Cyclist Wins Damages After Bike Crash In Rickmansworth

20 March 2014, 10:10 | Updated: 20 March 2014, 10:16

Cyclists wins more than £66,000 in damages from council after bike crash in Rickmansworth.

A cyclist from Bushey who fractured his skull after swerving to avoid and pothole and then falling from his bike, has won £66,916 in damages from the council.

Alan Curtis was injured in The Drive in Rickmansworth in 2009, while training with two friends for an event in India.

The 56-year-old was wearing a helmet  but has no memory of the accident, which left him unconscious and with residual hearing and memory problems.

He was able to return to work at the end of November 2009, but experienced difficulties in functioning at the same level as before. His contract of employment was terminated in December 2011 with no reason given and he was out of work for nine months before finding a similar job.

Judge David Pittaway QC ruled that Hertfordshire County Council, which denied liability, was entirely to blame for the accident.

Damages were agreed except for a sum to reflect future disadvantage on the labour market which the judge assessed a £20,000.

He said that the accident was caused by a defect in the road which should have been seen on an inspection six months before the accident and repaired.

Rejecting a claim that Mr Curtis should have seen the defect and taken avoiding action, the judge said that was probably what he did but too late to do it safely.

"It would not be appropriate to say he bears any responsibility for the accident.''