Essex engineer’s family told he wouldn’t survive after head-on A13 …
A young man was left fighting for his life after a 37 tonne lorry veered onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into his car, and has secured a GBP1million-plus payout five years later. Gio Desogus, from Kidderminster, was travelling back from work in Essex in November 2017 when he was involved in the devastating crash on the A13 in London. Mr Desogus, then aged just 26, was struck head-on by the lorry.
He spent ten days in a coma, underwent 14 operations and spent time in three hospitals. The drummer suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and a collapsed lung and was left with fractures in his left arm, both legs and right metatarsal, as well as multiple left rib fractures and nerve damage to the wrist. He described the injuries as life-changing and said his family were told he would not survive.
Mr Desogus said: “Life was good before the accident. I was busy with work and had a good social life, playing football and being a drummer in two bands. It all changed with that accident.
“On the day, I was told by my manager I could leave work early and I was heading back home for the weekend when the incident happened. My family were given very grim news and I wasn’t expected to pull through. “A few months after the accident, I was contemplating what my future may be and there was a huge amount of uncertainty, worry and fear.
From the position I was in, I’ve made a good recovery and, while I will never get close to my full mobility back, I’m able to live a relatively independent life.”
(Image: Higgs LLP)
Mr Desogus worked with law firm Higgs LLP and has now won a more than GBP1 million payout. The exact amount has not been revealed, but Higgs has confirmed it as a seven-figure sum. Higgs partner Steven Santy said: “This was a very complex and challenging case to work on, not least because of the magnitude of Gio’s injuries and his rehabilitation requirements.
“We have helped Gio through every stage of both his physical and lifestyle recovery, whether that be securing interim payments for bills in the wake of the accident, securing housing or appointing and working alongside the rehabilitation case manager to help Gio back to living as normal a life as possible. Gio is a fantastic young man who has dealt with this life-changing incident superbly. “We are proud to have played our part in helping him reach a position where he can look to the future with genuine optimism.” Mr Desogus said: “With the help of the team at Higgs, I’ve made great progress and I can look to the future with optimism.”
References
- ^ Two fires which destroyed cars and building believed to be ‘deliberate’ (www.essexlive.news)