Stewarts’ International Injury team acts on behalf of Dr Daniel Gordon in his compensation claim against insurers Arch and Chubb, brought after a defect in his brand-new “gravel” bike left him paralysed from the waist down.
Dr Daniel Gordon is seeking £10 million in compensation after the carbon forks on his brand-new bike failed resulting in life-changing spinal cord injuries.
The front forks of the Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium bike sheared in two on a grass slope in August 2020. The ensuing crash resulted in Dr Gordon being paralysed from the waist down. He has been left with no function in his legs and will be dependent on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
The £2,300 all-terrain gravel bike was described by the manufacturer as a “flowingly fast and comfortably confident titanium gravel bike that gives you the freedom to ride wherever you want.” That was further illustrated by photos on their website showing the bike being ridden in rocky mountainous terrain.
An NHS junior doctor, Dr Gordon is seeking financial compensation to account for the considerable expenses incurred by his life-changing injuries, as well as for his subsequent significant financial losses. Because Planet X became insolvent in 2023 Dr Gordon is having to pursue his claims against their two insurers, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE.
Dr Gordon is represented by Julian Chamberlayne, Partner and Head of Aviation and International Injury, and James Griffin, Associate in the International Injury team at Stewarts.
Julian Chamberlayne commented:
“It is a great testament to Dr Gordon’s character that he is doing his very best to adapt to life with a spinal cord injury, including returning to work as an NHS doctor. The compensation claimed for will cover the financial losses and expenses that Dr Gordon is likely to incur in the future as a result of the life-changing injury he sustained.
Consumers, like Dr Gordon, who are injured by defective products are meant to be able to rely on the Consumer Protection Act to easily recover compensation, without having to prove exactly what caused the product to fail. Unfortunately, the defence to this claim shows how in practice the retailer or their insurers often try to deny liability in a multitude of ways.”
Dr Gordon’s case has received coverage in BBC News and Sky News.
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