Paralysed motorcyclist sues two girls he swerved to avoid

A motorcyclist left paralysed after two schoolgirls stepped into his path is suing them for more than £300,000.

Dennis Porter, 60, swerved to avoid Charlotte Humphries and Gemma McMillan when they walked into moving traffic on their way home from school in Hackbridge, Wallington, in 2008.

He fell from his bike and was run over by an oncoming Ford Transit. He is now quadriplegic.
Mr Porter, from Wimbledon, who was riding a Suzuki SV650 bike, claims that the girls were guilty of negligence.

He is seeking damages and loss of earnings. A writ issued in the High Court said: "The defendants suddenly and without warning emerged from between slow-moving traffic."

Miss Humphries and Miss McMillan, now both 19, had just got off the 151 bus on June 30, 2008.
Mr Porter - whose "intellect and cognitive function" have remained intact - has been married to wife Hazel, 57, for 34 years. They have two adult children and one young grandson.

Neil Rees, his solicitor from BikeLawyer, said: "Mr Porter's heroic action has left him quadriplegic and he will be reliant upon the care of his family and others for the rest of his life."