Increased Compensation Award for Teenager Struck by Bus

A teenager who was told she was partly at fault after she was hit by a double-decker bus has had the decision reversed in the Court of Appeal.

Chantelle Osei-Antwi was standing at the edge of a pedestrian area in the Crystal Palace area of London when the accident happened. The front of the bus missed her as it turned a corner, but the back end struck her, causing serious injuries to her left leg. Her ankle was so badly damaged that it required surgery and Miss Osei-Antwi also sustained cuts to her leg.

The County Court judge found that Miss Osei-Antwi was partly to blame for the accident because she had been standing too close to the edge of the pavement. As a result, her damages award was reduced by one third.

When the case came to the Court of Appeal, however, this decision was reversed. The Court found that the bus driver was to blame for the accident. Miss Osei-Antwi was standing in an area where vehicles were not allowed and had the driver got the angle of the turn right, she would not have been injured. There was therefore no contributory negligence.

As a result of the Court’s decision, Miss Osei-Antwi’s damages were increased to more than £18,000.