with her twin sister, Lindsay.
Ms Jackson’s ankle twisted 90 degrees and her pelvis was crushed. She also suffered a sub-cranial haemorrhage which caused pressure on her brain.
At Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where she spent 48 hours on the critical list, doctors battled to save her life.
An investigation into the collision was carried out by police, but no one was charged.
At previous hearings at the Court of Session, Edinburgh, it was ruled that she was mostly to blame for what happened. Compensation would stand at £2.5million, with Lord Tyre initially ruling that Ms Jackson deserved £250,000 – 10% of the sum. On appeal, judges said Ms Jackson should receive £750,000.
Her lawyers are now asking Lady Hale and Lords Wilson, Reed, Carnwath and Hodge to rule that she should take no blame at all for what happened.
A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court in London said the judgement could be made in nine to twelve weeks.
Speaking last night, Daren Deery, her solicitor, said: “In Scotland it’ll often take a long time for these decisions to come out, the Supreme Court decisions are normally quite quick.
“We anticipate a decision will be called fairly soon. I would imagine in the next few weeks. The decision is not that far away in this one,” he added.