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Cyclist run over by Addison Lee driver sues cab firm for £2m

Sophie Donovan's leg was crushed in July 2018 incident that she says left her with PTSD and unable to work...

A London cyclist whose leg was crushed when the driver of an Addison Lee cab turned across her path is suing the private hire firm for £2 million.

Sophie Donovan says she has a permanent disability and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the crash near Waterloo Bridge in July 2018, reports Mail Online.

The 30 year old TV documentary producer, whose credits include Channel 4’s Generation Porn and ITV’s Heathrow – Britain’s Busiest Airport, says she has been forced to give up her career as a result of her injuries.

According to papers filed on her behalf by barrister Oliver Manley at the High Court, Ms Donovan was “dragged under the defendant's vehicle and her leg was crushed by the vehicle's wheel.”

Doctors at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital told her “that she had sustained a limb-threatening and life-changing injury.”

While medical staff were able to save her leg, Mr Manley said that “as a result of the accident she has been left with permanent symptoms which include a [...] functional disability in her right knee.”

He cited expert medical evidence which said that she “is disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010, is at a disadvantage on the labour market and will be unable to return to her previous role as a TV producer, which required more physical activity.”

The expert’s report also said that “she will require a total knee replacement between five and seven years post-accident.” 

Mr Manley added that Ms Donovan “has also suffered from PTSD and an associated adjustment disorder as result of the accident.”

Addison Lee denies liability and has reportedly commissioned its own expert evidence in defence of the claim, with the case set to go to court at a future date.

In 2012 the company said it would provide cycle awareness training to all of its drivers following a backlash provoked by anti-cyclist comments by its founder and then chairman John Griffin.

> Addison Lee to give its drivers cycle awareness training

In a column in the company’s in-house magazine Add Lib, distributed free to customers riding in its vehicles, he had said among other things that cyclists should undergo compulsory training as well as being made to take out insurance.

Among those to condemn his words were then Mayor of London Boris Johnson, as well as former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

> Addison Lee backlash: Politicians and cyclists unite to condemn views of minicab firm boss

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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Smoggy Steve | 3 years ago
2 likes

I wonder if (ironically) The cab firm try to suggest the driver is self employed after their rants and cries of unfair competition from Uber.

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Kendalred | 3 years ago
7 likes

Good luck to Sophie. If this succeeds, then perhaps it will be far more of a deterrant to dangerous and idiotic driving than our pitiful criminal justice system.

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brooksby | 3 years ago
2 likes

Not being a Londoner, I'd forgotten that Addison Lee even existed..  There was a time a couple of years ago where they were in the news on here every week with some utterly stupid statement or absolutely horrible incident.  I'd assumed they'd gone bust.

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eburtthebike replied to brooksby | 3 years ago
7 likes

brooksby wrote:

I'd assumed they'd gone bust.

Soon, especially if this case succeeds.

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nappe | 3 years ago
14 likes

I've often wondered why incidents such as this are not reportable under RIDDOR and as such why the HSE don't get involved. If someone were to be run over by a fork lift truck in a warehouse and sustain these injuries, there'd be hell to pay.

Avatar
TeresaDay replied to nappe | 3 years ago
8 likes

Exactly. It is a workplace accident after all.
My hubby had 2 toes crushed when a cherry picker ran over his foot on site. That had to be reported. The driver was made to take additional training.

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