NEWS...IN THE NEWS...
NORTHANTS MAN’S GUIDE DOG RUN OVER BY TAXI MAY FACE CLAIM A blind man whose guide dog was hit by a reversing taxi has been told he may face a claim for dam- ages from the driver after the cab was left with a small dent. Mike Gurney, 69, from Deanshanger in Northants, was being led by his German Shepherd, Emma, on a shopping trip in August when the taxi mounted the curb and knocked into them.
The Daily Mail reports that Mr Gurney tapped on the car twice and yelled out for the driver to stop. He reported the inci- dent to police and a passing woman who had watched the inci-
dent unfold told him she was happy to be a witness. Mr Gurney claims Thames Valley Police officers initially told him they would prose- cute the taxi driver for driving without due care and attention. Mr Gurney said: “How can it be legal to reverse onto a pave- ment and hit a guide dog? If it had been a toddler or someone not too steady on their feet it could have been a lot worse. “It was possible the cabbie would contin- ue reversing if I hadn’t stopped it. Even if it was lawful it can never be right to reverse into a per- son.”
holiday weekend and was told she had suf- fered bruising. But Mr Gurney, who is registered blind and does not work, is worried the mental trauma could affect her career as a guide dog.
Mr Gurney has now been told he could face a claim from the cabbie's insurance as the car was dented
The female passer-by who witnessed the event has since writ- ten a letter of complaint to the taxi company involved. Mr Gurney, who has insurance for guide dog Emma, said: “It is unfair for them to
have to fork out for this when that money could be going towards training more guide dogs.”
He added that he rushed Emma to the vet after the incident near Milton Keynes, on the August bank
He said: “She is only 22 months old and the accident hap- pened five and a half weeks after I had her. It could have a dev- astating effect. She was quiet and sub- dued afterwards and now she is a little bit more aware of traffic. “But if she becomes frightened all of her training will go out of the window.” A Thames Valley Police spokesman
said: “We understand this was an upsetting incident for all those involved.
“Fortunately neither the pedestrian or the driver was injured, although the dog did sustain minor injuries. “Police have spoken to all those involved about the incident and the driver was given a verbal warn- ing and advice. “Following an investi- gation by TVP the decision was made that no action will be taken against the driv- er. The owner of the dog is unhappy with the outcome he can of course make a for- mal complaint to us so we can look into it.”
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info@promptpay.co.uk OCTOBER 2015 57
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