Man Instructs Specialist Serious Injury Lawyers At Irwin Mitchell To Help With Rehabilitation from Severe Injuries

A cyclist is speaking out on Road Safety Week to warn of the dangers that lorries pose after suffering serious injuries when he was knocked off his bike by a HGV.

Elliot Chiles suffered a fractured pelvis and had the skin ripped off his right thigh when a truck turned into him as he was cycling to university.

The 22-year-old was placed under general anaesthetic 16 times as doctors performed a number of skin grafts to repair his leg following the ‘degloving’ injury Elliot suffered while studying in Norwich.

Elliot has instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the collision and secure continued rehabilitation to help him recover from his injuries. 

He is now using Road Safety Week to highlight the dangers cyclists face on the roads following his accident which happened on 7 November, 2014.      

Elliot said: “As I proceeded along the nearside of the truck in a cycle lane, I recall seeing myself in its nearside wing mirror and knew that the driver could see me. But as it entered the junction, to my horror, the lorry began turning left and struck me on my right hand side.

“As I fell to the ground I remember the horns of vehicles blaring. As I rolled along the ground I could also hear my bicycle being crunched under the truck’s wheels. The truck’s front wheel caught my right leg and dragged me along for a distance before stopping.”

Following the crash, which happened at the junction of The Avenues and Colman Road, Elliot was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Over the next three weeks he underwent numerous operations to repair his right thigh by taking skin from his left leg. He was prescribed morphine and ketamine to ease the severe pain he was suffering.

Elliot, originally from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was bedbound for seven weeks. He was unable to shower until the end of January because of concerns about developing an infection.

His mum, Elizabeth Chiles, travelled from her home in Tunbridge Wells to be with her son and help him wash and get dressed each day, as well as tend to his dressings.

Elliot suffered nightmares and mental health issues following the crash and was forced to miss six weeks of studying for a philosophy degree at the University of East Anglia. He was forced to wear pressure tights for 23 hours a day to help his skin grafts knit.

Despite this he still graduated last year with a 2:1.

He added: “The colour is slowly returning to both my thighs, but I am conscious of how they look.  I remember being taken aback by the appearance of my right thigh in particular and tried to avoid people seeing it.  It is starting to feel more normal, however.

“When I am out I become extremely nervous when near junctions, even if vehicles have stopped. I am hesitant to cross roads even if a car has slowed to beckon me to pass in front of it. 

“I have also become extremely nervous when near large vehicles. Now that I have seen the damage that can be done when out travelling on the roads, I have no inclination to drive and want to avoid being in cars unless absolutely necessary. 

“My principal concern about driving myself is the fear that I would be a danger to others.  I am therefore keen to remove myself entirely from this possibility, foremost due to fearing being responsible for the death or injury of others. 

“I also become extremely upset if I see cyclists cycling recklessly by not having their hands on the handlebars or riding without a helmet.

“This incident has left me nearly three years of suffering and pain. I would urge all drivers and cyclists to be careful and watchful when on the roads and make sure they show consideration so nobody else has to go through the suffering I have experienced since the crash.”

Peter Lorence is an expert serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell.

Expert Opinion

Road safety is a cause we are passionate about as we see first-hand on a daily basis the impact that collisions can have on people’s lives – particularly vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Elliot’s experience is a stark reminder of the suffering that some people have to go through following a momentary lapse in concentration from other road users.

“We hope that motorists and cyclists take heed of Elliot’s warning so others don’t have to go through the pain our client has had to endure over the past three years.

“We’ll continue to work with Elliot to secure the necessary support and rehabilitation he needs to help with his recovery.” Peter Lorence - Senior Associate Solicitor

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling road traffic accident cases.