![\"Avid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_TCBR130625CyclistAndyBevanBRIjpeg.jpg\")
Avid cyclist Andy Bevan, who was seriously injured after his bike tire caught a rut in Clevedon, near Bristol(Image: Andy Bevan)<\/p>\nNow Andy Bevan wants an early-warning system for road usersAvid cyclist Andy Bevan, who was seriously injured after his bike tire caught a rut in Clevedon, near Bristol(Image: Andy Bevan)<\/p>\n
A cyclist who \u2018cheated death\u2019 when his front wheel got stuck in a rutted pothole is suing the council after discovering that another cyclist had suffered the same fate just weeks before.<\/p>\n
Andy Bevan suffered serious multiple injuries when he went over the handlebars on Castle Road in Clevedon, six weeks after the ‘invisible crack’ was reported to North Somerset<\/a> Council.<\/p>\n As he lay on the road with a fractured neck, a retired GP rushed to his aid and told him another cyclist had done the exact same thing on the same spot just six weeks earlier, and had complained to the council.<\/p>\n But the local authority told his lawyer they went out to inspect the road after that first complaint and didn\u2019t think it needed repairing.<\/p>\n Now, the former police detective is suing the council and calling for an early-warning system to be put in place to alert people to hazardous road surfaces.<\/p>\n Andy suffered a long list of injuries when he was gently cycling down the hill in Clevedon and suddenly was catapulted over the handlebars to land on his head.<\/p>\n He suffered a T1 transverse process fracture to his neck, fractured collarbone, nine broken ribs, collapsed lung and fractures to his pelvis, as well as a concussion.<\/p>\n The paramedics who arrived said his helmet had saved his life. \u201cI paid a heavy price but at least I cheated death,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most disturbing thing is the indiscriminate nature of my accident and that, because of the inactivity by those who are supposed to keep our roads safe, there was nothing I personally could have done to avoid what happened.<\/p>\n \u201cMy front wheel must have got stuck in one of the extensive cracks in the road but the area of disrepair was invisible on the approach,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Andy, from Portishead<\/a>, said he\u2019d ridden that route many times before, but hadn\u2019t for a few months.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really was the stuff of nightmares for cyclists. Like every cyclist, I\u2019ve had my fair share of bruising accidents and this was by far the most painful one of them all but what really hurt is that it was all so avoidable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n While he was lying injured, a retired doctor came to his aid. \u201cI\u2019ll be eternally grateful to the local resident, a retired GP who saw my accident, rushed to my aid, called the emergency services and told me that someone else had recently come a cropper in the same spot,\u201d Andy said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe public-spirited resident had complained to the council about the state of the road as a result which is very community-minded.<\/p>\n “Thanks to the resident I was able to get in contact with the other cyclist who confirmed he had reported his accident to the council and had also made a complaint.<\/p>\n \u201cIt left me gobsmacked but I just wish they\u2019d acted promptly to spare me a lot of grief and I just hope some good can come from my accident with a review of how local authorities react to reports of accidents.\u201d<\/p>\n Andy said he thinks he was lucky. \u201cI was taken by ambulance to hospital where the doctor said that my cycle helmet had saved my life so I felt that I was only alive to tell the tale thanks to wearing the appropriate gear,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll in all, I count myself fortunate to have come out alive but what\u2019s happened to me shows that every cyclist should wear a helmet because that clich\u00e9 about not knowing what\u2019s round the corner really is true,.\u201d<\/p>\n Andy is now a self-employed outdoor instructor and international mountain leader, who found that a simple cycle in Clevedon proved more dangerous than any climbing adventure.<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t work for eight months after the accident, which happened in September 2023, and had to cancel work trips including taking a group up Mount Kilimanjaro, and another up South America\u2019s highest mountain, Aconcagua.<\/p>\n He is now taking legal action against North Somerset Council<\/a>, because they had been told about the dangerous crack in the road before.<\/p>\n \u201cThe local authority had ample warning and my accident was one of those that was just waiting to happen because another cyclist had alerted the powers-that-be to the pothole weeks before but, as far as I can tell, they failed to act promptly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Enable Law solicitor Laura Williamson is taking up Andy\u2019s case. \u201cAndy is quite rightly seeking damages but he is also hoping that his claim will focus the minds of local authorities nationwide to make our roads safer for cyclists,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sent a letter of claim to the council who stated that they had inspected the road after the previous accident and while repairs were due, the road was not classed as dangerous so the repairs were not regarded as urgent.<\/p>\n \u201cSoon after Andy\u2019s accident warning signs were put up and the road was repaired but this was too late to spare Andy a horrific ordeal which had a huge impact on his health and professional activities. We are currently preparing court proceedings and quantifying Andy\u2019s losses,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Andy wants wider action so that, if a report is made of a dangerous spot for cyclists, warning signs are put up straight away, before the pothole is fixed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I recognise it\u2019s almost impossible to fix every pothole overnight, the danger had been reported so as a minimum they could have put up a sign about it to give cyclists a heads-up,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n A spokesperson from North Somerset Council said: “We comply with our statutory duty to maintain our roads to a safe condition. We respond to all reports of potholes and other defects and complete repairs wherever deemed necessary. It wouldn\u2019t be appropriate for us to comment on individual incidents and potential claims.”<\/p>\n Join Bristol Live\u2019s WhatsApp community for top stories and breaking news sent directly to your phone<\/strong><\/p>\n Bristol Live<\/a> is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.<\/p>\n Through the app, we\u2019ll send the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone.<\/p>\n To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select \u2018Join Community\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live<\/a> team.<\/p>\n We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose \u2018Exit group\u2019.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Avid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_TCBR130625CyclistAndyBevanBRI_02jpeg.jpg\")
Avid cyclist Andy Bevan, who was seriously injured after his bike tire caught a rut in Clevedon, near Bristol(Image: Andy Bevan)<\/p>\n![\"Avid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_TCBR130625CyclistAndyBevanBRI_03jpeg.jpg\")
Avid cyclist Andy Bevan, who was seriously injured after his bike tire caught a rut in Clevedon, near Bristol(Image: Andy Bevan)<\/p>\n![\"Solicitor](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/0_TCBR130625CyclistAndyBevanBRI.jpg\")
Solicitor Laura Williamson, from Enable Law(Image: Enable Law)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_WhatsApp-Phone.jpg\")
Bristol Live WhatsApp Breaking News and Top Stories<\/p>\n