Biker who suffered spinal injury in crash just one mile from home urges drivers to be more aware

Gordon Alexander had been riding motorbikes since he was 16.

He was experienced, careful, always wore the correct protective gear… he did everything right.

But the carelessness of a 17-year-old driver who had just passed his test a month earlier meant Gordon suffered life-changing injuries - and it all happened just over one mile from his home.

The 55-year-old recalled: “I had been round the Borders on my bike that morning, had ridden about 180 miles and was headed home.

“I was travelling on the A71 doing about 55 miles an hour and as I approached the T junction on my left, I could see a white car - it looked like it was ready to stop so I kept travelling on the main A71 road.

“But the car came flying out in front of me and I tried to avoid it, but I hit it and went over the back of the roof and landed on the road.

“That’s the last thing I remember from that day.”

Gordon was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he underwent multiple emergency procedures to treat the immediately life-threatening injuries he’d sustained…

Ruptured aorta, spinal injury, multiple bone breaks, shattered pelvis, rupture to the ligament in left ankle.

The father-of-two from West Lothian was ventilated and placed in an induced coma for several weeks during which time he experienced complications like deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, acute kidney injury and delirium.

He spent a total of 46 days in the ICU until medics deemed him able to be brought out of the coma and moved to the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit for further care.

He said: “My wife and children thought they were going to lose me – it was touch and go for a while.

“I genuinely can’t remember anything from my time in the ICU but I know it must have been horrendous for my family to see me like that.

“Moving to the Spinal Unit is really when things started looking up.”

In the Unit Gordon was diagnosed with a T12 incomplete spinal injury - staff were on hand to help him process his diagnosis and began implementing multidisciplinary spinal injury rehabilitation including wheelchair transfer skills, intensive physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Speaking about his recovery he said:  “It’s amazing what the right support from the right people can do for you – I felt like everyone had faith in me and that really motivated me to keep going with my physio.

“I took all the help I was given because I have a loving family I wanted to get better for.”

While he was recovering in the Unit, the 55-year-old’s thoughts turned to the future and he decided to get help with a road traffic accident claim.

Kirsty O'Donnell, Partner in our Serious Injury Department, led the legal investigation.

She gathered medical records, police evidence, witness statements, expert reports and was able to build a strong civil case.

Kirsty also very quickly engaged with the driver at fault’s insurer to ensure that Gordon’s rehabilitation continued smoothly after his discharge and he had access to interim payments to put a comprehensive package of care in place including a case manager, regular physiotherapy and counselling.

Interim payments were also secured to allow Gordon to organise home adaptations to make daily life in his wheelchair a little easier to navigate. 

While his existing property didn't allow for a full range of adaptations, funds to ensure a fully accessible environment for his future home were included in his claim for compensation.

Understanding how important biking was to him after more than 40 years on the road, Kirsty also secured interim funds for an adapted motorbike, ensuring he could return to riding when ready.

During the course of the case Gordon was discharged from the Spinal Injuries Unit. Despite ongoing pain and difficulties with everyday tasks, the 55-year-old maintained physiotherapy and started exercising with a personal trainer at his local gym.

Seeing the progress Gordon was making with his rehabilitation, Kirsty helped put him in touch with Spinal Injuries Scotland where she had learned funding was available for spinal injury survivors to try different sporting activities.

One year after his discharge from the Unit, Gordon was on the Paralympic Pathway for curling and was selected for Team Scotland.

He said: “If you’d have asked me at the beginning of my recovery if I ever thought this was possible I’d have said no way.

“I’ve never been sport orientated but seeing the progress I’d made with my physio and how much I ended up enjoying the gym I thought yeah, this seems like something that would be really positive for me.

“I’d be with like minded people at training – some folk have had spinal injuries for a very long time and they’d share their knowledge, hints and tips, how to get on with life in a wheelchair.

“It gave me a sense of purpose.”

Within three years of the date of his accident, Kirsty secured a seven-figure settlement for the father-of-two.

An important outcome of Gordon’s case was also securing access to a C-Brace - an advanced orthotic device not available through the NHS - which has significantly improved the now 57-year-old's mobility, allowing him greater independence and more upright movement in his daily life.

This specialist equipment means Gordon is not reliant on his wheelchair full-time, helping him maintain an active and engaged lifestyle for as long as possible.

Without making the claim for compensation, access to the C-Brace wouldn’t have been a possibility for Gordon – now, it’s a crucial part of supporting his long-term recovery and wellbeing.

Gordon concluded: “I can’t thank Kirsty enough for everything she put in place for me.

“The compensation is one side of it which is a huge weight off my family’s shoulders, but the rehabilitation and equipment I had access to is really what changed the course of my life.

“If I had one message it’s to be mindful and observant on the road – a lot of times people just see riders as an extension of the bike itself, but it’s someone’s brother, sister, dad… the list goes on.

“A momentary lapse in someone else’s concentration changed my life forever – hopefully my story is a testament to how, with the right support, life is very much still worth living.”

It was reported in January 2023 that the young driver who injured Gordon was given six penalty points and a £600 fine.