About usKey team membersHayley MartinezPost Graduate Diploma in Law, Legal Practice - Manchester Metropolitan University
Upon graduating from the Manchester Metropolitan University, Hayley worked as a Paralegal for Leigh, Day and Co. before progressing to a Trainee Solicitor at MPH Solicitors in Manchester.
Hayley joined Serious Law in April 2017 having worked as a Solicitor for Fentons (later Slater and Gordon) from 2008 specialising in Road Traffic Accident, Employer Liability, Public Liability, Industrial Disease and Military claims.
Motorcycle accident
Mr C was riding pillion when a car cut in front of them, knocking him to the ground. He sustained a comminuted intra-articular fracture of the left proximal tibia and an avulsion fracture of the left distal ACL attachment with large avulsed bony fragments noted along the left tibial spine. Hayley recovered £85,000 in compensation for Mr C. He is using some of the money to start a new business.
Pedestrian
Mr P was a pedestrian struck by a car as he crossed the road. He suffered fractures of his arm and hip. Orthopaedic evidence was obtained and Hayley swiftly recovered £50,000 in compensation.
Mr S
The Defendant's vehicle was two cars in front of Mr S who was on a motorbike. The Defendant had pulled over to the left and so Mr S started to overtake the vehicle directly in front of him, when the Defendant suddenly emerged from the left hand side straight across Mr S' path. Liability was disputed.
Injuries sustained included: Fractured left ulna; Bennett's fracture to right thumb; Cracked vertebra to thoracic spine.
Hayley successfully argued for Mr S and he recovered compensation valued at £30,000.
Pedestrian
Client had been for a run in Worden Park. She was returning to her car when without warning a car reversed at speed and knocked her into a burger wagon.
She sustained the following injuries: Pelvis fractures x 2; C7 Spinal fracture; T1 spinal fracture; L5 Spinal fracture; Right humerus fracture; Right hip laceration; Rib fractures 3/4/5/6.
The Claim was via the MIB as the Defendant was uninsured. The Defendant was successfully prosecuted for causing serious injury by dangerous driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 6 years and 3 months.
Our client made a remarkable and quick recovery. She was concerned that her pelvic injuries would cause problems, but by the time the case settled, she was pregnant with her second child with no issues.
In this case, our client was a pedestrian crossing a road when she was hit by the Defendant resulting in her sustained multiple serious injuries.
"Just a line or two to thank you for the cheque in settlement of my claim, which I have now received.K
Also, thank you for all your advice and assistance in relation to the claim, I am very grateful. I am glad we have had the opportunity to meet and I am thankful that you handled my claim, during what has been a stressful period for me, the process being made straight forward by your very personable approach and professionalism. If you don’t mind my saying, it is very clear that you enjoy what you do and have a genuine understanding and empathy for others, which I think is a true virtue, and an asset in your profession.
I will not, of course, hesitate to recommend you to others at every opportunity.
With sincere thanks,"Dad has asked me to thank you on his behalf for the excellent service you have provided. On behalf of himself and the family, please accept our warmest thanks for the work, you, Hayley and the team have put into our case and also for your regular updates, support and advice. After all the stress and worry we have been through, it has been a weight of our minds to have had dad’s case dealt with so professionally, yet also in a caring manner.C
We would not hesitate to recommend you.
Thank you again for your services and care.
With our very best wishes,"We know we made a very good decision when we asked you for help, I am very grateful you took us on as clients, and appreciated the effort you have made driving all that way"Primary liability was admitted with contributory negligence alleged at 25%, on the basis that that Mr S was out of his van wandering around the yard and not sticking to the pedestrian route, in contravention of his works policy when he was run over. Hayley made no concessions unless the Defendant Solicitor supplied us with a copy of the CCTV. Such CCTV was never supplied, and the Defendants eventually admitted a breach of duty and dropped the issue of contributory negligence. An offer was made in December 2018. At this stage medical evidence had not been obtained. Hayley advised against acceptance. The case settled at a Joint Settlement Meeting convened by Hayley, for a sum more than 3 times larger than the initial offer, which Mr S was delighted with.Mr S
