Former British sprinter James Ellington has reached an out-of-court settlement after sustaining life-altering injuries in a motorbike accident in 2017. Ellington, who represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, suffered a broken leg in two places and a fractured pelvis following a collision with a car while riding a motorbike in Tenerife.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Ellington, now 38, displayed remarkable resilience and attempted a comeback in 2019, with aspirations of competing at the 2020 Olympics. However, he was compelled to retire from competitive athletics last year.
Reflecting on the accident, Ellington stated, “While the day of the collision will always live with me, I also know I’m fortunate to have survived it. I’ve always tried to remain upbeat. Now that I can finally put the legal case behind me, it’s time to focus on the future.”
Ellington, who was a passenger on the motorbike alongside teammate Nigel Lavine, has received a six-figure settlement, as confirmed by his solicitors Irwin Mitchell. The settlement, obtained from Lavine’s Spanish motor insurance company, is intended to support Ellington’s ongoing rehabilitation and provide compensation for the premature conclusion of his athletics career.
It’s important to note that the claim was directed at Lavine’s insurance company and not against Lavine himself, who had no involvement in the legal proceedings.