Express & Star

Bus passenger launches legal action after 'being left with punctured lung when driver hit brakes'

A passenger says he is suing a bus company after claiming to have been violently thrown to the ground when a driver braked suddenly.

Published

David Lloyd says he suffered a punctured lung and several broken ribs in the incident.

It happened on an 825 Arriva bus travelling between Stafford and Rugeley on August 20 last year.

The bus company denies liability.

Mr Lloyd, a retired technical advisor, had taken the bus after his car had broken down.

It was approaching Rugeley at around 5pm when it came to a sudden stop.

He said: "I felt myself thrown with great force on to the metal floor.

"I'd just taken my mobile phone out of my pocket when the driver hit the brakes very hard and, sitting in the front seat, I had nothing to hold on to, to stop myself from falling.

"I've never been in so much pain in my life. I didn't know where I was."

David Lloyd

Mr Lloyd, aged 66, said he turned down the driver's offer of calling an ambulance because he had wanted to get home as soon as possible and did not realise how badly injured he was.

When he went to Stafford Hospital's A&E department a few days later, he was told his lung, as well as being punctured, was also partially collapsed.

He said he was operated on immediately and spent the next seven days in the critical care unit.

His consultant, Dr Dominic Macleod, has written a letter in support of his claim, describing his injuries as 'potentially life-threatening and of a serious nature'.

Mr Lloyd, of Dawes Close, Armitage, said: "I haven't slept through the night since it happened because of the pain.

"I've always been very athletic and have kept myself fit. But I don't do as much walking as I used to and, according to my GP, the trauma has affected by arthritis."

The bus company declined to comment on the matter.

Spokesman Keith Myatt said: "Arriva Midlands would not wish to make any further statement regarding this matter which is still ongoing between our insurance company and Mr Lloyd."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.