£2m cash payout for crash victim

Published on 8th March 2007 in News

A Market Weighton man has been awarded more than £2 million in damages after being left paralysed from the waist down in a car accident.

Michael Gawler (26), of Cliffe Road, suffered massive spinal injuries after the car in which he was a passenger crashed on the A1034 near Sancton in December, 2004. Last week he was awarded £2,025,000 in damages by London's High Court.

Cash cut due to 'no seatbelt'

His compensation had been expected to amount to £2.7m but this was reduced by 25 per cent because he had not been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

"I always knew that at least 25 per cent was going to be taken off the amount of compensation I received, and I'm just glad it stayed at 25 per cent," said Michael last week.

"My solicitor said it was very good that I received this amount. This money means security for the future. I know my mum, sister and girlfriend are going to be okay and I'm going to be able to support myself."

The accident happened more than two years ago when Michael was a passenger with Paul Raettig, who lost control of his car because he was driving too fast as he tried to negotiate a bend in the road.

Mr Raettig had passed his driving test just two weeks before the accident. After pleading guilty to careless driving he was fined £450 and had seven points put on his licence.

At a hearing, Mr Justice Gray said he could not accept that the accident occurred due to a mere "mistake or momentary inattention or misjudgement" on Mr Raettig's part and rejected defence claims that the Mr Gawler's damages should be reduced by 50 per cent.

Peter Stringer, of Stewarts Solicitors, who represented Mr Gawler, said the compensation figure last week, which was based on evidence from a field of experts, was an 'excellent' outcome for his client.