A father’s life was changed forever after a collision with an uninsured e-bike rider in Surbiton, southwest London, leaving him “just hours from death.”
Mohamed Ressum, 44, now wants the law to be updated so that other pedestrians and cyclists aren’t left unprotected.
Sudden Crash on a Cycle Lane Leaves Father Seriously Injured
The accident occurred in June when Ressum was cycling along a dual cycle lane near his home.
A boy riding a Forest e-bike came around the corner on the wrong side at speed, hitting Ressum with such force that he smashed his head on the pavement.
Ressum, a builder and father of two, suffered a bleed on the brain and broken ribs.
He was rushed to the hospital and told by medics that he had narrowly escaped death.
Legal Loophole Leaves Victim Without Compensation
To Ressum’s shock, he discovered he couldn’t claim compensation from the e-bike hire company.
Forest, the operator of the bike, has no legal obligation to carry public liability insurance covering reckless riders.
“There needs to be a change in the law to protect people who get hurt by these bikes,” Ressum said.
“Nobody knows that if you are hit by a Forest bike, you’re in serious trouble and won’t get any support.
Bike hire companies should be compelled by law to have insurance to protect other people.”
He added a particular concern about young riders: “Children are riding these bikes and they aren’t protected.
This needs to change now—I don’t want anybody else to go through what I have suffered.”
Lingering Trauma and Daily Struggles
Since the crash, Ressum has struggled with constant headaches, nightmares, and anxiety about leaving his home.
“I smashed my head and lay on the pavement for several minutes before anybody came over to check on me,” he recalled.
“A police car stopped for one minute, and the officers did nothing—not even checking if I was okay or if anybody was to blame.”
Ressum described the pain as excruciating and said that when he finally received a scan at A&E, medics discovered a bleed on his brain, prompting an emergency transfer to another hospital for surgery. “I was hours away from death,” he said.
The once easygoing father now lives in fear.
“I wake up with a headache like I’ve been drinking all night, suffer nightmares, and I can’t work on building sites. It’s changed me completely.”
Legal Team Calls for Forest to Offer Settlement
Ressum’s lawyers are urging Forest to provide a financial settlement to reflect the life-changing impact of the accident.
Laura Swaine, a partner at Osbourne Law representing Ressum, said: “People who suffer terrible, life-changing injuries like my client must be able to access fair compensation to reflect their loss.
I would urge Forest to do the right thing and offer him a settlement to help him rebuild his life.”
Forest Responds with Statement on Safety Measures
Forest, which operates more than 14,000 dockless e-bikes across 18 London boroughs, released a statement expressing sympathy for Ressum but highlighting the limitations of their insurance coverage.
“We are deeply saddened about this accident, and our thoughts are with the individuals involved,” the company said.
“In line with most of the industry, Forest has comprehensive public liability insurance which covers incidents arising from a mechanical fault or failure of our bikes.
While we encourage and support good riding behaviour,… cyclists ultimately have a duty to follow the rules of the road and ride safely.”
The company also stressed its commitment to bike maintenance and rider safety training, noting that new users must complete in-app safety instructions before their first journey.
Growing Concerns Over E-Bike Safety in London
Ressum’s case highlights a growing concern about the safety of shared e-bikes in London and the lack of legal protection for people injured by reckless riders.
Campaigners argue that without mandatory insurance for e-bike hire firms, vulnerable road users remain exposed to serious risk.