Expert Witness

CASEBOOK

Below are brief details of some of the cases I have assisted.

I must, of course, preserve anonymity, so I mention only general details, in order to give a flavour of the range of work that I cover. However, if your case is completely different, do not hesitate to enquire further as I will help if I can.

Road-related cases

Cyclist thrown by sunken manhole cover. Prepared report for highway authority, defending a claim by the cyclist. Although manhole was a hazard, the cyclist had been riding inappropriately for the journey he was making. Settled out of court for a much reduced sum.
Cyclist fell on edging stones at side of road. Engaged in support of cyclist, but advised that case was weak and lack of skill was a factor. Not pursued.
Fall of cyclist after wheel trapped in sunken drain. Report for plaintiff drew attention to surface requirements and standards. Outcome not known.
Cyclist badly hurt after crossing a transverse trench in road, but made more complicated because fall did not take place until some distance after. Engaged on behalf of defendants, a construction company, to assess whether fall could have resulted from impact with trench. Calculations based on likely speed, gradient and other factors suggested that such a fall was plausible. Case settled out of court.
Cyclist in school group fell on steep moorland hill, injuring following cyclist. Engaged by plaintiff in claim against school, to assess quality of supervision of group. Attended court, but case stopped when it became clear that the plaintiff had wrongly identified the crash location and was an unreliable witness.
Cyclist hit by overtaking car whilst preparing to turn right. Engaged by defendant, through his insurers. Report concluded that cyclist had behaved correctly and that motorist had been travelling too fast. Settled out of court in favour of the cyclist.
Cyclist hit at rear by motorist. Advice sought on claim of contributory negligence as the cyclist had not been wearing a helmet. Information given on helmet efficacy and shortcomings.
Cyclist hit at speed by car turning across his path. Defendant's insurers claimed contributory negligence as cyclist was not wearing a helmet. Report produced showing limitations of cycle helmets and how it would have been unlikely to have made a difference in this case. Trial curtailed with full settlement in favour of cyclist.
Cyclist thrown by gravel on bend during club event. Engaged for plaintiff against event organisers and case taken to court. Judge critical of both sides, but case lost.
Cyclist hit by car at T-junction when his right-of-way was not respected. Advice given for own claim against driver through small claims court.
Cyclist hit by car. Engaged by defendant's insurers to advise whether the cyclist should have worn a helmet. Limitatins of helmets explained. Outcome unknown.

Cycle path and facility cases

Cyclist killed on cycle path, in part due to vandalism. Engaged on behalf of cyclist's dependants and drew attention to poor lighting, surfaces and other matters that contributed to crash. Settled successfully out of court.
Adult cyclist hit by child cyclist at blind junction on a cycle path. Assisted in claim against highway authority on grounds of unsatisfactory design of junction. Evidence given in court, and claim succeeded.
Child cyclist badly hurt at cycle path/road junction. Prepared report on behalf of plaintiff, drawing attention to deficiencies in cycle path design. Settled successfully out of court.
Cyclist injured in cycle path underpass due to debris and lack of lighting. Prepared three reports on behalf of plaintiff relating to different aspects of case. Gave evidence in court, but case lost due to inconsistencies in plaintiff's evidence.
Novice cyclist hurt in fall on rural cycle trail. My report highlighted the inadequacies of the surface, other aspects of design, promotion of the route and the activities of a cycle hire centre. Settled successfully out of court.
Cyclist in collision with car at cycle path/road crossing. Assisted cyclist as defendant against claim by motorist and as plaintiff in action against highway authority. Cycle path design was a principal factor, but there was also a lack of sufficient care on the part of the cyclist. All suits eventually abandoned due to lack of legal aid support.
Collision between two cyclists at cycle path junction. Prepared report on behalf of one cyclist in claim against highway authority – poor visibility and a steep gradient were factors. Claim dropped due to insufficient means.
Cyclist thrown by upstand in cycle lane along road. Report, on behalf of the plaintiff, drew attention to the general poor standard of the cycle lane and how it made a cyclist more vulnerable.
Child badly hurt when cycling along a forest cycle trail. Engaged on behalf of plaintiff and my report showed that the trail was poorly suited to cycling and dangerous at the fall location. Case settled successfully out of court.
Cyclist hit head on low sign on cycle path. Report, for plaintiff, cited relevant standards and commented on generally poor standard of path. Settled successfully just prior to court.
Collision between cyclist and pedestrian on shared-use path. Contacted for defendants, a highway authority. Information given about shortcomings and collision potential of paths.
Cyclist thrown on rough track during school trip. Report, for defendants, showed that although hazards were present, the supervision of the children was to a good standard. Claim withdrawn after start of court proceedings as direct consequence of my report.
Pedestrian hit by cyclist on shared-use path. Report, for pedestrian in claim against local authority, showed how collision was predictable as design of path was to an inadequate standard. Settled prior to court for £200,000.
Cyclist hurt after being thrown by surface defect on cycle track. Engaged for plaintiff and report drew attention to various defects of the track, many of which had been present since new.
Cyclist hit lamppost in middle of shared footway. Report for plaintiff detailed numerous shortcomings and dangers of this facility in particular, and of the facility type in general.
Cyclist slipped on unseen ice at entry to cycle path underpass. Preliminary advice for plaintiff noted many shortcomings in cycle path design at location and how it was a natural trap for water and ice.
Cyclist injured when cycle forks snapped when using off-road path. Referred to metallurgist.

Other cases

Adult hurt riding child's cycle in children's playground. Help sought by plaintiff in claim against playground owner, but my report found cyclist largely at fault.
Evidence given at a public inquiry concerning the severance of cycle and public transport access by a proposed development.
Information given about braking standards following the mechanical failure of a bicycle. Outcome unknown.
Child cyclist hurt riding on former BMX track. Report highlighted lack of recent maintenance, but also noted that child had disregarded warning notices.
Advice sought on pedal design when cyclist hurt after being unable to disengage foot from clipless pedal. Advised that incident largely due to the cyclist's inexperience with this type of device.
Cyclist thrown when pannier collapsed into wheel. Advised on shortcomings of pannier design and case referred to metallurgy expert
Trainee instructor injured during stunt riding on mountain bike course. Preliminary advice given on suitability of content of course.

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