Cyclist teacher hit by truck awarded over €142k

A €142,800 award has been made to a Polish teacher who was struck by the rear of a truck as he cycled past it on a narrow footpath on the lorry driver’s left-hand side.

The defence had contested that the cyclist was not standing at the relevant time but was cycling by on the footpath, when he wobbled and struck against the back of the truck as it was almost past. The plaintiff said he was standing still with the bike between his legs.

Mr Justice Daniel Herbert said in his judgment that he found as a fact the plaintiff was cycling at the material time. However, he made no finding of contributory negligence against the cyclist.