Ferrari test driver sues
Discussion
Ferrari test driver sues after '100mph crash' - Telegraph
[SIZE="4"]A Ferrari test driver is suing his former employers after he was left paralysed from the neck down after crashing a 170mph supercar. [/SIZE]
Stephen Harris, who was working as a car technician at Kent High Performance Cars - which trades as The Ferrari Centre in Maidstone, Kent - suffered horrendous injuries after the Ferrari 348 TS he was test driving went off the road.
The 31-year-old claims that the owner of the car showroom, Roger Collingwood, told him to 'open her up' - meaning to put his foot down to test the £30,000 supercar was running smoothly.
He also claims that his former boss told him to take the car to 100mph before the smash in 2008.
The crash happened on the A274 near Headcorn in Kent when Mr Harris drove at speeds of up to 80mph before losing control and smashing into another car before leaving the road and crashing into a clump of trees.
The driver of the other car involved in the accident was not seriously injured in the crash and a police report found that the car had 'no defects'.
Mr Harris, whose job was to repair and service Ferraris and to 'run them in' before handing them back to owners, now needs round-the-clock care and is wheelchair-bound since the crash.
He claims his former employers were negligent and that it was 'unsafe' for him to test high performance cars on the open road.
The case is set to be heard next year.
Roger Collingwood, the owner of Kent High Performance Cars - which trades as The Ferrari Centre in Maidstone, Kent, denied being negligent.
The 31-year-old, of West Malling in Kent, needs round the clock care after being paralysed from the neck down in the crash in November 2008 when he was test driving a Ferrari 348 TS.
Mr Collingwood, however, said that all of his employees 'knew the rules' and that they were all told to obey the laws of the road and not to break the speed limit.
He said: "All staff are told that under no circumstances can they break the laws of the road and they are never to exceed the speed limit."
Mt Collingwood - who has run the showroom and garage for nearly 30 years - added" It is tragic what happened to Stephen, but we strongly dispute any claim of negligence on our part."[/QUOTE]
[SIZE="4"]A Ferrari test driver is suing his former employers after he was left paralysed from the neck down after crashing a 170mph supercar. [/SIZE]
Stephen Harris, who was working as a car technician at Kent High Performance Cars - which trades as The Ferrari Centre in Maidstone, Kent - suffered horrendous injuries after the Ferrari 348 TS he was test driving went off the road.
The 31-year-old claims that the owner of the car showroom, Roger Collingwood, told him to 'open her up' - meaning to put his foot down to test the £30,000 supercar was running smoothly.
He also claims that his former boss told him to take the car to 100mph before the smash in 2008.
The crash happened on the A274 near Headcorn in Kent when Mr Harris drove at speeds of up to 80mph before losing control and smashing into another car before leaving the road and crashing into a clump of trees.
The driver of the other car involved in the accident was not seriously injured in the crash and a police report found that the car had 'no defects'.
Mr Harris, whose job was to repair and service Ferraris and to 'run them in' before handing them back to owners, now needs round-the-clock care and is wheelchair-bound since the crash.
He claims his former employers were negligent and that it was 'unsafe' for him to test high performance cars on the open road.
The case is set to be heard next year.
Roger Collingwood, the owner of Kent High Performance Cars - which trades as The Ferrari Centre in Maidstone, Kent, denied being negligent.
The 31-year-old, of West Malling in Kent, needs round the clock care after being paralysed from the neck down in the crash in November 2008 when he was test driving a Ferrari 348 TS.
Mr Collingwood, however, said that all of his employees 'knew the rules' and that they were all told to obey the laws of the road and not to break the speed limit.
He said: "All staff are told that under no circumstances can they break the laws of the road and they are never to exceed the speed limit."
Mt Collingwood - who has run the showroom and garage for nearly 30 years - added" It is tragic what happened to Stephen, but we strongly dispute any claim of negligence on our part."[/QUOTE]
I can just imagine how that conversation went:
Employer - 'put your foot down and get it up to at least 100 miles an hour'
Employee - 'But sir, I couldn't possibly drive a supercar at more than the speed limit, that would just be wrong. I'm also sure that my driving ability isn't of a standard sufficient enough to cope with those speeds on our UK road network. No, why are you pushing my right foot down, stop it, no, I don't want to drive this fast, stop it, how the hell are you doing that from the office 15 miles away, NOO!!'
Just like that.
I feel for the guy, I really do - he's essentially lost his life - however, it is no one elses fault but his own for going that fast and trying to make the employer pay for his excesses is nothing other than greed.
Employer - 'put your foot down and get it up to at least 100 miles an hour'
Employee - 'But sir, I couldn't possibly drive a supercar at more than the speed limit, that would just be wrong. I'm also sure that my driving ability isn't of a standard sufficient enough to cope with those speeds on our UK road network. No, why are you pushing my right foot down, stop it, no, I don't want to drive this fast, stop it, how the hell are you doing that from the office 15 miles away, NOO!!'
Just like that.
I feel for the guy, I really do - he's essentially lost his life - however, it is no one elses fault but his own for going that fast and trying to make the employer pay for his excesses is nothing other than greed.
DayTrader said:
Surely he doesn't have a leg to stand on?
That's bad, really bad! Already some opinions on it here,
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Ferrari Centre, Maidstone
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Ferrari Centre, Maidstone
I remember this happening - My 348 tb was there having some work done at the time whilst I stayed in Maidstone with friends.
I have been in the trade for 14 years and have just about driven everything - If I speed its down to me to take the the blame if anything happens.
Lets not forget that this is a very tragic and unfortunate accident where the mechanic was left with life changing injuries and I for one feel very sorry for him.
The thing is an accident is what it was and I can't see why the owner of the garage is responsible. KHPC and TFC are a great outfit with a great reputation and I hope that this is all sorted out with reasonable results.
I have been in the trade for 14 years and have just about driven everything - If I speed its down to me to take the the blame if anything happens.
Lets not forget that this is a very tragic and unfortunate accident where the mechanic was left with life changing injuries and I for one feel very sorry for him.
The thing is an accident is what it was and I can't see why the owner of the garage is responsible. KHPC and TFC are a great outfit with a great reputation and I hope that this is all sorted out with reasonable results.
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