A CYCLIST who claims a road crash left him unable to work is suing the elderly driver involved for compensation.David Palmer, 50, of Jubilee Terrace, Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, has issued a writ against 80-year-old motorist David Plummer, who he blames for the accident in Woolpit in January 2000.

A CYCLIST who claims a road crash left him unable to work is suing the elderly driver involved for compensation.

David Palmer, 50, of Jubilee Terrace, Elmswell, near Bury St Edmunds, has issued a writ against 80-year-old motorist David Plummer, who he blames for the accident in Woolpit in January 2000.

The writ, issued at London's High Court and just made publicly available, says Mr Palmer suffered cuts and bruising, pain and shock and an injured right knee which needed two operations to reconstruct damaged cartilage.

As a result of his injuries, the writ says Mr Palmer has been left at a permanent disadvantage as far as work is concerned.

Now he is suing Mr Plummer, of Summer Road, Hepworth, near Diss, for compensation. The writ says Mr Plummer's Ford Montego car collided with Mr Palmer's bicycle.

After the crash, Mr Plummer pleaded guilty before St Edmundsbury Magistrates Court to a charge of driving without due care and attention.

In the writ, Mr Palmer claims he has been told he will never recover fully from his injuries and that since the accident he has lost his job and now has to rely on benefits.

He claims he has been permanently disadvantaged on the open labour market and also says he has been left unable to continue with his former activities of DIY, gardening and maintenance, according to the High Court writ.

Mr Palmer also claims he has been unable resume his hobby of cycling since the accident on January 8, 2000.

The writ blames the accident on Mr Plummer's negligence, claiming he failed to keep a proper look out, failed to see Mr Palmer's bike, failed to heed the bicycle, collided with the bicycle, failed to avoid the collision, and exposed the cyclist to a foreseeable risk of injury.

No date has yet been fixed for the case to be heard. The writ was issued by Gudgeons solicitors of Stowmarket.

Mr Plummer confirmed he had pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention relating to the crash. He said the case was now in the hands of his insurers.

Mr Palmer could not be contacted.