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A cyclist who was injured on an unsafe cattle grid has won £10,000 in damages.
The woman was cycling over the cattle grid when her front wheel became wedged in a gap in the bars. Despite having slowed down, she was thrown off her bicycle.
She suffered injuries to her chest, shoulder, back and neck, as well as grazing and scratches to her face. She also needed stitches to a gashed finger. She experienced problems with her back for a year after the accident, and continues to have problems with her hand.
Cattle grids are normally designed to be safe for cyclists to cross, with the bars running across the whole length of the grid. However, the bars on the cattle grid in question were in sections.
The woman brought a claim for compensation against the local council, which was responsible for the state of the road. The council’s initial offers of compensation were rejected, but a settlement of £10,000 was negotiated before the case was due to come to court.