Crash victim in lawsuit agony

Jodie Zarins, 24, from Howard Road, suffered serious head and chest injuries in the May 2003 crash which killed Dominic West, 20, and his mother Heather West, 47.

On April 21, solicitors acting on her behalf filed a claim at the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court for damages exceeding 500,000 for "personal injury and other losses" arising from the accident.

Mr West's insurance company is expected to handle the claim.

Miss Zarin's family said they had been reluctant to take the action, but had gone ahead following advice from police and doctors, because of the lifelong impact on the injuries on her.

She was in a coma after the crash and endured months of rehabilitation as she sought to rebuild her life.

The tragic accident happend when a Citroen Saxo driven by Mr West was in collision with a lorry travelling the other way on the A3 at Hindhead in Surrey.

The mother and son, who lived together in Coombe Rise, Findon Valley, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Dominic's ten-year-old sister Gaby and Miss Zarins, both passengers in the back seat of the car, were taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford.

Fortunately Gaby suffered only minor injuries.

Miss Zairns spent five weeks in intensive care suffering severe head and chest injuries, before being moved to a neurological ward for two weeks.

She then spent two months in the Donald Wilson House rehabilitation centre in Chichester as she learned to walk again and do other things for herself.

Daily visits to the rehabilitation centre followed for several months after she returned home to live with her parents.

Former Worthing High School student Dominic was a part-time firefighter based in Findon Village and he played football for Worthing and Horsham Sunday League team Beckett Wanderers.