Serious Injury Lawyers Instructed By Families To Ensure Access To Specialist Rehabilitation And Support

A young woman has been left needing specialist care following a crash which also killed her friend.

Macie Hall, 18, and 20-year-old Grace Robinson were passengers in a Jaguar XKR sports car which crashed into a tree and caught fire when the driver lost control in Gorefield, near Wisbech.

The friends were both trapped in the Jaguar before being airlifted to hospital.  Mum-of-one Grace, from Wisbech, died as a result of her injuries.

Eighteen-year-old diagnosed with traumatic brain injury

Macie, from Holbeach, suffered a skull fracture and a diffuse axonal injury - a severe type of traumatic brain injury in which extensive damage is caused to the brain’s nerve fibres. Macie also suffered multiple internal and external injuries. She was on life support for four weeks and remained in hospital for seven-and-a-half months. She now requires significant care.

Following the crash, in February 2023, Macie and Grace’s loved ones instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support them and help Macie access the ongoing specialist rehabilitation she requires.

'Devastated' families speak out on collision

The families have now spoken for the first time about how the collision has ‘devastated’ their lives.

It comes after the driver of the car was jailed for three years and four months after being sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on 26 June.  He previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.

Kelly Lingard and Massimo D’Angelo are the serious injury experts at Irwin Mitchell representing both families.

Expert Opinion

"This is a truly tragic case where a young mum has lost her life and her friend has been left with life-changing injuries.

“The past two years have been incredibly difficult for both Macie and Grace’s families as they attempt to come to terms with what happened and how their lives have changed following the crash.

“While we can’t change what they’ve been through, Macie is making progress with her recovery and we’re determined to ensure that she has access to the ongoing specialist support and treatment she continues to need.

“We’ll also continue to support Grace’s loved ones as best we can.

“This case acts as a stark reminder of the need for road users to stay safe at all times and highlights the devastating consequences innocent people can be left to face due to the careless actions of others.” Kelly Lingard

Road safety: Macie and Grace's stories

The crash took place on Gote Lane at about 5pm on 3 February 2023.

Prior to the crash, Macie worked as a carer in a care home.  She lives with her father Mathew Hall and step-mother Laura Byrne.

Due to the nature of Macie’s injuries, she has lost her independence, and now relies heavily on others to meet her everyday personal needs.  She has poor mobility, using crutches and a wheelchair for long distances.  Macie is also now at an increased risk of suffering seizures, as a result of the traumatic brain injury that she suffered.

Macie’s injuries have not only impacted her physically, but have also had a profound effect on her cognitively and emotionally.

Macie's family reveal impact of her injuries

Laura said: “Friday 3rd February will forever be a date engraved in our memories. The horrors of that date, and the torturous days, weeks and months that followed, consume our lives.

“For the four weeks that we endured at the hospital’s critical care unit, we watched Macie’s lifeless body sleep. Unaware if she would ever wake up again.

“When she was woken, it was to a brain and body she did not recognise. Macie spent the longest of her hospital duration in a specialist neurology rehabilitation ward where she had to learn to adapt to her new body and it’s now limited abilities.

“We are incredibly proud of how far she has come in her recovery.

“Psychologically, this has also had a detrimental effect on Macie. Left with survivors guilt, grieving a dear friend who was a mummy. As well as grieving for her own loss of life – Macie will never be the same again.

“Every driver should be held accountable for their own actions. This senseless act changed many paths forever. This could have and should have been prevented.

“The consequential impact on us as a family is colossal. Lives have been destroyed and futures taken from this devastation.”

Macie continues to benefit from a comprehensive rehabilitation package including input from specialists in neuropsychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and cognitive rehabilitation which is being funded via the personal injury claim.

Grace's loved ones pay tribute to mum-of-one

Grace was a care home worker and mum to her three-year-old son Tommy.  She lived with her mum Karen Robinson, 58, and stepfather Mark Jennings, 60.

Karen said: “When I was told Grace had been in accident, I could tell just from the tone that she was in a really bad way.  My stomach sank when I saw her in the hospital, and to be told she was brain dead was nothing short of traumatic.

“We told Tommy a few days later, on the advice of the hospital, which completely broke my heart.  Although I’m not sure he fully understands what happened, he tells people he wants to be a doctor when he grows up so he can make his mummy better.

“He talks about how he misses Grace and we make sure that he knows how much she loved him.

“To this day, I still can’t quite comprehend that we’ll never see her again.  She had her whole life ahead of her and it was cut short in the cruellest way possible.

“I’d give anything to have Grace back, but I know that’s not possible.  I just hope that by speaking out, I can make others think twice when they’re out on the roads.  I wouldn’t want another family suffering the pain and grief we have.”

The driver of the car, Thomas Peggs, was also disqualified from driving for four years and ordered to undergo an extended re-test.

Support available

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people affected by road collisions at our dedicated road traffic accident section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.