A man mowed down by fanatic Khalid Masood in the Westminster terror attack has launched a claim against the insurer of the jihadi’s car, the Standard has learned.
Francisco Lopes, 26, is the first victim known to be launching such an action over the Hyundai Tucson 4x4 Masood used to carry out his rampage, which left four people dead and 50 injured.
The Islamist extremist ploughed into dozens on Westminster Bridge then ran into Parliament and fatally stabbed Pc Keith Palmer before being shot dead.
Mr Lopes was one of the last to be hit before the car crashed outside Parliament’s front gates. He was thrown over the bonnet, leaving his legs covered in gashes and his head with severe cuts. He has limited use of his left hand and has been signed off work.
Now Mr Lopes, of Willesden, has launched a claim for thousands of pounds against Zurich, which provides insurance for cars hired from rental firm Enterprise. Masood hired the vehicle from a branch in Birmingham.
The action could be made less complicated by a little-known rule change just weeks before the March 22 attack, which has made it easier to pursue payouts for terrorism-related claims.
Mr Lopes, who was pictured recovering after the atrocity, said the greatest damage was mental: “I just can’t escape the horror. When I close my eyes I have flashbacks of the car about to hit me, the sounds of people screaming. I often have nightmares.
“The other night I dreamed I was in another terrorist attack. I try to be like I was — scared of nothing — but what happened changed me. I am scared to go outside, scared of traffic, and haven’t been on my bike since. I want my normal life back.”
London Terror Attack Floral Tributes at Westminster - 27 March 2017
When he was struck the Portuguese national, who has lived in Britain for 14 years, had been walking home from his shift at a shop in St Thomas’ Hospital.Describing the aftermath, he said: “As I lay on the floor, my legs and hand were in agony. I was scared I was going to die or not be able to walk again.
“There was a lady to my left who was unconscious and a woman to my right screaming how she couldn’t feel her legs. It was extremely traumatic. It was like being in a horror movie.”
He is making the claim to help pay for counselling and physiotherapy, and as compensation for loss of earnings.
It could be easier because of a change made by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, which compensates victims of negligent uninsured motorists.
In a change on March 1, the MIB, which is comprised of motor insurance firms, became liable for claims where death, injury or damage is caused by an uninsured vehicle in an act of terrorism.
Lawyers say that as the MIB’s rules have changed in this way, it makes it easier to argue that individual insurers should be liable for the same things.
Patrick Maguire, a lawyer at Slater and Gordon, which is representing Mr Lopes, said: “Francisco was one of many innocent victims. He has been physically and mentally scarred, resulting in him being unable to work.”
Zurich said: “We do provide insurance for Enterprise and have a specialist team looking at how that policy is impacted by the terrible events in Westminster.
"It was a tragic event and presents many complex aspects as far as insurance is concerned. It is therefore far too soon to talk about any specific elements of this.”
