CYCLIST CLAIMS £933

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1044, 7 August 1930, Page 10

CYCLIST CLAIMS £933

SIGNALMAN INJURED ON GREAT SOUTH ROAD ACTION AGAINST MOTORIST Injured through being knocked off his bicycle when riding across the road by a motor-car on the “'night of December 29, Edward Francis Hickey, a railway signalman, of Green Lane, sued the motorist, Hugh C. Grierson, in tho Supreme Court today for £933 damages. The claim was heard before Mr. Justice Smith and a jury of 12, this being the second trial of the action, in which the jury disagreed at the first hearing in May this year. Tho accident occurred at the corner of Great South Road and Mapau Road late on tho night of December 29. The plaintiff claimed that when he was cycling to work at Newmarket Grierson had driven violently into him, inflicting serious injury. He based his claim on the allegation that defendant had driven negligently, in keeping to tho wrong side of the road, driving at an excessive speed and failing to keep a proper lookout. The sum of .£750 general damages, £l5O for loss of wages, £25 expenses was sought by the plaintiff. Tho defendant charged Hickey with contributory negligence by attempting to cross the road in front of the car at too great a speed, without warning, and not having his machine sufficiently lighted. Mr. Noble appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. West represented the defendant. TEN RIBS BROKEN According t«» Mr. Noble. Hickey, in coming out of Mapau Road into Great South Road, saw the car approaching about 90 yards distant. The plaintiff had just ridden across the second line of tram rails when tho car suddenly struck him, throwing the bicycle 20 feet away and injuring the rider so seriously that 10 ribs were broken. After the impact, the car travelled 70 feet before it could be stopped. As a result of his injuries Hickey had been off work for six months and had suffered permanent partial disablement. He had since been able to resume work, but on account of its heavy nature he was unable to continue his old job and was compelled to accept lighter work at £1 14s weekly less. (Proceeding.)