Family of cyclist killed on the A414 receive record undisclosed compensation

Slater & Gordon pursued a civil claim against the motorist who killed 47 year old Kenny Lush in 2009, which was settled last week.

Although satisfied by the sum the family have said that it provides ‘little comfort’ and said that while the money will bring them some closure and security they will never be able to reconcile themselves with the lenient sentence that the motorist received in the criminal courts.

Kenny Lush, 47, was hit by motorist Deborah Hearn while on his way home from work on the A414 between Hatfield and Hertford in May 2009.

Hearn struck the businessman and then left the scene while Kenny died of his severe injuries. She later handed herself in to police and pleaded guilty to causing the death of the father of four by careless driving. She was spared a jail sentence by the judge in March 2010 as she was then heavily pregnant and was instead banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £2,500 costs. Since then, CTC and Slater & Gordon have worked with the family to pursue damages from Hearn’s insurers. 

His mother Karin Lush said: “No amount of money can ever bring my son back. We have lost a son, husband, father and brother and we don’t feel the driver responsible for killing him has been held accountable in any way. She will probably have no idea how much we have gone through and how our family have suffered financially as a result of her actions that night.

"She killed him and drove off; there is no way we will ever get over that but it is some relief to know that his family and children will be looked after and have some degree of security even if they don’t have a father.”

The family were supported by CTC throughout the process and have been provided with financial aid when needed, as well as legal support from cycle injury specialists Slater & Gordon.

There are no winners in this tragic story, but CTC is pleased that Slater & Gordon Lawyers have been able to secure this settlement for the family of Kenny Lush. Our work to win justice for cyclists in the face of scandalous sentencing has never been so important as it is now.

Gordon Seabright
CTC Chief Executive

An annual race has also been set up in Kenny’s memory as he was an active and long-standing member of the cycling community.

Liz Dux, lawyer from Slater & Gordon said: “I hope the significant settlement brings some sort of closure for the family and allows them to have some security for the future but nothing can bring Kenny back. Through representing the family since Kenny’s tragic death, I have got to know them very well. I have seen what a tremendous presence he was to the business and how hard it has been for them to keep the family firm going. The most upsetting aspect of this case were the actions of the motorist. The family just cannot reconcile their suffering to her lenient sentence. As a society we have still got the balance all wrong. Hopefully this settlement will go some small way towards lessening the pain for the family.”