Cyclist Expresses Resolve to Rebuild Life Following Accident

A cyclist, rendered unable to walk after being struck by a car that mounted a kerb, has expressed his resolve to reconstruct his life. Niraj Haria, a resident of Hove, East Sussex, suffered a broken spine, broken ribs, and a brain injury when he was hit by a Land Rover in Southwick in May 2020. The 54-year-old individual can no longer walk and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Mr. Haria described the past four years as a “real challenge,” noting that the effects of his injuries have been “profound.” He stated, “Surgery couldn’t correct the damage and I began to realise that I might not recover everything I’d physically lost. “It’s been difficult for all of us to acknowledge and accept this new reality.” Mr. Haria spent a month in hospital, receiving intensive care under sedation. He remarked: “I went from being a heathy and active man, with a career and the peak of my physical fitness, to being unemployed, disabled and a full-time wheelchair user.” Following his injury, the supporter of Brighton & Hove Albion co-established the Seagulls Disability Supporters Association (DSA) with the aim of advancing the interests of disabled fans and promoting their attendance at matches. He commented: “I’m now hopeful about making a difference in what I do, to improve other people’s lives and my own. “Seagulls DSA has given me an outlet to keep busy and help others.” Mr. Haria has obtained a specially-modified golf chair, which will allow him to resume competitive golf. He stated: “I’m seeing the road ahead with renewed hope and new confidence and looking forward to what the next stage of my life will bring.” Lawyers representing Mr. Haria, from the firm Irwin Mitchell, have secured interim payments for him, facilitating access to essential treatment and support for his recovery.