Grandfather Left Brain Damaged After Devastating Road Crash Outside Home

22/12/2011

A driver using a mobile phone ploughed into a Grandfather while he was stood outside his house and has left him brain damaged and unable to walk.

This week, Turkish born Dunya Cavusoglu was awarded a seven figure sum by the High Court to fund his future care. Serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who supported Dunya Cavusoglu in his battle for justice, say that the funds have allowed him to move back to the heart of his community in a specially adapted flat.

The grandfather of eight who now requires round the clock care, was standing outside his house in the N17 area of London on 21st September 2009 when he was hit by a car as the driver lost control bending down to pick up her mobile phone.

52-year-old, Dunya, was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital where he was an inpatient for 10 months as doctors treated him for broken legs and a severe traumatic brain injury.

Dunya was placed at Asprey House Care Home in Leyton, East London, after being moved to several rehabilitation centres. As his first language is Turkish, he struggled to understand the care staff here, and because of the distance, his family were limited in their visits.

Irwin Mitchell have fought for on his behalf and the care package secured means he was able to move to a specially adapted flat in the heart of his community only 10 months after the accident. He is now cared for by Turkish carers, which helps his speech development and the settlement will enable the purchase of a fully adapted family home so that the family can live together again.

Interim payment were also obtained throughout the course of the case which enabled Dunya to undergo private orthopaedic surgery, and it is hoped that, with the intensive physiotherapy provided now and in the future, he will one day be able to take a few steps again.

Lauren Hurney, expert at Irwin Mitchell who represented the family, said: “Before he suffered his injuries Dunya was a hospitable, devoted family man who enjoyed cooking. He was very sociable and was a well known figure within the Turkish community and at the Dalston Community Centre.

“Tragically, since the accident he has struggled to communicate, and often has no awareness of what has happened to him. Although nothing can make up for what he and his family have been through, we are pleased that the settlement will allow Dunya to move closer to his community and loved ones and to focus on his rehabilitation.”

Dunya’s wife, Gulafer, 55, said: “We are heartbroken that Dunya’s accident had such a devastating effect on his life. He was a fit, active and sociable man and we were looking forward to many more years together.

“While nothing can turn back the clock to the time before Dunya’s accident, we are glad that the settlement will allow us to be able to live together as a family again.

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