Court compensates cyclist after collision with 4x4

John Garbett of Treharris, South Wales has been awarded £6200 at Merthyr Tydfil County Court after an accident involving a Landrover.

He was represented by local legal specialists, Hugh James Solicitors.

On 24June 2006 Mr Garbett was riding his bicycle along Caiach Terrace in Trelewis when a 4x4 Landrover came out from a junction and clipped his bicycle wheel. He was thrown from his bike and landed on his shoulder.

He was immediately taken to Prince Charles Hospital by ambulance. Two years have passed but Mr Garbett still suffers problems with his right shoulder. He has been told by doctors that he is unable to cycle for a further 2 years.

The driver denied that she had collided with Mr Garbett, claiming that he had fallen from his cycle. However, the judge accepted Mr Garbett’s evidence that the Landrover driver had caused the accident. He ordered that Mr Garbett receive £6200 in compensation. This included the cost of replacing his damaged bicycle.

Mr Garbett was delighted with the outcome and said that he was pleased that he could now purchase a new bicycle.

Miss Lynsey Gough, solicitor at Hugh James commented; "Our client was very lucky that his injuries were not more serious. Over 15,000 cyclists are injured every year on our roads with over 2,300 being seriously injured or killed. Three quarters of accidents involving cyclists take place at road junctions.

The message for car drivers is that they must take greater care and in particular look out for cyclists, not just at road junctions but at all times. A cyclist will always come off worse in a collision with a 4x4. Hopefully Mr Garbett’s compensation will go some way to making up for being unable to cycle for the next 2 years."

Hugh James Solicitors has represented many cyclists who have been injured in road traffic accidents. To receive more information from our specialist solicitors, please e-mail claims.reception@hughjames.com.

For more statistics about cycling accidents, click here to access the ROSPA website

To read more information from our website about how our specialist solicitors can help those who have been injured as the result of a road traffic accident please follow these links:

http://www.hughjames.com/personal/personalinjury/index.html

http://www.hughjames.com/personal/personalinjury/roadaccidents.html

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