Father trapped with son in car secures €91k damages

A RETIRED carpenter involved in seven accidents over a 23-year period has secured €91,463 in High Court damages arising from a violent collision which left him and his 12-year-old son trapped inside their Toyota jeep for 90 minutes with a strong smell of petroleum coming from the crash scene.

This caused the man to become “hysterical” at the scene, the court heard.

Mr Justice John Quirke said the man was very conscious of the strong smell of petroleum and was particularly concerned for the safety of his son who he could not reach because he was pinned by the steering wheel of his car.