A drunken reveller has sued a trucker for not realising that he was drunk, and driving into him. Carl Heaven is claiming an “unlimited” amount of money in damages from Brian Williams an employee at Essex-based Containerlift Services. The damages are in regard to the multiple broken bones that he suffered when the trucker hit him with the back of the 44 tonne lorry.
Mr. Williams, a plumber is claiming that he was hindered from returning to work for over seven months as a result of the pain from his injuries. Mr. Heaven’s team of lawyers argue that Mr. Williams should have realised “given the time of night and their appearance”, the plumber and his friend “were likely to be drunk and likely to behave unpredictably”.
As a result, he should have “stopped completely or reduced his speed to a point where he was almost stationary”, so he could observe the two revellers in his wing mirrors. The solicitors also added that the driver should have realised his rear wheels were likely to collide with Mr Heaven.
At the time of the accident, Mr Heaven and his friend were both drunk in the High Street in Abingdon, Oxon, at about 2.45am on June 20, 2007.
An employee at the Essex-based Containerlift Services, Mr. Williams was at the time of the accident taking a left turn from Bridge Street into the High Street. According to the police statement, this is when he says he saw the revellers “larking around” in the middle of the road.
After “waving” at Mr Williams, a resident of the Isle of Wight, the revellers moved on to the kerb on the left side of the road, as the driver drove past them. Claiming that he was caught by the back wheels of the lorry and dragged “a significant distance” along the road, Mr Heaven added that he broke his left arm in three places, his left leg and right arm as well.
Mr Heaven could win thousands of pounds in damages, having filed his personal injury claim on June 18 this year.
A date for the case to be heard has not yet been set.
For specialist advice and to find out whether you might be entitled to make an accident claim, visit Duncan Gibbins Solicitors for personal injury claim advice.
