Doctor Wins £4m After Bike Snaps and Leaves Him Paralysed

A doctor left paralysed after his £2,300 bicycle snapped in half during a ride has been awarded £4.5 million in damages.

Dr Daniel Gordon, 31, suffered a catastrophic spinal injury in August 2020 when the front forks of his Planet X gravel bike sheared while he was cycling at around 15mph on a grassy slope in Inverness.

The accident threw him to the ground and left him with no use of his lower body, despite undergoing spinal surgery and months of rehabilitation.

At the time, Dr Gordon was working as a junior doctor at Raigmore Hospital. The bicycle, a Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium model, was marketed as an "all-terrain" bike capable of tackling any surface. However, the failure of its carbon fibre front forks resulted in life-changing injuries.

Dr Gordon initially sought £10 million in compensation from Planet X's insurers. The case was due to go to trial this week, but a settlement of £4.5 million was reached in advance. The agreement includes provisions allowing him to return to court for additional compensation if complications arise from a spinal cyst linked to the injury.

"Despite a catastrophic and life-changing injury, I've been fortunate enough to be supported by Stewarts in pursuing a claim against Planet X's insurers," said Dr Gordon. "The result means my future care and accommodation needs can be met. I hope now to move forward and show that, despite this injury, life can still be rewarding and fulfilling."

After Planet X was declared insolvent in 2023, the claim was pursued against its insurers — Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE — who initially rejected liability. The insurers argued that the bike's marketing — describing it as a machine with "no limits" — was "mere puffery" and not to be taken literally. They also cited a US classification system that restricts the bike from being used on drops over 15cm, though this limitation was not mentioned on the company's website or in the user manual.

Expert analysis during the case revealed that the carbon fibre forks on Dr Gordon's bike were significantly thinner and weaker than two manufacturer-supplied examples, suggesting a defect.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Dr Gordon has returned to work with NHS Scotland as a specialist registrar in respiratory medicine, working four days a week. He married fellow doctor Laura Colacino last year, with the couple honeymooning in Peru. He has also taken up hand cycling and completed the London Marathon earlier this year.

PM Law