A commuter who suffered catastrophic injuries falling down the gap between the platform and a Tube train has launched a 鈥渧ery high value鈥 personal injury claim against Transport for London.
Sarah de Lagarde, a mother of two from Camden, brought her compensation claim to the High Court on Wednesday after losing her right arm and right leg when she was run over by two Northern line trains at High Barnet station on September 30, 2022.
It is understood that TfL denies all liability.
The case is expected to raise wider concerns at the number of injuries on the London Underground where passengers fail – or are unable to – 鈥渕ind the gap鈥, known as the 鈥減latform train interface鈥.
In an emotional statement outside court after an hour-long administrative hearing, Ms de Lagarde said she was 鈥渙ptimistic鈥 of securing victory and claimed she had been falsely described by TfL as 鈥渄runk woman鈥 who was to blame.
She said she had suffered such post-traumatic stress that she had been unable to travel by Tube since sustaining her injuries, which almost claimed her life.
She had been returning home at the time of the incident. At the time, Ms de Lagarde was a 44-year-old City worker.
She had fallen under a train and was then run over by the train as it pulled out of the station, and by a second train.
She lost her right arm and right leg.
Prashant Popat KC, for TfL, said at the start of the hearing: 鈥淥ur response is that this is a tragic case in which the claimant sustained some horrific injuries.
鈥淣othing I say today seeks to diminsh the consequences of what has been sustained and suffered by the defendant.鈥
The case will now proceed to an eight-day trial, which is likely to start in January 2027.
Issues expected to be covered in the case include whether TfL was under a duty to have staff monitor passengers as they alighted from a terminus station – High Barnet is at one of the northern ends of the Northern line.
Other issues could be the alleged failure of train drivers to investigate after a bag containing a laptop was seen wedged in the gap between train and platform, and whether there was a breach of any requirement for Tube drivers to look for passengers as their train entered a station.
This is a breaking story and is being updated.