Man saves guy from burning car then sues him

Demoman2005 · 06-08-2005, 08:01 PM

Man saves driver from burning car, then sues him

DAVE FINLAY

A MAN who rescued a trapped motorist from a burning car is now suing the driver for Â£400,000 because of the effect on his health.

Gordon Sansbury pulled Alexander Guthrie from the vehicle after it crashed into his house and burst into flames.

But Mr Sansbury says he suffered problems caused by the accident, which led to the loss of his job in the offshore oil industry. Lawyers acting for Mr Guthrie have admitted liability in the action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh but claim that the sum he is seeking is excessive.

Mr Sansbury, 44, was at home in St Monans, in the East Neuk of Fife, on an evening in November 1996 when the crash occurred. He looked out to see flames and saw the driver was still in the car and tried to free him, but the door wouldn't open.

Mr Sansbury said the "smoke was increasing by the second", but he eventually freed the semi-conscious driver. "I was coughing profusely. I couldn't really breathe properly," he said.

Both Mr Sansbury and Mr Guthrie, of Braehead Road, Pittenweem, in Fife, were taken to hospital. Mr Sansbury was discharged but said he had to keep going back to see a chest specialist for breathing difficulties.

Mr Sansbury, now of Prestatyn, North Wales, was later diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Lawyers for Mr Guthrie claim that some of the psychiatric symptoms from which he suffered after the accident had been caused or worsened by other events, including the death of his wife. The hearing before Lord Hodge continues.

{OF}Malicious Assault · 06-08-2005, 08:54 PM

I guess the guy should get something for savign the guys ***, But I'm not sure how much that is in USD

ARX|Frag4U · 06-09-2005, 01:08 AM

Just call it a reward...I guess

{OF}MillerTime · 06-09-2005, 06:35 AM

That's typical of today. Eazy buck for nothing. Abuse the system and drive up costs for the ppl that really need it.

Doing that wouldn't cross my mind, I call it just doing the right thing.

Cheese · 06-09-2005, 08:38 AM

even if you got sick from the smoke mt? i can sort of see where he's coming from. he never would have inhaled smoke if the guy started a fire in his house. forget the fact that he saved him, thats something anyone would have done. the fact that the guy wrecked into his house and caused fire/smoke to be around and he had to inhale it means its the guys fault not his. so if he really does have as many issues as he says he does, then i dont see why he shouldnt sue. at least for the medical bills. but since his wife died as well it'd be hard to pinpoint the exact cause for everything...he probably shouldnt get that much, but he should get something because if the guy hadnt wrecked into his house he wouldnt have any breathing issues now

NiRvAnA · 06-09-2005, 11:08 AM

Its storys like this that make ya proud to be britsh...sue eachother for the heck of it

Cheese · 06-09-2005, 01:20 PM

lol, i thought that was only in the US

NiRvAnA · 06-09-2005, 01:46 PM

Think we got some people got lost on way to america