by Richard Craig
16 June 2011
A Darlington man is suing the driver of a taxi for £300,000 in personal injury compensation after being brain damaged in an accident on a night out.
James Stokoe and a friend were passengers in Asif Afzal’s taxi on the evening of May 23, 2008 when they were returning home after drinking alcohol.
Mr Stokoe, who was inebriated, opened the sliding passenger door of the vehicle while it was still moving. He alleges that Mr Asif then braked deliberately in order to cause the door to slam shut on his head.
Mr Stokoe then vomited upon exiting the taxi and was later found lying, unconscious and close to death, on the pavement near to his home after continuing the taxi journey.
He was rushed to hospital where he spent 16 days in intensive care following two operations for a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
The writ lodged by Mr Stokoe’s solicitor alleges that Mr Afzal braked deliberately to shut the door, that he failed to maintain the door properly, and that he failed to appreciate it was open.
Mr Stokoe, 26, has been left unable to work as a result of his injuries.