Doctor paralysed in bike crash wins £4.5m settlement

A doctor left paralysed from the waist down after the front forks of his new bike broke in half has won a £4.5m settlement.

Dr Daniel Gordon was travelling at about 15mph on a grassy slope in Inverness when the bike components failed and he crashed.

He suffered life-changing spinal cord injuries in the August 2020 incident and is now dependent on a wheelchair.

The manufacturers' insurers have settled the case ahead of the start of a five-day high court trial in England.

Dr Gordon, who was working at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, at the time of the crash, had sought £10m in damages.

Planet X, the makers of the bike, had gone bust but Dr Gordon's lawyers Stewarts brought proceedings against the firm's insurers.

Following negotiations, it was agreed that Dr Gordon should receive a £4.5m settlement.

It includes a provision for Dr Gordon to return to court and seek further damages in the event he experiences a rare but serious and untreatable deterioration caused by a spinal cyst.

Dr Gordon has returned to work with the NHS in Scotland as a specialist respiratory registrar.

He was an experienced cyclist before his injury and has now taken up hand cycling.

Dr Gordon completed a hand cycling tour of Mallorca in 2022 and this year's London Marathon.

Dr Gordon said he suffered "catastrophic injuries".

He thanked his legal firm for its support and said the settlement secured his future care and accommodation needs.

He added: "I also have to thank Ewan Stirling, a friend and coach who first noticed the unusual way in which the fork sheared, without whom I would likely not have taken any action.

"I hope now to be able to move forwards and show that despite this injury, life can still be rewarding and fulfilling."

His lawyer Julian Chamberlayne said: "It has been a privilege to represent Danny Gordon and to achieve this settlement, which will help him fund his needs following his spinal injury.

"He has shown huge strength of character in not allowing this life-changing injury to stop him from returning to work with the NHS, and in his determination to continue cycling, now using a hand bike."