Injured Cyclist Receives £17,000

A cyclist who suffered serious injuries after the wheel of her bicycle hit a hole in the road has won almost £17,000 in damages.

The unnamed 59-year-old woman was commuting to work when the accident happened. In her path was a sunken drain in a large hole in the road. This had filled with rain water, which hid the pothole from view. The woman’s bicycle hit the hole and she was thrown over the handlebars, landing heavily in the road. She fractured her arm and sustained extensive bruising to her face.

As a result of her injuries, the woman was off work for eight weeks and still suffers from stiffness in her shoulder and a weak grip. The accident also had a psychological impact: she is now frightened to use her bicycle to commute to work or go to the shops as she is worried that she will have another accident.

A claim was brought against the local council, which was responsible for ensuring that the road was inspected regularly and for carrying out any necessary repairs. The council admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.