North Devon student paralysed in bike accident.
Mike Clarke, specialist injury solicitor and partner in Slee Blackwell’s Bideford office, is handling a claim against Devon County Council for a Barnstaple student who suffered devastating injuries in November last year when he lost control of his bicycle and hit railings at the side of Old Sticklepath Hill. The railings fractured, sending him over a drop of some 30 feet onto concrete.
Mike says “It is amazing that he wasn’t killed outright, but tragically, he suffered very severe injuries, including a spinal fracture that means he will never walk again. For a young man of 19, this is a devastating life change. At the moment, he is still receiving rehabilitation at Odstock in Salisbury, but it is hoped suitable accommodation can be arranged soon to allow him to return home and be self-sufficient. It will be some time before the full extent of his injuries can be properly assessed.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but the essence of the claim against the council is that the railings were wholly inadequate for this particular road, because of the drop, and steps should have been taken to install a more effective barrier. A detailed analysis of the council’s highway records will be crucial to the case.”
The accident has excited considerable local concern, reflected in several articles in the North Devon Journal. The latest can be viewed via this link:-
For further details contact Mike at mike.clarke@sleeblackwell.co.uk
