Thompsons Solicitors and Unite Legal Services have secured compensation for a former production engineer who suffered multiple serious injuries after he was hit by a car and thrown off his motorcycle.

Richard Wiltshire, 49, was travelling on his motorbike at 30mph along a busy A-road in Bristol when a car pulled out from a driveway and attempted to do a U-turn.

The driver had not checked the road properly before moving his car and he pulled out in front of Richard giving him no time to avoid an impact.

The force of the collision threw Richard off his bike and underneath the car.

Richard suffered life-changing injuries including fractures to his arm, leg and parts of his face, a bleed to his brain and lacerations to his spleen. He was rushed to hospital where he had major operations to his arm and leg.

Richard has since had a second operation to his knee to help improve his mobility but, despite this, he is unlikely to regain full movement. He also has limited use of his right arm.

Prior to his accident, Richard was a production engineer for GKN Aerospace but because of the severity of his injuries he has been unable to go back to work. A year after the road accident, Richard took voluntary redundancy.

He contacted his trade union, Unite the Union, who instructed serious injuries specialists Thompsons Solicitors to investigate a claim for compensation on his behalf.

Richard said: “My injuries have significantly affected my life. I am in constant pain and dealing with this every day is really tough.

“If the driver of the car had taken a few extra seconds to assess the traffic on the road rather than just pulling out, things could have been so different. I’ve not only had to give up my hobbies and a job I loved because of what’s happened to me, but I also have to come to terms with how my injuries will physically limit me for the rest of my life.”

Steve Preddy, regional coordinating officer at Unite the Union, said: “This is an example of just how dangerous Britain’s roads can be. The driver’s failure to think has caused life-changing injuries for our member. He is lucky to be alive.

“Thankfully Richard’s membership of Unite ensures that he has legal cover for accidents that happen at and away from work. He has had full legal support during a hugely traumatic time of his life and we are pleased Thompsons has successfully secured compensation for him.”