Person sustains grievous injuries after falling onto underground train platform and being struck by two oncoming trains, with authorities stating she was partly responsible for the incident.
In a significant legal case set for an eight-day trial at the High Court in early 2027, Sarah de Lagarde, a 47-year-old woman who lost parts of her right arm and leg after being run over by two Northern Line trains at High Barnet station on September 30, 2022, is suing Transport for London (TfL) for £25 million.
TfL's lawyers have taken a defensive stance, refusing to accept liability for the incident and accusing Ms. de Lagarde of being negligent in the way she got off the train and placing herself in a position of danger. Among the list of her failings, TfL alleges that she did not maintain her balance, was not on a stable footing, had insufficient regard for her own safety, and did not listen to the 'mind the gap' announcements.
The TfL spokesperson has stated that they are responding to the legal claim but have declined to discuss details of their defence while the case is ongoing. They have, however, expressed sympathy for Ms. de Lagarde and her family and emphasized their commitment to learning from any incident on the Tube network.
The incident occurred when Ms. de Lagarde attempted to reboard a train after getting off at the end of the line, but she slipped and fell into the gap between the train and the platform. Five minutes later, a second train arrived and crushed her right leg. A driver spotted her handbag and took it to lost property before continuing with his journey, running over her arm.
The case is proceeding towards a preliminary issue trial on liability, breach of duty, causation, and the issue of contributory negligence. The trial has been scheduled for an eight-week period in 2027, with a further hearing scheduled for September.
Thomas Jervis, a partner at law firm Leigh Day, is representing Ms. de Lagarde in her lawsuit against London Underground. He has highlighted TfL's refusal to acknowledge responsibility and their attribution of fault to Ms. de Lagarde, stating that this stance could have a significant impact on how London's transport network is operated in the future.
Ms. de Lagarde, who uses two prosthetic limbs, including a bionic arm, as a result of the incident, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has not used public transport since the incident, expressing fear.
No information has been provided about the outcome of the lawsuit or any changes made to the Tube network as a result of the incident. Safety remains the top priority for TfL, according to their spokesperson, who emphasized their ongoing efforts to learn from incidents on the Tube network.
- The incident at High Barnet station involving Sarah de Lagarde has raised questions in the general news about the safety measures in public-transit systems, specifically the London Underground.
- Amidst the legal battle, finance plays a significant role as Ms. de Lagarde is suing Transport for London (TfL) for £25 million, a sum that could have implications for the transportation industry's insurance and liability policies.
- Crime and justice may also be affected by the outcome of this case, as the court will decide on the issue of contributory negligence, a determination that could set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
- Car-accidents, while unrelated to this case, might potentially benefit from lessons learned from this incident, as Transport for London emphasizes its commitment to learning from any incident on the Tube network, which could help improve safety in various modes of transportation.
