Cyclist Injury and Road Defect Claim

What Happened

Our client was out cycling when he spotted two potholes hidden under standing water on a busy road at the last second. He swerved to avoid them, but lost his grip on the wet road and fell. He was thrown from his bike and injured his ribs, arm and hip. While most of his injuries healed within a few weeks, his hip injury was more serious and caused significant swelling and pain that lasted for months and needed specialist treatment to resolve.

The Challenge

When our client came to us, he was facing more than just a difficult recovery. The local council, who were responsible for maintaining the road, denied any wrongdoing. They claimed their inspection team had recently checked the road and found nothing dangerous. They also tried to suggest that our client was partly to blame for the accident himself.

For someone who had never been involved in a legal claim before, this was understandably daunting.

How We Helped

Our team got straight to work building his case. We brought together evidence that not only had the council inspected the road just days before the accident without spotting the potholes, but two separate reports from members of the public had flagged the road's condition in the days leading up to the accident. At this point the council had done nothing about them. This evidence was central to the case. It showed the council knew or should have known that the road was dangerous and simply failed to act on it.

We guided our client through every step of the process, making sure they understood what was happening, what their options were, and what risks and opportunities were involved at each stage. We also made a tactical offer, which the council rejected, a decision that ultimately cost them more in the long run.

The Result

The case went to court, and the judge found completely in our client's favour. The council's arguments were rejected in full, including their attempt to blame our client for the accident. They received:

• Meaningful compensation for injuries and the impact on daily life and interest on top of that

• An additional uplift because the council had turned down our earlier offer to settle

• Legal costs largely covered

This case is a good example of how road authorities can't hide behind their own processes. If warnings are ignored, responsibility follows. It also shows that attempts to shift blame onto the person who was injured don't always land and the full picture matters. Most importantly, it's a reminder that good legal representation isn't just about winning, it's about making sure every avenue is used to get you the best result.