Shropshire man thrown from car bonnet wins millions in compensation

The High Court in London has ruled that Ian Groves, from Snailbeach near Shrewsbury was 40 per cent to blame for the accident, as he had deliberately jumped on to the bonnet of the moving car.

Mr Groves, 38, was today awarded 60 per cent of the compensation which is expected to be a multi-million pound award.

Neil Lorimer, from Lanyon Bowdler who acted for Mr Groves, said: "His injuries are some of the worst I have ever seen.

"This was a moment of madness that has resulted in one person being sent to jail and the life of another ruined with devastating consequences for Mr Groves' family and friends.

"He will need 24 hour care for the rest of his life, suitable accommodation and equipment and will never work again.

"The damages will have to be carefully calculated to meet Mr Groves' extensive needs now and for the rest of his life.

"The judge held that Mr Studley of Hall Meadow, Cannock, was largely to blame for the accident, but that Mr Groves had contributed to his injuries by his own negligence through his aggression and deliberately jumping onto the bonnet of Mr Studley's car."

The accident happened following an altercation which took place outside Dinky's Diner in a lay-by at Ford, near Shrewsbury.

The driver of the car Jonathan Studley, was jailed for 22 months after admitting dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and failing to stop after an accident.

Shortly after midnight in July 2010 Mr Groves and his friends had stopped at Dinky's Diner to get some food.

Mr Studley arrived a few minutes later with his then girlfriend and some other friends who all came in separate cars following a day out. After some initially friendly banter a disagreement arose over a pair of trainers.

In his judgment Mr Justice Stewart found that Mr Studley could have taken a route which sought to avoid Mr Groves yet he had, initially, driven his car directly towards him in the Dinky's Diner lay-by before swerving.

He found it was at that point Mr Groves deliberately jumped on the bonnet of Mr Studley's car.

Justice Stewart noted Mr Studley was responsible for a number of failings which could have avoided the grievous injuries to Mr Groves. Once Mr Groves was on Mr Studley's car bonnet, Mr Studley failed to stop or slow down enough to allow Mr Groves to get off the car.

Instead Mr Studley continued to drive a substantial distance at an unsafe speed before deliberately swerving in order to dislodge Mr Groves. Mr Groves was thrown off the bonnet of Mr Studley's moving car onto a lay-by on the A458 main road with catastrophic results.

Through his mother, June Groves, Mr Groves sued Mr Studley for damages due to the injuries sustained.

Mr Groves suffered serious brain injuries and was in a critical condition, resulting in him being transferred to Hunters Moor Neuro-Rehabiliation Centre in the West Midlands.

He has been left with speech, language and cognitive difficulties as well as mobility issues and the risk of uncontrolled epilepsy, all of which will have a significant impact on Mr Groves requiring him to have round the clock care for the rest of his life.

June Groves said: "Mr Groves and I are extremely pleased with the outcome and that we have some certainty for Ian and his future. We are very satisfied with how the barristers Mr Colin McCaul QC and Mr Jones QC handled the case in Court and Mr Lorimer and his team at Lanyon Bowdler have been most helpful and supportive throughout. We would like to thank everyone for their assistance in this case."