The 36-year-old plaintiff, Robert Cripps, claims damages for personal
injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident on April 22, 2006. He was
wearing his seatbelt in the front passenger seat of a Dodge 4 x 4 truck driven
by his father-in-law, Glenn Olinek, travelling northbound on 168th
Street in Surrey. The truck was struck on the right side, in a T-bone type
impact, by the defendants car, which came through a stop sign at a high speed.
The significant impact caused the truck to spin in a circle and fly across a
ditch before landing on a lawn. Mr. Cripps was jolted and his body impacted the
interior of the truck. Damage to the truck was extensive and the passenger door
was jammed. Mr. Cripps was assisted out the drivers door. He was dazed. He was
aware of impacts to his head and right knee, and felt severe pain in his rib
cage. He had difficulty breathing and received oxygen from ambulance attendants.
Following the advice of the ambulance attendants regarding a lengthy wait time
at the hospital, he and Mr. Olinek took a taxi home....