A biker sustained serious injuries after crashing into a pothole in Swindon, prompting safety concerns.
The bike spun out onto the road. The accident happened on July 14, 2024. Jim says the pothole was hidden. It was on a bend in the road. He landed in a roadside ditch that runs along the road’s side.
He went to Great Western Hospital. His injuries included a broken shoulder and a broken clavicle. His lung was bruised badly too. He had minor internal bleeding and bruised ribs.
Jim told the Swindon Borough Council about the road. He wanted to make the road safer for everyone. The council said the ditch should be there, according to Jim’s account.
His insurance tripled after the accident, growing to £780 in total. Jim missed six weeks of work. He had to take a lower-paying job after his difficult accident.
Jim supervised transport before. He said the council denied responsibility. Because of this, there was no third-party insurance claim. He filed a claim on his own insurance policy instead.
His partner, Helen, is 54. She is a dental nurse. Helen had to return to work after this terrible accident. Jim could not carry wardrobes because his shoulder was broken.
Jim went back to the crash site later. The “rain gulley” was filled in; it was the same area Jim had called a pothole earlier. The council gave a brief statement on the situation.
The Swindon Borough Council responded, stating Jim could appeal the claim if he is unhappy with their decision. They have an appeals process he should follow.