Doctor paralysed after bike broke sues for £10m
Dr Daniel Gordon on bike ride before he was seriously injured in a crash
- Published
A doctor left paralysed from the waist down after his new bike broke in half has sought £10m in damages.
Dr Daniel Gordon, a junior at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital, was travelling at about 15mph on a grassy slope when the carbon front forks on the bike failed and he crashed.
He suffered life-changing spinal cord injuries in the August 2020 incident and is now dependent on a wheelchair.
His lawyers, Stewarts, have raised a compensation claim against insurers Arch and Chubb. A spokesman for the insurance company said: “As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on legal matters or specific client claims.”
Stewarts have been approached for comment.
The manufacturers of Dr Gordon's Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium bike became insolvent earlier this year.
He is pursuing his claim against the bike maker's two insurers, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE.
Dr Gordon's solicitors said the £2,300 gravel bike was described as being all-terrain and sales images showed it being ridden in a rocky, mountainous landscape.
Dr Gordon's lawyers said he was doing his best to adapt to life after his injuries
Julian Chamberlayne, partner and head of aviation and international injury, and James Griffin, associate in the international injury team at Stewarts, said Dr Gordon's bike had "sheared in two".
Mr Chamberlayne said: “It is a great testament to Dr Gordon’s character that he is doing his very best to adapt to life with a spinal cord injury, including returning to work as an NHS doctor.
"The compensation claimed for will cover the financial losses and expenses that Dr Gordon is likely to incur in the future as a result of the life-changing injury he sustained."