Cyclist seriously injured after motorcycle collision during Ironman triathlon in Germany

Our client had travelled from England to take part in the Ironman European Championship in Hamburg. This is one of the biggest events in the triathlon calendar and as an avid sportsman, our client had dedicated lots of time in preparation. During the cycling stage of the race, he was riding in the amateur section on a closed road. At the same time, an official race motorcycle carrying a cameraman was travelling in the opposite direction to film the elite athletes.

CCTV footage showed the motorcycle move into our client’s path, causing a head-on collision. The incident was devastating. Tragically, the motorcyclist died following the collision. Our client survived but was left with serious injuries and faced a long road to recovery.

The crash caused our client to suffer:

• A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Multiple fractured ribs
• Collapsed lungs (bilateral pneumothorax)
• Several fractures to his spine
• Scarring to different parts of his body

The physical injuries were severe, and the emotional impact of being involved in such a traumatic incident was equally significant.

Although he worked incredibly hard in his recovery and was eventually able to return to cycling, the injuries and the accident have had a lasting effect on his life.

Because the accident happened in Germany, the legal issues were much more complicated than a typical road traffic claim. We investigated whether a claim should be made against the race organisers. After carefully reviewing the evidence, we concluded that the strongest claim was against the motorcycle’s insurer. The collision appeared to have been caused by the unexpected and dangerous manoeuvre of the motorcycle rider, rather than a failure by the organisers to run the event safely.

Working alongside an experienced German lawyer, we gathered evidence about German road traffic law and obtained CCTV footage of the collision. When the insurer refused to engage with the claim, we issued court proceedings in England and successfully obtained permission from the court to serve the claim on the German insurer. Despite the insurer challenging the justification, ultimately, we were still able to bring a claim on behalf of our client.

Throughout the case, we have worked closely with specialist barristers and German legal experts to protect our client’s position. The choices our team made meant our client was in the best possible position, and we were successful in securing him the compensation he deserves.

Claims involving accidents overseas can be legally challenging. Different countries have different laws and different court procedures. In this case, our team had to deal with complex questions about which country’s courts should hear the claim and how any judgment could be enforced.

By working with trusted legal experts in Germany, we were able to guide our client through every stage of the process while keeping him informed about the risks and the progress of his case.

Despite suffering life-changing injuries, our client has shown remarkable determination. As his recovery progressed, he was able to return to cycling and even completed a year-long cycling journey from Asia to Europe with his partner.

His recovery does not take away from the seriousness of what happened or the impact the collision has had on his life. At every stage of the claim, we continued to fight for the compensation he deserves. The settlement has meant our client can move forward into the next stage of life with the financial security to do so, and the answers he needed.

Every claim is different, but no matter what the circumstance, our international injury team is here to help. We combine legal expertise with compassionate advice to build a claim centred around what matters most to you. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury abroad team can help you get answers and seek accountability. Contact our team today.