Lawyer Supports Roadpeace Road Victim Month

By Suzanne Rutter

The devastated wife of a man who was killed in a car crash has spoken of her relief, after the driver responsible for her husband’s death has been sentenced and hopes the tragedy raises awareness about the importance of road safety.

Stanislavs Nazarovs, of Carlton Avenue in Sowerby, Thirsk, was killed on 26 October 2012 when the driver of a Honda Civic pulled out to overtake another vehicle and collided head on with his motorbike on the A61, between Skipton-on-Swale and Busby Stoop, near Thirsk.

The 27-year-old, known to his friends and family as 'Stas', had been married to his wife Elita for just four years when he died and she is still coming to terms with losing her childhood sweetheart.

Christopher Steven Armsby, 22, the driver of the car which hit Stas, appeared at Teesside Crown Court today where Judge Peter Bowers gave him a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to complete 200 hours of work in the community following a guilty plea of causing death by careless driving.

Elita, 25, has instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell as she continues her battle for justice in her husband’s name and hopes the case will highlight the importance of road safety during Road Victim Month, run by the charity 'Roadpeace' throughout August.

Rachel Di Clemente, from Irwin Mitchell representing her, said: "This is an incredibly sad case in which a young man’s life was taken from him too early, as a result of the careless actions of another road user.

"No sentence can compare to the loss of a loved one but hopefully the sentence in this case sends out a message to other road users and provides some comfort to help Elita come to terms with losing Stas.

"We hope that this case will be a stark reminder, particularly during Road Victim Month and to those who are young and inexperienced, to other motorists who should always be aware that they have other people’s lives in their hands when they are out on the roads. We will now continue to help Elita get the support that she needs in future."

Heartbroken Elita met Stas when she was 17-years-old and at the time of the crash, the couple had saved up to buy a new home and were planning to start a family.

Irwin Mitchell is also supporting her in her campaign to have a memorial erected on the side of the road where Stas died so that he will never be forgotten.

Elita said: "Stas was the love of my life and my childhood sweetheart – we had known each other since he was at college and I was still at school and he used to work on my parent’s farm in the summer so we could spend time together. He was my world and I don’t think I will ever get over losing him like this. We had so many plans for the future.

"I’m relieved the driver responsible for his death has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced today. It won’t bring Stas back or make up for what’s happened, but I feel like I’ve got some sense of justice for him.

"My goal now is to continue to honour Stas’s memory and I hope that in future, I’ll be able to have a memorial on the roadside or to plant a tree where he died so that people will never forget him.

"I also hope his death and the fact everyone is focused on Road Victim Month in August will remind other motorists to drive as safely as possible to prevent other people going through the same heartbreak as I have."

For more information, read about Irwin Mitchell's expertise relating to Fatal Accident Claims.