Personal Injury Solicitors

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court took just one hour to convict an off-duty taxi driver of causing the death of a 17-year-old student by dangerous driving.

The Daily Mail reports that David Baillie, 39, from Sunderland was at the wheel of his Volvo and was performing an overtaking manoeuvre at speed when he crashed into art and design student Sarah Jane Burke in September 2013, inflicting catastrophic injuries on her.

The talented student was taken to hospital in Newcastle by Air Ambulance, but died five days later.

The court heard how Baillie was driving aggressively at the time of the accident – and already has a string of convictions for driving offences, including convictions for dangerous driving. At the time of the collision with Ms Burke, he had a female passenger and child in the car with him.

Baillie was attempting to overtake a Vauxhall Corsa in his Volvo, the court heard – he was behaving “aggressively” behind the wheel and appeared determined “at all costs” to execute the manoeuvre when he ploughed into Ms Burke, prosecutors told the court.

Baillie at first blamed the driver of the Corsa he was trying to overtake for the accident.

In a police interview, Baillie later admitted he had been paying more attention to the other car than the road ahead.

A witness to the collision told the court:

“It was as if the driver owned the road and no-one else was there.”

Sarah Jane was making her way home from Sunderland College at the time of the crash. She was tossed into the air and landed on her head 20 feet away from the collision site, sustaining a severe brain trauma and multiple fractures.

Baillie denied charges of causing Ms Burke’s death by dangerous driving, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving. He denied his driving at the time of the accident had been dangerous.

The jury was shown footage of Ms Burke on her way home before the crash – as well as the crash scene, with Ms Burke lying in the road.

The jury’s verdict was unanimous and Baillie was convicted of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

After the jury’s verdict was delivered, the court was then told of Baillie’s previous convictions for motoring offences. The taxi driver had already been convicted of dangerous driving on two occasions, jurors heard – and he had already served a jail term for motoring offences.

Judge Paul Sloan QC told Baillie:

“You must understand, a substantial sentence of imprisonment is inevitable in the circumstances of this case.”

Prosecution lawyer Nick Dry told he court:

“He has around ten [convictions] for theft of motor vehicles and taking without consent, five for driving while disqualified and five for having no insurance.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Road Traffic Accidents

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise the victims of road traffic accidents (RTAs) on how to make a no win no fee compensation claim for injuries sustained as a result of another party’s negligence or recklessness, including another road user, driver of a vehicle you are a passenger in, or a body responsible for maintaining the road surface or signage.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years from the date of injury in which to make a no win no fee compensation claim for RTA injuries.

Low-value RTA claims under £10,000 are fast-tracked through the RTA Claims Portal.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Serious Injury Claims and Fatal Injury Claims, which can be made in the civil court against the individual responsible for the injuries, once the court has obtained a conviction.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee compensation claims for Road Traffic Accidents, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.