Man Injured in Black Cab Crash seeks Compensation
Friday, May 27th, 2011
A man, who was injured in a crash as the passenger of a black cab, is seeking compensation for his injuries.
American John Faulk was travelling in the black taxi cab around London in February last year. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a central reservation on Bolton Street.
Mr Faulk – who was allegedly not wearing a seatbelt at the time – was thrown forward and smashed into the partition between the driver and the passenger seats. He suffered serious injury, as his face took most of the impact.
The Evening Standard is reporting that he broke his nose and lost teeth, but more worryingly suffered permanent damage to his left eye which has left him with only 30% vision in it. He underwent surgery on this eye and has spent thousands of dollars on private medical treatments.
He is now making a taxi accident compensation claim for £300,000. A writ issued at the High Court names Michael Glassman, the director of Colts Cabs as the defendant in the case. However, he reports to the Standard that he is only the owner of the firm that leased the vehicle.
His legal team stated that the court action has been taken because although insurers Quinn Direct have accepted liability they have refused to pay out. His legal team asserted that the fact Mr Faulk was not wearing a seatbelt did not exonerate the insurers of all responsibility.
Source; http://www.ashleyainsworth.com/news/?p=2475
ALSO
Businessman sues black cab firm over crash that wrecked his face
27 May 2011
An American lobbyist is suing a London taxi firm after a crash in Mayfair left him needing major reconstructive surgery to his face.
'Terrible pain': John Falk was in a black cab that struck a central reservation in Mayfair
John Falk was on his way to see then shadow defence secretary Liam Fox when the black cab he was in hit a central reservation in Bolton Street last February. A writ filed at the High Court claims the taxi was travelling at such a high speed that he was flung forward and his face smashed into the cab's central partition.
He broke his nose, lost several teeth on the taxi's cash tray and needed emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his eye. Despite reconstructive surgery to the left side of his face in the US, the father-of-three from Washington DC has lost 70 per cent of the vision in his left eye. He has also suffered problems with his memory and attention span, the writ says.
Mr Falk spent tens of thousands of dollars on private medical treatment and is seeking more than £300,000 in compensation. His solicitor Jenny Kennedy, from Anthony Gold Solicitors, said her client will never regain the sight in his left eye and had suffered "months of terrible pain from the swelling to his optic nerves".
Mr Falk's consultancy firm Firecreek Ltd has lobbied US government officials on subjects including defence and homeland security.
The writ names Michael Glassman, the director of Colts Cabs in Bethnal Green, as the defendant in the claim. Mr Glassman said he had been named mistakenly because he was the owner of the firm that leased the vehicle. He added: "This man has broken the law by not wearing his seat belt."
Ms Kennedy said: "The insurers know he was not wearing a seatbelt but that doesn't take away their responsibility." She said Mr Falk had taken legal action because insurance firm Quinn Direct has refused to pay out despite admitting responsibility. Quinn Direct declined to comment.
Source; http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/ ... is-face.do
