Dangerous driving

Prosecutions and Claims |
01.01.2007

A 21-year-old refuse collector has won £3.75 million in compensation at Birmingham Crown Court following an accident which left him paralysed and needing 24-hour care.

Richard Taylor was travelling in a Lichfield District Council refuse lorry when the driver performed a "load shift" - driving fast then braking hard to move rubbish up the truck - causing the vehicle to overturn as it went round a corner. Earlier this year the driver was convicted of dangerous driving and a supervisor was convicted of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.

The HSE found that the council - which does not condone the practice of load shifting - had not been negligent.