Lorry driver Francis Hodibert sues Specsavers for £200k over failed eye test
A licensed lorry driver is suing Specsavers for more than £200,000, claiming a “failed” eye test not only cost him his livelihood but also plunged him into serious depression.
Francis Hodibert, from Slough, Berkshire, claims he became so anxious and depressed after failing the compulsory HGV driver eye test at his local Specsavers branch in 2022 that he now feared he would never be able to work again.
The 62-year-old’s legal lawsuit alleges the optician’s alleged negligence directly led to professional and personal distress.
The DVLA requires commercial vehicle drivers to pass not only a standard distance vision test but also an in-depth assessment of visual field and peripheral vision carried out with special equipment.
In documents submitted to London’s High Court, Mr Hodibert says that after two such tests at Specsavers in 2022 he was informed that he had failed a visual field test.
This alleged failure led to the DVLA canceling his HGV licence, thus stripping him of his ability to work as a lorry driver.
Mr Hodibert successfully regained his license six months later, in January 2023, after passing a further visual field test administered by a consultant ophthalmologist, but claims serious emotional damage had already been done.
He argues that his previous failures were due to mistakes made by Specsavers staff, which had a huge impact on his business and personal life.
Specsavers will deny his claims and defend the case.
Mr Hodibert’s lawyer, Michael O’Neill, said the Specsaver results were “inaccurate” and following separate tests on January 25, 2023, his client was able to appeal the cancellation of his license, which was reinstated on March 31, 2023.
Mr O’Neill told the court: “The obtaining and reporting of those erroneous results and the resulting cancellation of the plaintiff’s HGV licence, was caused by the negligence of the defendant, its employees or agents.”
He accused Specsavers staff of “conducting field of view tests in a way that produced inaccurate results” and “submitting an inaccurate report to the DVLA”.
“As a result of all this, the plaintiff has suffered personal injury, loss and damage,” Mr. O’Neil said, adding that Mr. Hodibert “has developed a mixed depression and anxiety disorder that has worsened as a result of the matters complained of herein.”
“His condition is such that he is unable to work as a heavy vehicle driver or work at all, and both his personal and home life have been significantly impaired,” the lawyer said.
“It is unclear whether he will be able to recover sufficiently to work again.”
The barrister added that Mr Hodibert said he had been examined by a doctor who presented the court with a medical report supporting his claim for “damages in excess of £200,000”.
Specsavers’ defense in the case was not available in court at the time of writing.
But when contacted for comment, a company spokesman said the case would be defended.
