A cyclist has been awarded £70,000 in compensation after a pothole threw him off his bike in 2009. Alan Curtis from Bushey in Hertfordshire suffered a “severe head injury” in the crash on The Drive in Rickmansworth. The 57-year-old sued Hertfordshire County Council for failing to fill-in the pothole, which he described as being a “real source of danger” to road users. The council said that they were “disappointed” in the High Court for ruling in Mr Curtis’s favour.
The charity fundraiser had been cycling with his two best friends when the incident occurred. He hit the pothole and was immediately thrown from his bike, severely injuring his head. It was heard that Mr Curtis experienced “pain, suffering and loss of amenity”. His solicitor said that potholes seem to be the biggest cause of cycling accidents, causing more severe injuries than collisions with motor vehicles.
Visible on Google Street View
Mr Curtis’s claim stated that the pothole that caused his accident was in fact visible on Google Street View, (an image from October 2008). Despite the council carrying out an inspection on the road that following March, nothing was done to repair the extremely dangerous pothole.
Mr Curtis fractured his skull in the accident and also damaged his brainstem, which has resulted in his deafness. He also broke his left arm. Mr Curtis has been forced to change job following the accident, which has come with a significant loss of earnings.
If you have suffered a road traffic accident or an injury in a public place, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.