Lorry crush cyclist wins £280,000 compensation

3 comments
By BikeRadar UK | Thursday, Nov 18, 2010 11.05am

A cyclist crushed between two lorries in London has received £280,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement after a three-year legal battle.

Doris Barrera-Torrico, 31, suffered multiple fractures and degloving – where skin is torn off the underlying tissue – in the accident on Holloway Road in December 2007, which happened while she was cycling to a charity where she did voluntary work.

The Chilean student, who lives in Gipsy Hill, south London, told the London Evening Standard: "I could see the bits of my leg on the road. I don't know how I survived." Doctors feared they might have to amputate her right leg. She said the incident had changed her life forever.

Barrera-Torrico sued the driver of one of the lorries for negligence. Her solicitor, Paul Kitson, head of the cycling accident unit at Russell Jones and Walker, said: “After a long and hard battle, the case settled out of court, shortly before trial, when blame was apportioned at 70:30 in Doris’s favour. 

"She has a permanent disability which has restricted her mobility and has also prevented her pursuing her sporting activities. Before the accident she was an accomplished triathlete. The settlement provides compensation for Doris’s severe injuries, the nine operations she has undergone, as well as compensation for her past and future care requirements, and loss of earnings.”

Barrera-Torrico called for motorists to pay more attention to cyclists, saying: “Lorry drivers as well as car drivers need to be aware of cyclists on city roads. Safer, more aware driving will prevent other people suffering serious injuries like I did.”

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  • Only £280k ......... seems a bit low considering she is left with a significant disability and had her life ruined.

  • I'd hardly say it's ruined her life, fair enough she can't partake in the sporting activities as above but there's a lot more to life than that. It is a real shame for this to happen and motorists do need to be more vigilant.

  • Jesus, just the mention of degloving makes me squirm. Wish her all the best.

    Further details:

    "Doris’ accident occurred back in 2007, when she was cycling on the Holloway Road towards Archway. She was cycling along the nearside of 3 lanes and came up behind a stationary lorry. The lorry was held up at red traffic lights. The left hand lane was a filter lane for traffic turning left so Doris had to move towards the middle lane in order to continue along the Holloway Road.

    Doris looked over her right shoulder and saw a lorry approximately 2 ½ lorry lengths away from her. She assumed it was safe for her to move into the middle lane. Unfortunately, the driver of the approaching lorry did not see Doris and picked up speed. As Doris was by the rear of the other lorry and she was struck by the approaching lorry and squashed between the 2 vehicles. The rear 2 wheels of the approaching lorry ran over her right leg."

    http://www.rjw.co.uk/latest-news/article/great-resolution-after-an-awful-cycling-accident-doris-barrera-torrico/

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