Former Tour de France Cyclist Sues for £1m After Car Door Injury

James McLaughlin, a 34-year-old professional cyclist and Commonwealth Games competitor for Guernsey, is suing for over £1 million after a 2020 car dooring incident in London left him with serious injuries and purported brain damage. While the insurers have admitted liability for the crash, which fractured his shoulder and elbow, they dispute the claim that McLaughlin suffered a mild traumatic brain injury and contest the compensation amount. McLaughlin's legal team argues that the concussion and subsequent symptoms—including depression, memory loss, fatigue, anxiety, and PTSD—have ended his ambitions of returning to elite racing and competing in events like the Tour de France. A neuropsychologist testified that although McLaughlin did not report a direct head impact, the violent shaking during the crash likely caused lasting brain injury. Despite previous falls in his cycling career, no prior incidents resulted in lasting issues, underscoring the severity of this crash's impact. McLaughlin currently relies on an emotional support dog and seeks damages from both the driver and passenger insurers.