by David Osele
4 November 2010
A former journalist who suffered terrible injury in a car accident has been awarded over a million pounds in compensation.
Milan Rybansky had moved to Belfast only six weeks before the crash. He was crossing a road in Newtownabbey, just north of the city, when he was struck. The accident inflicted extensive and debilitating brain and head injuries, and Mr Rybansky is now unable to walk or speak and can barely move his arms.
BBC Northern Ireland reveals that he was taken back to his native Slovakia after the accident so he could receive round the clock care from his parents. They launched a compensation claim against the insurers of the car that had struck their son.
Liability, it was ruled, was shared after it came to light that Mr Rybansky had allegedly been texting on a mobile phone as he crossed the road. However, it was also ruled that the driver of the car should have seen him in time and acted accordingly.
He was awarded a total of £1.125 million, which will be used to fund the extensive care he will he require for the rest of his life.