Cyclist gets settlement

A CYCLIST has agreed a £65,000 settlement as a result of injuries caused by a dog on an extending lead fetching him off his bike.

Anthony Steel was cycling along a path at Heysham. training for a Coast to Coast race, and approaching a group of people rang his bell and shouted for them to get out of his way, which they did, but as he sped past, a dog on an extending lead went across his path causing him to crash, Martin Banks tells us.

Unconscious

The crash occurred owing to the extending lead becoming entangled with the bike, throwing him to the ground. He was left unconscious and someone called for an ambulance.

Taken to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, his injuries included a fracture to his skull, resulting in permanent hearing damage, cranial contusion, fractured right ribs and cuts and bruises.

This resulted in the cyclist receiving intensive treatment and being off work for seven weeks.

Injury solicitors

Injury solicitors took on the case with Dianne Yates, of Birchall Blackburn Law, warning:

"Retractable leads are popular because they don't confine dogs, however some extend to 26 feet and being such a distance from their owners can prove hazardous for cyclists, joggers and children."

Admitted training for a race

Even though the cyclist admitted he was training for a cycle race, he is quoted as telling the court it was caused by 'someone who could not control their dog or be aware of their surroundings', Martin comments:

"This, of course, neatly bypasses the obvious fact that he could be accused of exactly the same thing.

This is going to happen on a towpath—if it hasn't already—and boaters may find themselves at the wrong end of what is now legal precedent."