In a High Court writ, Suzannah Ensor, who is understood to run a dog and cat-grooming business from her home at 4 Swan Cottages, East Lexham, near Castle Acre, is alleged to have been a negligent driver in the accident on June 17, 2005.

Claimant Laura Carvalho-Kelleher (41), from Hutton, near Brentwood in Essex, was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her husband which was struck by a passing car driven by the defendant.

Mrs Carvalho-Kelleher claims that Suzannah Ensor drove into the car her husband was driving, failed to see or notice their car, drove too fast in the circumstances, failed to swerve, brake or manoeuvre her vehicle to avoid the collision, and failed to take all reasonable care for the claimant's safety.

As a result, the claimant, who was wearing a seat belt, was violently jerked sideways and suffered serious injuries which have led to continuing neck and shoulder pain, headaches and a burning pain in her right arm.

Mrs Carvalho-Kelleher has had surgery to implant a spinal cord stimulator which has helped her right arm pain but not her neck pain or headaches, the writ says.

"All aspects of her life have been affected, including her ability to work and to interact with her husband and children," it says.

"The claimant has had difficulty performing daily tasks and caring for her children as a result of the pain and these tasks are now done largely by her husband."

As a self-employed interpreter with the Met Police, she was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mrs Carvalho-Kelleher was unable to work for about three weeks after the accident, then returned and tried to resume the same level of work as before.

"However, the pain from which the claimant suffers has resulted in her reducing her work to approximately two days a week and only accepting cases that she feels able to cope with," the writ says.

Reports from a specialist in pain medicine, a consultant spinal and trauma orthopaedic surgeon and a consultant psychiatrist have been served to support the claim.

Suzannah Ensor was not available for comment at the time of going to press.