Head Injury Settlement Secured After Man Falls Out of Moving Taxi
02/03/2011
A Bristol man who was left with severe head injuries after falling from a moving taxi has today been awarded a substantial, undisclosed compensation settlement.
Grant Parfitt, then aged 19, was left in a coma for four weeks and fighting for his life after falling out of the taxi on 23 December 2005 following a night out with friends.
The driver of the vehicle was charged with ‘wanton and furious driving’ but was found not guilty in November 2006 by a jury at Bristol Crown Court. Despite this, head injury specialists from Irwin Mitchell have succeeded in a civil action on behalf of Mr Parfitt (now 24), against the driver’s insurer.
The claim was settled out of court but, due to Mr Parfitt’s continuing mental impairment as a result of his brain injuries, the settlement needed to be approved by His Honour Judge Denyer QC in the High Court, Bristol.
At the time of the incident, Grant, from the Hengrove area of Bristol, worked full time for a factory which fabricated windows. He was a keen DIY enthusiast who also enjoyed going to the gym and playing football. He had also only recently passed his driving test had bought and renovated a sports car which had become his pride and joy. As a result of the serious brain injuries sustained in the accident, Grant is no longer able to drive and is unlikely to ever return to paid employment.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Rupesh Masani, a specialist head injury solicitor from Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office, explained: “The past six years have been a roller coaster of emotions for Grant and his family.
“On the night of the accident Grant had gone out with friends, having finished work for the Christmas holidays. The knock on the door by the police in the early hours of the morning is a moment which any parent dreads. Officers informed Janet Parfitt that her son was in a critical condition and fighting for his life.
“She and the family spent their entire Christmas by Grant’s bedside. On 30th December his condition deteriorated further and he underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on the brain – a procedure that involved removing a section of his skull to prevent further brain damage.
“In February 2006 he was transferred to the Brain Injury Unit at Frenchay Hospital where, as part of a slow and painstaking recovery, he learnt how to walk again before finally being discharged home in September – more than nine months after the accident.”
Mr Masani added: “Although his family and the medical team who cared so tirelessly for him are amazed by the progress that Grant has made, the fact remains that his life will never be the same again. He has been left with a significant brain injury and still relies a great deal on his Mum and other members of the family for day to day support.
“Although today’s financial settlement cannot turn back the clock or give him back the normal life he once had, it will at least alleviate some of the financial strain of caring for him.
“Grant is a determined young man who has refused to let his injuries get the better of him and, following the successful conclusion of his six year legal battle for justice, we hope that he and his family will continue to rebuild their lives.”
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