Teenage girl run over by bus wins £20,000-plus damages

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Dolly Hughes, 15, suffered a double pelvic fracture and severe ankle and leg injuries in the crash near her home in Brentford. She spent months in a wheelchair and even though she has learned to walk again, still faces surgery to diminish the appearance of scarring on her legs.

The bus company, Armchair Passenger Transport, initially tried to blame Dolly and her friends for the accident in May 2006. But now the firm has admitted it was at fault and paid the family between £20,000 and £40,000. The exact amount has not been made public. The firm has also agreed to pay for Dolly's plastic surgery.

The accident happened when the schoolgirl tried to board the singledeck No E2 bus from Ealing outside Brentford library.

The driver closed the front doors and drove off before Dolly could get on, and she was hit by the side of the vehicle as it turned left from Windmill Road into Boston Manor Road. She fell and one of the rear wheels went over her body. Her mother Justine said: "We have closure in terms of the bus company finally admitting responsibility but Dolly is finding it hard to lead the life of a normal girl as she has a lop-sided pelvis. It will take a long time for her to recover but her determination has humbled me.

"This is a victory for ordinary people who fight big businesses. They tried to bully us and suggest my daughter and her friends were hooligans but I have seen the CCTV and never doubted my daughter was not at fault and the company failed in its duty of care."

Ms Hughes, a teacher, added: "Dolly's health has improved tremendously but this has changed our lives forever. She has been amazing - for a long time she was in a wheelchair and could not walk. Now Dolly is completing her Duke of Edinburgh bronze award. Her determination to strive and get better has been inspirational."

Metroline Coaches, the parent company of Armchair Passenger Transport, declined to comment.