Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

news

Family of cyclist still undergoing brain rehabilitation 10 months after collision appeal for witnesses

The catastrophic brain injury affected her memory, concentration and mobility...

The family of a cyclist who is still having brain rehabilitation 10 months after a life changing collision have issued a new appeal for information. 

Ali Collier, was left with catastrophic injuries in the incident involving the driver of a VW Tiguan on Streatham High Road at 9pm on June 25 last year, the Evening Standard reports. 

Although police said there was no case for the driver to answer, Ms Collier's family and legal team hope people who helped the 38-year-old in the immediate aftermath could provide information to help secure compensation for her long-term care and rehabilitation.

The road where the collision took place is on the CS7 cycle superhighway, which is due to be upgraded next year from an unsegregated lane to a 1.4-mile bi-directional segregated track around Streatham Hill.

Ms Collier, who worked for an HR software sales firm and is from Streatham, received life-saving care at King’s College Hospital, in Denmark Hill, where she stayed for almost four months.

She was transferred to Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre and spent six months there.

She has now been admitted to another specialist brain injury rehabilitation centre to continue her recovery.

According to Ms Collier’s lawyer, Angela Batchelor, police said the driver involved in the collision had no case to answer.

But her family and legal team are appealing for witnesses who could provide information to help secure compensation for her long-term care and rehabilitation. 

They are particularly keen to trace the driver of a silver Toyota Prius, which was possibly a minicab.

A passenger in the car helped Ms Collier in the aftermath of the collision.

The catastrophic brain injury has affected her memory, concentration and mobility.

The rehabilitation has helped her to regain some of her speech, start eating again and start to walk independently. 

Before the crash, Ms Collier travelled widely and enjoyed running, cycling and working out.

Her father, Clive Collier, said: “The whole incident happened in just a few moments but has dramatically changed Ali’s life, probably forever.

"Beforehand she was really fit and healthy and was really independent. She loved going out with her friends and was really sociable. 

“It’s horrible to see how Ali has gone from leading such a busy and independent life to being reliant on others.

"We know Ali is going to need ongoing help and support to be able to do so.

"All our family would be so grateful if anyone had any information about the collision which will allow Ali to receive that help.”

Ms Batchelor, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Any detail could be key in helping us secure the ongoing rehabilitation and support Ali needs.”

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
wtjs | 3 years ago
4 likes

I have no knowledge of the facts, but I do know the police will always go for 'the driver has no case to answer' if they can get away with it. I worry about this- I'm out cycling and some BMW wipes me out. I'm either dead or can't remember anything and I either wasn't wearing the camera or he's destroyed both the camera and the SD card. He was on the phone at the time, but there's no proof of the time of the incident. The driver claims the cyclist suddenly launched himself across the road and 'he [the driver] didn't stand a chance'. The police essentially give up and go for 'insufficient evidence' so it's back to the station in time for tea.

Avatar
Cristox | 3 years ago
0 likes

Why Is the family of cyclist undergoing a brain rehabilitation?

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to Cristox | 3 years ago
6 likes
Cristox wrote:

Why Is the family of cyclist undergoing a brain rehabilitation?

Much as I love an inappropriate gag, especially one that involves a bit of grammar Nazism, I think the subject matter a little off on this one....

Avatar
alchemilla | 3 years ago
2 likes

Tragic, and I hope they get the answers they're looking for. The driver had no case to answer? Makes you wonder.

Avatar
Richard D replied to alchemilla | 3 years ago
8 likes

This is where a presumption of liability would really help (from a civil law recovery of damages point of view, at least).
Without such a presumption, absent any *evidence* of culpability the driver faces no consequences of anything that they did wrong. 
Arguably, this means that we operate with a presumption that the cyclist deserved it/did it to themselves  2 

Avatar
Runningwolf replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
3 likes

Totally agree.  I believe that we should all be pressing for legislation changes that makes presumed liability the norm for the more vulnerable road users.

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to Runningwolf | 3 years ago
5 likes

Runningwolf wrote:

Totally agree.  I believe that we should all be pressing for legislation changes that makes presumed liability the norm for the more vulnerable road users.

At the risk of repeating myself, I'm sure that this point and all the other legal questions we want sorted will be fully covered in the government's comprehensive review of road laws; which I think was announced seven years ago?

Avatar
Recoveryride replied to Richard D | 3 years ago
2 likes

Indeed. Isn't it the norm in some countries that if a driver hits a pedestrian or cyclist, the onus is on them to show that they weren't at fault, rather than the presumption of innocence?

Avatar
OldRidgeback replied to Recoveryride | 3 years ago
2 likes

You would've thought that given all the CCTV along Streatham there would be some footage of the incident that would give the police a more definite answer.

Latest Comments