Victim Continues Battle For Justice

A MAN facing the threat of having his leg amputated after being crushed by a car has spoken of his relief after the driver was sentenced for dangerous driving.

Mark McGarahan, 44, of Birchfields Road, Longsight, Manchester, has now asked serious injury specialists at law firm Irwin Mitchell to help him continue his battle for justice as he undergoes extensive therapy and rehabilitation in an attempt to save his right leg.

The driver of the car, Mohammed Farah, 22, of Vaudrey Drive, Cheadle Hulme, was sentenced to eight months in jail and disqualified from driving for two years at Manchester Crown Court on 28 September 2010 after pleading guilty to a charge of dangerous driving.

Since the incident on Laindon Road, Longsight, in January 2010 Mr McGarahan has had to endure several operations and nine months as resident in a rehabilitation centre, in Openshaw.

Now his Solicitor, Keith Cundall from Irwin Mitchell says that Mr McGarahan is finally hoping to put the ordeal behind him, so that he can concentrate on getting well and moving on with his life. He said: “Though a relief that the driver of the car has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving Mr McGarahan’s ordeal is far from over.

“He has spent the last nine months in and out of hospital on a weekly basis and is still not well enough to return home. Yet he has handled it with great bravery and resolve despite being no longer able to function on his own day to day.

“Mark is very lucky to still have his life, but, through no fault of his own, he faces a long road of therapy and rehabilitation, and Irwin Mitchell is committed to making sure he gets the care that he both needs and deserves.”

Mark McGarahan described how he had been pinned between against a wall, and had needed his friends to pull the car away before he could be freed.

He said: “Eight months seems unfair. He will be walking the streets long before I will.
“I don’t know why this happened to me. I was just walking to the shop when this car came up the curb from behind and hit me. I was pinned against the wall and my mates had to pull the car off.

“I have had to undergo months of very painful surgery and rehabilitation and will need to continue to do so for the foreseeable future and still I’m not sure I will be able to keep my leg and I’m told if I do it will be at least two inches shorter.

“I am really lucky that my family have rallied round me in recent months, I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them. It is just such a relief that at last some recognition has been made of the irresponsible actions of the man that injured me and perhaps I can now look to the future and concentrate on getting my life back on track.”

Irwin Mitchell has been instructed to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident that took place in January this year, and are assessing the injuries sustained by Mr McGarahan to ensure he receives the necessary funds to secure his future care and rehabilitation needs.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident that has resulted in the amputation of a limb, our serious injury claims team could help you claim compensation. See our Amputation Claims page for more information.