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Cyclist sues for £300k after 'pothole crash left him brain damaged'

A man is suing Transport for London for more than £300,000 claiming he crashed due to a pothole, leaving him with severe brain damage (File Image): Rex
A man is suing Transport for London for more than £300,000 claiming he crashed due to a pothole, leaving him with severe brain damage (File Image): Rex

A cyclist who claims a crash which left him with severe brain damage was caused by a large pothole is suing Transport for London for more than £300,000.

The pensioner, in his late sixties, was wearing a helmet and riding in a bus lane on the A23 in Coulsdon, Surrey in 2016, when his front wheel struck a pothole, causing him to lose control of his bicycle and collide with a car, according to a High Court writ.

The man, from Croydon, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and spent almost six months in hospital. It is said he now needs constant supervision and suffers from fatigue, memory loss, and lack of concentration.

With the help of his wife and lawyers, the man — who also broke his back, collarbone and several ribs — is suing TfL for damages, claiming it was negligent in failing to properly maintain the road. In the writ, barrister Simon Brindle said the man was riding under a railway bridge close to Coulsden Town station “when his front wheel struck a pothole in the carriageway”.

“The pothole represented a dangerous hazard in the road and rendered it substantially out of repair,” he wrote, arguing that regular inspections should have identified the pothole.

Mr Brindle added: “The claimant has suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and he no longer has the capacity to manage his own affairs.

“He continues to suffer from fatigue, poor memory and concentration and significant difficulties with taking on new information and planning... he now effectively is completely dependent upon his wife and requires constant supervision.”

The writ adds there is a “real risk” that the man’s condition will get worse, which could add to the claim, currently valued at more than £300,000.

TfL’s defence was not available from the court and the allegations in the writ have yet to be tested before a judge.