Guernsey’s James McLaughlin is suing a motorist who opened a car door as he was cycling past – claiming the life changing injuries he suffered destroyed his sports career.
Having represented Guernsey at the Island Games in 2011, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and 2018, and other international competitions between 2008 and 2018, Mr McLaughlin set his ambition at competing in a future Tour de France – seen by many as the pinnacle of any cyclist’s professional plans.
However, Mr McLaughlin was knocked off his bike in London in 2020 putting all of his plans on hold.
He was cycling through West Wickham in the south east of the capital where it’s believed he lived at the time when a woman opened her car door as he cycled past, causing Mr McLaughlin to come off his bike suffering shoulder and elbow injuries.
He is understood to be claiming £1million in damages from her insurance company, claiming he also suffered head injuries.
Mr McLaughlin’s claim was heard by the Central London County Court recently, but a decision is not expected for some time after additional reports were requested.
This includes documents relating to Mr McLaughlin’s injuries, which his lawyer said had caused depression, memory loss, fatigue, and PTSD.
Express understands that the insurance company has admitted liability but the delay centres on a dispute over whether Mr McLaughlin suffered a brain injury as well as other physical injuries.
A decision on the compensation paid to Mr McLaughlin is expected at a later date once the full details of the claim have been considered.