Imagine | Winter 2025
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Winter 2025 A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Winter 2025
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Ismena and her husband Simon were crossing a road in Chesterfield town centre when they were struck by a speeding vehicle. Ismena was left unconscious in the road and Simon was killed instantly.
The couple had married just three months earlier in a celebration of their 14-year relationship. Ismena’s friend Katie says, “That early stage of love seemed to prevail through their whole relationship. They were so happy together.”
Ismena and her husband Simon were crossing a road in Chesterfield town centre when they were struck by a speeding vehicle. Ismena was left unconscious in the road and Simon was killed instantly.
The couple had married just three months earlier in a celebration of their 14-year relationship. Ismena’s friend Katie says, “That early stage of love seemed to prevail through their whole relationship. They were so happy together.”
“When I first met Sy, I was 19. It was love at first sight.” Ismena
Ismena suffered severe injuries, including a serious traumatic brain injury, skull fractures, a tear to her spleen, fractures to her hip and pelvis and bruising to her legs. She was taken to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, where she underwent surgery and spent nearly two weeks in intensive care. She learned of Simon’s death when she woke up.
“I went to see Ismena in ICU while she was in a coma.” Katie recalls. “I was standing by her bed crying my eyes out because she didn’t know at that point that Simon had died. When doctors told her what had happened, she couldn’t retain the information. It was terrible.”
Ismena says, “Sometimes I wish I had a memory from that day [of the crash]. One that’s not told by others. I was on a lot of morphine, and I was confused most of the time until I started accepting that Sy was also involved, and he was no longer with me. I remember how nice everyone was at the hospital. I think I cried to every single person I crossed paths with.”
Early stages of recovery
Ismena was discharged from hospital almost three weeks after the accident. She went to stay with her sister-in-law, who offered support for daily activities as she was unable to walk, as well as emotional support. She adapted creatively to the impact of her physical injuries, moving up and down stairs on her bottom, and carrying things in her dressing gown pockets so she could do simple tasks like making breakfast for herself.
Ismena’s family contacted us for legal support, both for her injuries, and practical matters arising from Simon’s death. Ismena says that Kate Venn, her solicitor, “Has been fighting for justice for me and my husband. She’s someone that I trust.”
A tailored support package
Kate says, “We secured early interim payments in Ismena’s legal claim that allowed us to enlist a multi-disciplinary team of therapists. Ismena describes them as a group of “very strong women.” They supported her with rehabilitation from her physical injuries, to learn to live with her brain injury, and through the loss of her husband.”
Ismena’s physiotherapist focused on the physical aspects of her recovery, including management of her hip pain, general conditioning and strength work. Ismena continues to benefit from exercise routines in the gym as well as yoga.
An occupational therapist worked with Ismena around fatigue management and building up routines and strategies to use in daily life. Over time the focus of their sessions shifted towards enabling Ismena to return to work and education. She’s now training as a teaching assistant and supporting autistic children.
A neuropsychologist supported Ismena around coping with her grief and the loss of Simon. They also covered brain injury education and developed strategies to help compensate for the impact her injury continues to have on her daily life.
A specialist brain injury case manager was appointed to coordinate Ismena’s rehabilitation, taking the pressure of this task off Ismena. She also had a rehab assistant to support her with practical matters like planning and organising her week and applying for work and education courses.
I’m still learning about who I am by myself. It’s a really hard job, but you’ve got to move forward to find out who you are.
Ismena
Kate said, “Having a brain injury means that, as well as she has done with her rehabilitation, Ismena will continue to experience fatigue which limits her day to day. She’ll also struggle at times to make decisions and choices. She has ongoing issues with her mobility, and she has profound hearing loss in her right ear, requiring hearing aids.
“The settlement we secured for Ismena includes provision for future therapy as and when she needs it. She’s likely to have periods where she needs more help depending on what she’s going through in her life, so access to therapy and her case manager will remain available for the times she feels she needs them.”
Ismena says, “Irwin Mitchell sees you as a human. They tailor the support that you need, and they work on finding your strength to carry on.”
A brighter future
Ismena has seized opportunities to rebuild her life. She’s embraced the chance to travel, she’s learning to drive, and she’s recently moved into her own home. Katie says, “I’m just so proud of my friend and I couldn’t be happier for the stage she’s got to after everything she’s been through.”
Legal support
If you’ve lost a loved one as a result of a road traffic collision, or you’ve sustained a serious injury and need support and guidance, please reach out to our caring and professional team.