Damages Awarded To Man After Acton Car Park Accident

---

Craig Sparrow severely injured when he tried to stop a car rolling on a slope

The High Court has ruled in favour of awarding damages to a man who lost his leg after an incident three years ago in the car park of The Park Club in Acton.

Craig Sparrow, who was seeking £1million, claimed that a car had shunted into his, causing it to roll backwards with his two children aged 9 and 11 inside.

Mr Sparrow said: “I remember my children screaming loudly, I turned to see my car moving towards me. I recall putting my hands on the car to stop it.

“I believed my children were in great danger but I could tell by the momentum I couldn’t stop the car. I was picked up with it. I had no opportunity to get out of the way.

"I remember a dull thud, a lot of pain then intense relief the car had come to a stop.”

“I looked down at my leg and couldn’t believe the amount of damage I remember my son getting out of the car and screaming and then he jumped back in the car.

"I took one or two steps backwards and could feel I was about to lose consciousness.”

Following the incident Mr Sparrow had numerous operations resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee.

The Defendant, Mr. Arnaud Andre, had first claimed that his Lexus 4X4 car had been stationary at the point of collision and that the Claimant (Mr. Sparrow) reversed out of the disabled bay into the path of his vehicle. He claimed the bumpers had touched and it was not a severe impact. However in cross-examination he accepted it was possible that the Claimant was correct and that he reversed into the Claimant's car.

The judge said that she concluded that the severity of the collision was more accurately described by the Claimant, whose evidence was supported in relation to noise by two witnesses. She did not believe the defendant's claim "plausible" that when he drove away without first getting out of his car to inspect the damage, or exchange particulars with Mr. Sparrow, that he was merely moving the car to let others pass.

The judge also said that the claimant showed a contributory negligence as he had not put the hand brake on. However the circumstances were unusual and she accepted that while a person would not normally try to hold back a reversing car, in this case the claimant acted because he believed his children were at risk.

Mr. Sparrow, an engineer, and married with two children told chiswickw4.com that the family were relieved that the court case was over and that the "truth had prevailed". He thanked the local community and The Park club for the support he had received.

 

13th April 2016