Brighton woman left unable to work for a year after bus incident

Claire Moorthy was travelling on a number 7 Brighton and Hove bus home from work when she was badly injured.

The bus braked suddenly in Queens Road and she fell off one of the flip up seats behind the driver in the lower deck of the bus.

At the time, did not realise how injured she was and did not stop the bus or speak to any witnesses.

Claire Moorthy, 50, said she is in constant pain (Image: Claire Moorthy)

However, Claire's injuries have left her unable to work as a doctor for a year.

"It is miserable, boring and annoying," she said. 

Claire, who was 49 at the time of her injury but is now 50, sustained damaged discs in her neck.

She now struggles with fine motor movements, which are vital in her work as an anaesthetist.

“I am in pain all the time,” she told The Argus.

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Being unable to work for the past year, Claire, who lives in Eastern Terrace in Kemp Town, is now concerned she may lose her job.

In a meeting with occupational health she was told that she may not be able to retain her job on the grounds of capability, though she is desperate to return to work.

Ms Moorthy has worked in medicine for more than 20 years (Image: Claire Moorthy)

“It has been a really challenging year,” said Claire. “I could not even chop my vegetables.

“I have been left with chronic pain and my hand is always really cold.

“I am being investigated for palpitations and wearing heated gloves all the time.”

Claire went to work for two weeks after the incident before her colleague raised concern.

“I was in pain and struggling to hold my head up," she added.

"A senior colleague told me I should get it checked out.”

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Claire reported the incident to Brighton and Hove Buses around three weeks after it happened, when she realised how badly injured she was.

She claims the bus company is now denying liability and has told her that it no longer has CCTV footage.

Ms Moorthy said she misses work and want to go back (Image: Claire Moorthy)

Now, Claire is hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of sitting in the folding seats on the bus.

She also wants to find witnesses to the incident, which took place in Queens Road on a number 7 Brighton and Hove bus going to Brighton Marina via Royal Sussex County Hospital on February 17, 2022, at around 10am.

Claire was helped by a number of people:

• A lady who wore a long navy blue wool coat got out of her own seat and came to Claire's aid on the bus
• A lady dressed all in black seated directly opposite picked up Claire’s bag
• The lady who helped Claire initially got off the bus with her husband at the same stop at the hospital and they spoke for a short time before the couple entered the hospital
• The husband wore a pale grey wool coat and striped scarf, glasses and a cap

Claire added: “I am really fit and healthy and I have really struggled with this injury.

“I just did not think I was that injured and did not realise how bad it was until it was too late.

“My biggest concern now is making sure this does not happen to anyone else.”

She is urging anyone else who is injured on a bus to speak out and “make a fuss”.

“Please do not think you are inconveniencing people by stopping the bus, do it and you could save yourself serious problems," she said.

Ed Knight, insurance and claims manager at Brighton and Hove buses said: "We are aware of the alleged incident and it has been fully investigated."