THAMESMEAD: Cyclist seeks damages after bike push (From News Shopper)
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THAMESMEAD: Cyclist seeks damages after bike push
11:20am Wednesday 4th August 2010 in News By Mark Chandler
Derek Hill as a Tour de France marshal
A 64-YEAR-OLD cyclist left with head injuries after being pushed off his bike is seeking more than £100,000 in damages.
Derek Hill, of Greenhaven Drive, Thamesmead, was cycling along Carlyle Road when he says a car deliberately slowed down so its passenger could lean out to push him off the bicycle.
Mr Hill was left in hospital for three weeks with serious head injuries and a broken hip.
He also now suffers from epilepsy and claims he was forced to take redundancy from his job as an engineering manager on the East London Line.
Mr Hill said: “After being diagnosed with epilepsy I was advised by my neurologist not to cycle - which I loved - drive, go near deep water, heights, or even work with anything mechanical.
“I feel as though a slice of my life has been stolen. I have two children I can no longer take to school and I can’t even be left alone with them for fear of my having a seizure.”
Mr Hill did not even know he had epilepsy until two years after the incident when he suddenly had a seizure in front of the television.
He said: “After the accident when I returned to work, it was still a struggle due to gaps in my memory and my impaired mental ability.
“I have a young family to support and having lost my employment as a result of my head injury has been devastating for us all.”
His lawyer Liz Dux, from the Russell Jones & Walker firm, said he was making the claim from the Motor Insurers' Bureau compensation fund under the Untraced Drivers Agreement, which allows victims of unknown motorists to claim damages.
Comments(12)
porkpie
says...
12:32pm Wed 4 Aug 10
deco
says...
1:09pm Wed 4 Aug 10
Make Life
says...
1:14pm Wed 4 Aug 10
deco wrote:yeah, he doesnt have the life that he used to have but its not worth £100,000. Payouts should be determined by your age, current earnings and how much you would earn until retirment. To get £100,000 just before retirment is crazy. I do agree that what the idiot did was completly and totally wrong.
Bigger picture people, is does not matter how old this gentleman is, the fact is some stupid idiot gets his kicks by pushing people off bikes to me that is a serious crime and this man has lost is old life because of it. I wish the family well. (and before everyone starts, I do not know the family)
porkpie
says...
1:45pm Wed 4 Aug 10
porkpie
says...
2:05pm Wed 4 Aug 10
Enigma
says...
5:52pm Wed 4 Aug 10
porkpie wrote:Porkpie.
So the car never hit him and it was a passenger that pushed him off. I do feel for the man. However I find that claiming from the Motor Insurers Bureau is just wrong. When it was a passenger that committed this sick act .
It comes down to use of the vehicle - a passenger in this instance is using the vehicle and would be covered for third party liability.
If he does not claim from the MIB who does he claim for in view it appears that the driver left the scene. Is he not entitled to compensation in view of the impact that epilepsy can have on a life already he has has his employment restricted and his future life has been compromised.
In regards to the lawyers costs, they will be restricted to £3k + VAT which will hardly cover the investigations required in such a case if they dont get above £150k for settlement.
At least he has a substantial injury rather than a little bit of neck ache..like most of the claims made.
Fizzy
says...
6:54pm Wed 4 Aug 10
Ears
says...
9:45pm Wed 4 Aug 10
I don't think the man's age has anything to do with it. He is obviously quite sprightly to have small children and be riding a bike, my grandad is in his 80's and still works full time and would be devestated if someone took his independence away in this manner.
I hope he is successful in his claim and gets some happiness from the money.
Rotary Tom
says...
7:30am Thu 5 Aug 10
Just like "happy slapping" it can end up with tragic circumstances, we need to punish those who think this is "innocent" horseplay & not blame the victim
porkpie
says...
6:26pm Thu 5 Aug 10
Enigma wrote:Lucky it was someone in a car really. I don't see why I should have to pay into this with my car insurance money. So if it was say someone walking along that pushed him off his bike, who would in be claiming off then ?
porkpie wrote:Porkpie.
So the car never hit him and it was a passenger that pushed him off. I do feel for the man. However I find that claiming from the Motor Insurers Bureau is just wrong. When it was a passenger that committed this sick act .
It comes down to use of the vehicle - a passenger in this instance is using the vehicle and would be covered for third party liability.
If he does not claim from the MIB who does he claim for in view it appears that the driver left the scene. Is he not entitled to compensation in view of the impact that epilepsy can have on a life already he has has his employment restricted and his future life has been compromised.
In regards to the lawyers costs, they will be restricted to £3k + VAT which will hardly cover the investigations required in such a case if they dont get above £150k for settlement.
At least he has a substantial injury rather than a little bit of neck ache..like most of the claims made.
Quiet One
says...
8:59am Fri 6 Aug 10
Make Life says...
12:23pm Wed 4 Aug 10