Businessman sues black cab firm over crash that wrecked his face

An American lobbyist is suing a London taxi firm after a crash in Mayfair left him needing major reconstructive surgery to his face.

John Falk was on his way to see then shadow defence secretary Liam Fox when the black cab he was in hit a central reservation in Bolton Street last February. A writ filed at the High Court claims the taxi was travelling at such a high speed that he was flung forward and his face smashed into the cab's central partition.

He broke his nose, lost several teeth on the taxi's cash tray and needed emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his eye. Despite reconstructive surgery to the left side of his face in the US, the father-of-three from Washington DC has lost 70 per cent of the vision in his left eye. He has also suffered problems with his memory and attention span, the writ says.

Mr Falk spent tens of thousands of dollars on private medical treatment and is seeking more than £300,000 in compensation. His solicitor Jenny Kennedy, from Anthony Gold Solicitors, said her client will never regain the sight in his left eye and had suffered "months of terrible pain from the swelling to his optic nerves".

Mr Falk's consultancy firm Firecreek Ltd has lobbied US government officials on subjects including defence and homeland security.

The writ names Michael Glassman, the director of Colts Cabs in Bethnal Green, as the defendant in the claim.Mr Glassman said he had been named mistakenly because he was the owner of the firm that leased the vehicle. He added: "This man has broken the law by not wearing his seat belt."

Ms Kennedy said: "The insurers know he was not wearing a seatbelt but that doesn't take away their responsibility." She said Mr Falk had taken legal action because insurance firm Quinn Direct has refused to pay out despite admitting responsibility. Quinn Direct declined to comment.