Tour de France hopeful sues for £1m after crash with car door ‘ends cycling career’

A former professional cyclist is suing a driver and passenger for £1m, claiming a car door collision left him with brain damage that derailed his career.

James McLaughlin, 34, was riding in a cycle lane in West Wickham, southeast London, in May 2020 when a car passenger opened a door, causing him to crash and injure his shoulder and right elbow.

McLaughlin, who represented Guernsey in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games, says the crash also caused a brain injury, leaving him with depression, memory loss, fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a mental health condition triggered by trauma.

Central London County Court heard that McLaughlin, who rode for several professional teams and aimed to race in the Tour de France, now depends on an emotional support dog named Barley.

Motor insurers have admitted liability for the incident but dispute both the existence of a brain injury and the £1m compensation being sought.

Winston Hunter KC, representing McLaughlin, said his client continues to experience poor concentration, anxiety and distress. A neuropsychologist who assessed him believed he sustained a concussion from his head being “shaken around” in the crash.

But Lionel Stride, for the insurers, questioned whether a “mild traumatic brain injury” occurred, noting that McLaughlin had not reported a direct blow to the head.

Stride told Judge Jane Evans-Gordon: “He came into contact with a car door at speed and was subsequently thrown off and hit the ground, with an orthopaedic injury to his right shoulder.

“There was no mention of a blow to his head.”

Hunter accepted that McLaughlin had suffered other cycling crashes during his career but said there was no evidence these caused lasting problems.

At the time of the 2020 incident, McLaughlin was working as a courier during a break from professional cycling.

He had been in strong physical condition, having placed sixth in the 2018 Commonwealth Games time trial despite injury.

The hearing was held to decide whether McLaughlin could submit further medical evidence from neurologists investigating whether concussion and a “minor traumatic brain injury” could explain his symptoms.

When McLaughlin arrived at court with his support dog, the judge noted court rules typically only permit trained guide dogs.

She said: “If it’s an emotional support animal, they’re not normally allowed into court, not least because they’re not properly trained like guide dogs.

“At least it’s a dog and not an exotic animal.”

Judge Evans-Gordon ultimately allowed the new neurological evidence, describing it as relevant to a “very significant issue” in the case.

She said that if the injuries were “organic” – meaning physically caused rather than psychological – they were unlikely to improve and could seriously affect McLaughlin’s future earnings.

She added: “It could make a difference of approaching £400,000 to his loss of earnings claim.”

The full trial had been expected later this year, but may now be delayed to consider the additional reports.

“Car dooring” incidents happen when a vehicle occupant opens a door into the path of a cyclist, often giving no time to react.

Cycling UK estimates that at least 500 cyclists in Britain are injured in such incidents annually, though the real number may be higher.