A cyclist injured in a traffic accident almost 13 years ago has been awarded €67,860 in damages by Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

Stephen Camilleri filed his writ against driver Wayne Farrugia in September 2004.  He told the court that he had suffered a permanent injury after he had been run over by Mr Farrugia while cycling from Pieta' towards Porte des Bombes in October of 2002.

The court heard that Mr Camilleri was a director of a factory in Marsa and that he used to cycle to work from Swieqi.  His route took up the hill leading from Pieta to Porte des Bombes where the road forked and he would take the right fork to the flyover to National Road in Blata l-Bajda. 

According to Mr Camilleri he was cycling along the inner or left lane of the road and had signalled that he was going to switch to the outer lane.  It was around this time that he was hit by a car driven by Mr Farrugia who was driving behind him on the outer lane. 

Mr Farrugia denied all responsibility for the accident and said that it had been caused as a result of Mr Camilleri's changing of lanes without notice.

But the court noted that Mr Farrugia had left nine metre long straight brake marks which indicated that he had noticed Mr Camilleri's manoeuvre in adequate time to avoid him.

Mr Farrugia was therefore found responsible and ordered him to pay €67,860 in damages for a 10% disability.