A man from Darlington is reportedly seeking accident compensation of up to £300,000 after a taxi door closed on his head, leaving him with serious injuries.
The man was taking a taxi from Darlington to Middlesbrough after a night out in 2008. A local newspaper reports that he opened the taxi’s sliding door during the journey because he didn’t feel well. When the door was open, the taxi driver stopped the car abruptly, causing the door to quickly slam on the passenger’s head.
The car stopped and the man got out to vomit, before eventually being dropped off at his home. However, he was later found lying unconscious on the pavement and had to be taken to hospital. Medical examinations revealed that he was suffering from bleeding on the brain. He spent over two weeks in intensive care and had to undergo two operations as well as rehabilitation. He has been left so severely disabled that he can no longer work.
He is claiming accident compensation from the driver of the taxi. He claims that the taxi driver had not maintained the vehicle door correctly and also that he should have realised that the door was open. His initial claim is for £300,000, reports have suggested.