£337,000 for family of bike horror victim

THE family of a cyclist who was dragged under the wheels of a skip lorry when it turned across his path at traffic lights has been awarded £337,500 High Court damages.

By The Newsroom

Published 18th Jun 2010, 22:25 BST

Set builder Ninian Donald, 34, was killed instantly in the tragedy at the junction in Hackney, east London, in May 2007.

Mr Donald, of Hackney, left his partner, Kate Evenden, a 46-year-old TV and film art director, and a daughter, Rosie, who will be five in September.

Their counsel, Simon Michael, told Judge Simon Brown QC that a settlement had been agreed on the basis that the insurers of lorry driver Bernard Madden were 75 per cent liable for the accident.

He said that Mr Madden had not adjusted his mirrors properly and had not made double sure that it was safe to turn left across the inside lane at the junction.

Mr Donald was judged to be 25 per cent to blame as he moved on to the pavement out of the cycle and bus lane to avoid a stationary bus and rejoined the road in such a way that he could not see the lorry's indicators.