Man Instructs Serious Injury Lawyers To Help Him Access Rehabilitation

A Southampton motorcyclist seriously hurt in a crash has spoken of how his life has ‘changed drastically’ since his injuries.

Bradley Barter, 27, from Ashurst, had been out on a ride with friends when he left the group to go home.  As he approached a mini-roundabout at the junction of Portland Terrace and Ogle Road, a car  which had begun to perform a U-Turn and his bike collided.

Bradley was taken to hospital by ambulance.  He underwent X-rays and scans and was diagnosed with a catalogue of injuries including severe fractures and open wounds to his left leg and foot.  He was discharged home two-and-a-half weeks later.

Following the crash, in May 2020, Bradley instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist support and therapies he requires to maximise his recovery.

He has now joined his legal team in supporting Road Safety Week by revealing the life-changing impact his injuries have had after being told there’s a chance he could lose his leg.

Expert Opinion

“It’s been two-and-a-half-years since Bradley sustained his injuries and, to this day, he’s still seriously affected by what happened.

What he’s endured is a stark reminder of the potential dangers facing road users and we’re determined to ensure he has access to the specialist rehabilitation and support he now requires.

Through our work, we come across too many people in similar situations and Road Safety week is an opportunity for us to help Bradley share his story and urge road users to take care at all times. In particular, his case involved a driver performing a U-Turn on the approach to a mini-roundabout, which isn’t only incredibly dangerous, but is also prohibited by the Highway Code.”
Jack Lloyd, Serious Injury Legal Expert

The crash happened on 21 May, 2020, when a car which appeared to be turning left into Ogle Road at the mini roundabout started performing a U-Turn.  Bradley was unable to avoid a collision and he was thrown from his motorbike.

He remained in hospital until 18 June.  During this time, he underwent surgery on his left leg to repair the fractures.

Since then, he continues to complain of constant pain in his left foot and is very limited to what he can do on a day-to-day basis.  He also needs to walk with a crutch.

In addition to the physical injuries, Bradley also suffers psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares and mood swings.

Prior to the crash, Bradley worked as a mechanical engineer.  He has been able to return to work but in a different role.

He also previously enjoyed cycling, weight training and going to the gym, but can no longer do any of these things.

Two-and-a-half years on, Bradley is attending physiotherapy and underwent fusion surgery in May this year.  However, he faces the prospect of undergoing a below-the-knee amputation if there is no improvement.

He said: “Before the accident, I lived a very active and busy lifestyle, and that was how I liked it.  I lived with my parents but had been saving really hard to get my own house and I was pretty close to it.

“Motorbikes were also very important to me as my dad always had them, and I loved nothing more than going out on rides with my friends.

“Sadly, the crash has changed things for me quite drastically. I don’t remember much about the collision itself; the first thing I recall is waking up in hospital.

“For the first six months afterwards, I was not really able to leave my bedroom apart from to go to the bathroom or to hospital appointments. During that time, my mum provided me with a huge amount of care and support.  Instead of living independently like I had been prior to the accident, I was back to entirely relying on my parents.  This was incredibly difficult, but at the same time I was so grateful to them.

“I’ve since been told that the damage to my foot is too extensive to reconstruct and that there is a chance I will need to have it amputated. This came as a huge shock and I’ve really struggled to come to terms with it.

“Despite this, I kept pushing on. The fusion surgery went well and I now rent a bungalow of my own, which is a massive achievement for me.

“However, the pain in my foot hasn’t fully gone away and I worry that it never will. All I can do now is try to live my life to the best I can. I wanted to share my story as part of Road Safety Week to make people aware of what can happen on the roads and that safety should always come first.”

Road Safety Week, organised by the charity Brake, runs from 14-20 November. This year’s theme is Safe Roads for All. Find out more

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