An Oxford GP injured in three road accidents over a ten-year period has won a £63,000 settlement after negotiations outside London's High Court.

In each of the accidents - which happened in 1986, 1995 and 1997 - Dr Celia Pyper's car was hit from behind by other vehicles.

She suffered whiplash injuries of ever-increasing severity.

The settlement followed a previous out-of-court payment of £250,000 in 1992, for the 1986 crash, which happened on Oxford's ring road.

The 47-year-old mother-of-three, of Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill, said she endured years of pain and restricted movement and, just as she was recovering from the effects of one accident, another would happen to worsen her plight.

The court heard Dr Pyper, a senior partner in an Oxford general medicine practice, repeatedly had her work interrupted by her injuries. She was recovering from the whiplash she suffered in the 1986 accident when, in May 1995, her Renault Espace was hit from behind by a van on the A46 near Bath.

And, just as she expecting to make a return to full-time work, she was again the victim of a rear-end shunt on a slip road of the A43 near Oxford on January 31, 1997.

Insurers for the other motorists involved in the 1995 and 1997 accidents admitted liability and, after last-minute negotiations outside court yesterday, agreed to settle Dr Pyper's case for a total of £63,000.

Michael Soole, representing Dr Pyper, told the court she would receive £35,500 for the 1995 crash injuries, and £27,500 for the 1997 accident.

Judge Simpson said the case raised "difficult" issues, and congratulated the parties on reaching an out-of-court settlement before what had expected to be a contested trial.

Story date: Tuesday 16 November

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