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£2,750 Damages for Injured Mate
Page 154
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PAA DRIVER'S mate who was trapped when an 81-ton casting toppled from a low-loader was awarded damages of £2,750 against his former employers, Sunter Brothers, Ltd., of Boroughbridge Road, Northallerton, in an action at York Assizes.
The man, 32-year-old Mr. Laurence Pratt, of Vicar's Croft, Northallerton, who had been a lorry driver's mate only a few weeks when the accident happened on August 7, 1957, was stated to have received severe injuries from which he had made a remarkable recovery.
He sued Sunter Brothers and also Head Wrightson and Co., Ltd., of Middlesbrough.
c8 Mr. Justice Salmon said, in his judgment, that about 400 tons of machinery was being moved by Sunter Brothers for Head Wrightson and Co. and on the daY of the accident they sent a lorry to the works to remove an awkward piece. it toppled off the lorry and trapped Mr. Pratt and " by the grace of God he was not crushed to death."
The judge said it seemed to him that there was no evidence on which he could properly hold Head Wrightson's to blame. He said he regarded the lorry driver as " captain of his own ship" and was forced to the conclusion that the accident happened due to a failure in care and skill on the driver's part.