I Broke My Head on Great Anglia Train

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The problem is, you chose to sit there, seeing the rack as you sat down, seeing the step up to the seat, and knowing your tall height. It does seem purely unfortunate clumsiness on your part if you’ve then, having seen this, swung up with some gusto and smashed your head on it. I don’t see how it’s Greater Anglia’s problem (anymore than them having to replace one of the panels of their new trains anyway) I’m sure it was a horrible experience and I’m sorry it happened to you, even so.

But I would think you could just end up wasting your money on injury lawyers for little benefit.

 

[AlexNL]

Yet there is trains all over Europe exactly like these stadler trains and people manage ok.

The Stadler trains in Europe are not "exactly like these", as the UK uses unusually high floors (floor 91cm above top of rail) while the rest of the loading gauge is more generous as well. Continental Europe mostly uses 76cm or 55cm, simply leaving more space for headroom.

 

[800001]

The Stadler trains in Europe are not "exactly like these", as the UK uses unusually high floors (floor 91cm above top of rail) while the rest of the loading gauge is more generous as well. Continental Europe mostly uses 76cm or 55cm, simply leaving more space for headroom.

I am 6ft 4 and on European stadlers on the raised sections on articulated bogies have hit my head on the over head racks, that’s my fault, my clumsiness. More so as my bag was on it so I know it’s there.
So yes, the problem does occurs in foreign stock as well.

 

[185]

If it's the one I'm thinking of, this type of Stadler train is the only one so far in the UK I've seen with varying floor heights, up and down ramps over bogies like some dodgy skate park... I noticed it was particularly high and particularly low in certain sections - a totally unnecessary design in our country solely with high platforms. IMO Rubbish design - what works in the continent doesn't work here.

- It's for the courts to decide if this design or lack of signage is the negligent party or the passenger himself.

 

[800001]

If it's the one I'm thinking of, this type of Stadler train is the only one so far in the UK I've seen with varying floor heights, up and down ramps over bogies like some dodgy skate park... I noticed it was particularly high and particularly low in certain sections - a totally unnecessary design in our country solely with high platforms. IMO Rubbish design - what works in the continent doesn't work here.

It would be interesting to know how many thousands of people have travelled on these trains in relations to accidents incurred (I’m aware not all will be reported).

People need to be aware of there own actions, there own surrounding and not blame everyone else when an incident occurs.

I mean now a days we have to say a carton of milk ‘may contain milk’!

 

[185]

Many have jumped to blame the original poster whilst making excuses for the Switzerland based train builder. He's not particularly tall... it's a rubbish design poorly thought out by Stadler. Passengers do some particularly stupid things, but then so do the people running our railways too.

 

[MikeWM]

People need to be aware of there own actions, there own surrounding and not blame everyone else when an incident occurs.

... it's a rubbish design poorly thought out by Stadler.

Both of these things can be true simultaneously, and in this case I'd say they are.

 

[Bishopstone]

Also 6’4”, and agree it’s not a world designed for people of our height. I clonked my head on a door inspection panel left hanging open on a 377, earlier this week.

Of course, the worst offenders are the supermarkets at Christmas, each with 300 ceiling-hung pieces of festive signage, the bottoms of which are 6’2” above floor level: why on earth can’t they give us an extra six inches!?

On the trains, I think people above (say) 6’3” should be entitled to a special railcard in recognition of the exceptional travel difficulties they face

 

[AlterEgo]

It would be interesting to know how many thousands of people have travelled on these trains in relations to accidents incurred

Virgin West Coast paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to several passengers who fell down the footbridge there in the early 2010s. The fact that it was just a handful out of 20 million people using the station in five years is of no relevance.

The company is either liable for the injury or it isn't.

All the OP wants to know is where to get legal advice, and he was given this in the first reply.

 

[Towers]

Many have jumped to blame the original poster whilst making excuses for the Switzerland based train builder. He's not particularly tall... it's a rubbish design poorly thought out by Stadler. Passengers do some particularly stupid things, but then so do the people running our railways too.

6’4” is “not particularly tall”? I reckon it is! Maybe I’m just envious!

That said, I agree with your thoughts on it being a crap design, clearly not very well thought out.

 

[michael74]

Have you received an invoice for this treatment/diagnostics? Given The Royal London Hospital is an NHS hospital, I'd have thought if you had a valid EHIC there would have been no attempt to recover any costs from you.

Initial treatment in ED is free for non UK residents, costs are only claimed for post ED care.

 

[Trainbike46]

Greetings,

My name is Vilmos, I am from Hungary and I need legal advice against British train company Great Anglia for personal injury claim.

On Thursday 23 May 2024, I arrive at Stansted Airport from Budapest, I ride on the Great Anglia express train to London Liverpool Street.

On approach to London, I got up from seat and broke my head on top of train, which caused hole in my skull with bleeding, I also caused damage to train by cracking glass.

I was sent by British ambulance to Whitechapel Royal Hospital for accident and emergency care. I required stitchez and trauma package to the top of my skull.

I require assistance for a personal injury claim against Great Anglia, using respectable British laywer.

I attach photographs of damage caused to Great Anglia train.

https://i.ibb.co/9mDXTq0/1000000839.jpg

And

https://i.ibb.co/x8vgFYx/1000000840.jpg

Thank you.

Vilmos

Firstly, I hope you recover quickly and fully!

Others have already adviced on how you could find a solicitor to assist. They will be able to advise on whether you have a case that could win or not. It may also be worth considering whether they would take the case on a no-win-no-fee basis, can be paid by any insurance you hold, or whether you would have to pay them out of pocket.

One thing that is worth considering for yourself though, is what you are hoping to achieve:

- Do you want costs you have incurred refunded? If so, keep any and all evidence on what those costs were.

- Do you want some kind of compensation?

- Do you want Greater Anglia to make changes to their trains to avoid this happening again to anyone else?

- Are you hoping to achieve anything else?

Share what you're hoping to achieve with your solicitor, and they may be able to advise whether legal action or something else is the best way forward.

I'm not a legal expert, so I won't comment on what I think your chances of success are

 

[Starmill]

I'm sorry, but I'll put this one with drivers who clout stationary objects (e.g. skips and parked cars) in the road and complain they were there - if you clout something that is visible to the eye and isn't moving, then you really weren't paying attention and I can't support legal cases surrounding people who have done that.

There's every chance this is what a solicitor will advise. But I think for any serious injury it's someone's right to get legal advice if they so choose. An initial (short) consultation is often free anyway, though that may not be long enough to give tailored advice, just general views.

The OP has received a link that will help them to search for a general personal injury specialist. Some general information is also available at the Law Society: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/publi...legal-issues/getting-a-personal-injury-lawyer

 

[800001]

Virgin West Coast paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation to several passengers who fell down the footbridge there in the early 2010s. The fact that it was just a handful out of 20 million people using the station in five years is of no relevance.

The company is either liable for the injury or it isn't.

All the OP wants to know is where to get legal advice, and he was given this in the first reply.

Not disputing that, mearly asking a question which is what this forum is for I am lead to believe.

 

[Lockwood]

I also suffer from tall person syndrome, and have hit my head on my garage door many a time. And bright yellow handrails - see them looking down, hit them coming back up - enough times that I should know better by now. And a 6'6 car park height restriction barrier (I am not 6'6) once.

I haven't stood up with enough force to break the other object - is that where OP is coming from? Rather than "I'm tall and hit my head", "I'm tall, hit my head and broke the train, and the broken bit of train caused further injury"?

 

[jon81uk]

The problem is, you chose to sit there, seeing the rack as you sat down, seeing the step up to the seat, and knowing your tall height. It does seem purely unfortunate clumsiness on your part if you’ve then, having seen this, swung up with some gusto and smashed your head on it. I don’t see how it’s Greater Anglia’s problem (anymore than them having to replace one of the panels of their new trains anyway) I’m sure it was a horrible experience and I’m sorry it happened to you, even so.

But I would think you could just end up wasting your money on injury lawyers for little benefit.

I'm only 6ft and having sat in these seats, getting up is very different to sitting down. When taking a seat I think you sit into the aisle seat and shuffle across, but when getting up you stand first and then move across. I commute on Greater Anglia and I've whacked my head on this at least twice, but not as badly as the OP. Its surprisingly easy to do.

I do agree that the lawyer is unlikely to get you anything though.

 

[RAPC]

Vilmos, I hope you are recovering well from your injury. I think the advice from @bcarmicle is good to get you started. If you have insurance, that would be the best starting place, otherwise the SRA site will help.

As for the 'watch where you are standing up' crowd, much as that is solid advice and I am sure that most of us manage to do that most of the time, this is a situation where there has been an injury. The injury has taken place in a particular part of a train where similar incidents have occurred previously, as per some of the quoted threads.

It doesn't matter what any of us believe, it is what good legal representation thinks (and can get proved) that matters. For an issue like this where there has been a track record of incidents, with the operator either removing the panels or adding warning signage, it would appear it is recognised to be an issue. Whether that issue is the fault of a passenger, or of the design and by extension the operator, is for the legally qualified to advise. I hope Vilmos is able to get some legal advice and potentially legal support, should it be felt there is a case to proceed with.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I suspect these sections of luggage racks above the raised sections may end up being removed.

Or perhaps replaced with non-transparent ones, which would be more noticeable in peripheral vision

 

[AverageJoe]

I’m sorry that you got injured but I wish people would take responsibility for their own actions. The blame culture in this world is rife.

I could understand a claim if they had built the luggage rack after you were seated, but the fact that you arrived at the seat and clearly had to take note of the luggage rack in order to sit down takes away any legitimate claim from my standpoint.

 

[185]

Airline overhead bins (5ft ish) are not only opaque plastic but also a little bit softer. Many do bump their head on them, but with little consequence due to the design (ignoring this week's Singaporean incident).

Interesting, one case some years ago found FirstBus at fault for a passenger in the back seat who whacked their head on the downstairs back seat ceiling due to the suspension being diabolical. The passenger initially complained and asked for a 1-week bus pass as a token compensation. FirstGroup refused, then initially tried to blame the driver, the passenger lawyered up and something like £30k was paid out. So, when you watch BBC Claimed & Shamed, take their solicitors comments with a pinch of salt

 

[Vilmos Karlo]

Greetings from Hungary,

Thank you every one for informative advice, I will begin legal proceedings with a local British solicitor company.

I have permanent scar on my crown of head which has caused bald spot in centre of my skull, according to British doctor the damage could be life long if it does not repair properly in healing process. I only have short hair so scar is very noticed by outsiders.

I have researched Great Anglia train type and we also have this model in Hungary but I do not break my head on local train.

This is Hungarian Wikipedia.

Stadler FLIRT – Wikipédia

hu.m.wikipedia.org

In my native Hungary, my job is male model for advertising industry, this injury has cause psychical notice and change to my appearance. My career is to become TV personality and I do not want this injury to become a curse to my appearance. I am anxious this damage could burden my future career.

I am also paranoid my beautiful wife of 14 years marriage will find me unattractive and begin divorce proceedings. I am suffering psychical and psychological trauma caused by accident. This is reason for demanding personal injury claim.

Thank you for legal advice.

Vilmos.

 

[LAX54]

6’4” is “not particularly tall”? I reckon it is! Maybe I’m just envious!

That said, I agree with your thoughts on it being a crap design, clearly not very well thought out.

Its 12" taller than me ! a whole foot taller

 

[Cowley]

Thanks for helping give advice in this thread everyone. I think it’s probably best to leave it where it is now though.