Woman whose leg was shredded in mobility scooter crash wins 9-year legal fight
Sonia Woodward, 63, said her 'leg looks like I have suffered a shark bite' 10 years on from her crash in Tenerife.
A woman has told of her "horrendous" nine-year legal battle after being told she could lose her leg following a mobility scooter brake malfunction.
Sonia Woodward, now 63, was on holiday with her husband Alan and her father Cyril Harwood in Tenerife in 2015 when the crash happened.
She had hired a mobility scooter to help her father move around the island and decided to test it in their hotel's grounds before they headed out for the day.
While Woodward, from Cambridge, was doing so, the brakes failed. It forced her to steer into a signpost to avoid crashing into a group of people.
The collision tore a chunk out of her leg and the damage was so bad she was warned it might have to be amputated.
She had to pay for emergency surgery at a hospital in Tenerife and then undergo further surgery when she returned to the UK. Her leg was in such a severe state that it had turned black by the time she made it home.
While her leg was ultimately saved, the crash has caused a number of health issues.
Almost a decade later, she suffers from muscle and ankle weakness, skin hypersensitivity scarring, and frequent pins and needles. She was also recently diagnosed with a muscle condition called fibromyalgia, which was linked to the incident.
Last year, she secured a settlement from Mapfre, the mobility scooter company's Spanish insurers, but only after nine years of back-and-forth in the courts.
She said: "The whole ordeal has been absolutely horrendous and it has taken 10 years to get this settled.
"My family and I even had to appear in court.
"But I am a strong person, so I was not going to give in to these insurers.
"I was determined to fight."
Woodward sought legal help from law firm Slater and Gordon in 2015 at the time of the accident, but Mapfre initially denied any liability.
As the case moved through the courts, Woodward was awarded damages but the company twice appealed the figure.
A settlement was only finalised when the Court of Appeal ruled in Sonia's favour in a dispute over interest.
Mapfre declined to comment.
Reflecting on her continued difficulties with her injured leg, Woodward added: "My leg looks like I have suffered a shark bite.
"My ankle continues to give way on me. My muscles aren’t very good.
"I have hypersensitivity to the extent that even bedsheets can irritate my skin.
"Even now, all these years later, I am living with the consequences of what happened."
How to get the best travel insurance
Travel insurance, as per Citizens Advice, provides important protection against a number of events, including the cancellation or cutting short of a trip for reasons beyond your control; missed transport or delayed departure for reasons beyond your control; medical and other emergencies; personal injury and death; and lost, stolen or damaged items.
“If you don't have travel insurance you will have to pay out of your own pocket to deal with a problem while you're away. Or you may lose money if you have to cancel a trip and can't get your money back. This could cost you thousands of pounds.”
Things travellers should consider before buying their policy include:
Where they are travelling to - people travelling to the US, for example, will need extra cover
Their age - it can cost more for over-65s
Frequency of travel - Citizens Advice says an annual policy may be more cost-effective for those who go away several times a year
Activities - extra cover would be required for scuba diving, for example
Whether they are travelling independently or on a package holiday - as package deals often provide greater protection
Form of transport - cruises and budget airlines may not be covered by some policies
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