For one experienced cyclist, riding wasn’t just a hobby, it was part of everyday life. At 76, he remained active and independent, regularly cycling his trike between home and visiting friends.
That independence was suddenly taken away in a devastating collision.
While approaching a T-junction, he believed he had clearly signalled to turn right. As he prepared to make the manoeuvre, a driver attempted to overtake, resulting in a violent impact that threw him from his trike into a nearby field. He has no memory of the moments that followed.
A Difficult Road to Justice
The aftermath was deeply distressing for both him and his family.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and dangerous driving. However, despite the seriousness of the incident, the criminal case was dismissed due to uncertainty around whether the cyclist had been signalling.
For our client, this was a painful outcome. Not only had he suffered life-changing injuries, but he was left without clear accountability.
Finding the Evidence That Mattered
The cyclist came to Cycle SOS who have specialist cycling team to support injured cyclists. Victoria and her team got to work on the civil claim to try and get justice and support for their client. We thought the full picture hadn’t yet been uncovered.
By securing detailed police evidence, including reports and body-worn camera footage, we were able to build a clearer understanding of what had happened.
This evidence revealed multiple critical factors:
· The driver was likely impaired by drugs
· He admitted to being distracted while passing his mobile phone to his daughter
· He failed to properly observe the cyclist’s movements
· He misjudged distance and positioning, passing too closely
Taken together, this painted a compelling picture: that the driver had not been paying full attention at a crucial moment.
We presented this evidence firmly to the insurer, making clear that, on balance, a civil court would likely find the driver fully responsible.
Shortly afterwards we started to present the case to the defendants, liability was admitted in full.
Focusing on Recovery, Not Just Compensation
While securing that outcome was important, our focus was always on what truly mattered – our client’s recovery and quality of life.
He had suffered complex, life-altering injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and complications from prolonged intensive care treatment.
Through the Rehabilitation Code, we were able to put immediate support in place, including:
· A specialist case manager
· Neurorehabilitation support
· Physical and psychological therapy
· A cycling rehabilitation programme to help rebuild confidence
This last step was especially important. Cycling had always been a core part of his identity and putting a plan in place to provide support in him regaining confidence to return to it would be an important factor in assisting his recovery.
Securing a good outcome for our client
His claim ultimately settled for just under £300,000.
But the true outcome goes far beyond the financial figure.
It’s about restoring independence. Rebuilding confidence. And supporting someone to return, in their own way, to the life they value. Helping our client recover, rebuild and thrive. The case was dealt with by our specialist cycling team who have the experience and knowledge to take the evidence and the criminal case to present this in a civil claim to support our client in the future.
