Former Top Gear Host Richard Hammond Injured in Electric Car Crash
Richard Hammond, former host of Top Gear, has been airlifted to a hospital after a crash while filming in Switzerland. According to a BBC news report, the 47-year-old was on a practice run for a race in a $2.5 million electric car for Amazon Prime’s show “The Grand Tour.” Hammond was able to climb out of the wrecked car before it burst into flames. Co-host Jeremy Clarkson tweeted that it was the “most frightening” accident he had ever seen. Hammond suffered a fractured knee, but was otherwise uninjured.
Details of the Car Accident
The incident occurred when Hammond was completing the Hemberg Hill Climb in Switzerland. He had been driving a Rimac Concept One, an electric super car built in Croatia. A BBC report concluded that “a catastrophic disintegration of the jet car’s front tire probably caused by an object like a nail,” caused the crash. No one else was in the car or involved in the accident. This crash comes nearly 11 years after Hammond nearly died after he lost control of a Vampire dragster while filming for Top Gear. He was in a coma for two weeks after that crash at Elvington Airfield near York. It is not clear if the electric car he was driving was defective in any way.
It is indeed fortunate that Hammond was able to walk away from this car crash despite his broken knee, without suffering critical injuries. We wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Injuries and Compensation
Whether it’s a crash involving a celebrity or the common man, injuries are an inescapable part of the experience. Some of the most common injuries suffered in car accidents include but are not limited to traumatic brain injuries (head injuries), spinal cord trauma, neck and back injuries (including whiplash), multiple fractures, strains and sprains, joint injuries, burn injuries and internal organ damage. Victims recover from some of these injuries completely with treatment and rehabilitation. However, some injuries can become permanent and lead to lifelong disabilities.
As car accident lawyers who represent severely and catastrophically injured victims and their families, we know how costly treatment and rehabilitation can get. We also know that it takes a lot of money for disabled victims to maintain a certain quality of life. In many car accident cases, depending on the nature and circumstances of the incident, victims may be able to seek compensation for their significant losses.
Such compensation could cover medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help injured victims and their families better understand their legal rights and options.