Glyn Powell's head injuries were so severe he suffered a life-threatening stroke and was paralysed for two months following the accident in 2005.

Despite an attempt to return to work as a controller at Eggborough Power Station, he was eventually forced to take early retirement in 2007, having never fully recovered.

Now he has been awarded the cash lump sum in an out-of-court settlement with Yorkshire roadsweeper operator RK and CE Smallwood.

Mr Powell, 58, of Kellington, near Selby, said: "The money will go on my living and care expenses.

"I was very fit and active before the accident – I was playing cricket for my local team and I cycled to and from work every day.

"Now if I walk more than 50 or 60 yards I have to stop. I can be very unsteady on my feet and my left arm has lost all dexterity. I cannot do up my own buttons or fasten a tie.

"My life has totally changed, though I do feel lucky to have got back to some sense of normality."

The accident happened on the A19 near Eggborough in November, 2005 when, ironically, Mr Powell was on his way home from a first-aid seminar.

Among the first to help at the scene were the first-aid tutor and an off-duty doctor.

Father-of-two Mr Powell says he remembered only a massive thump to the back of his head. He woke in a hospital intensive care unit 10 days later with little memory of the incident.

The impact to the back of his head – the imprint of the roadsweeper's wing mirror lasted for two months – caused internal bleeding, which in turn sparked a stroke.

After a spell in a rehabilitation centre, he returned home and after five months was back at work part-time on light duties, gradually working his way back to full-time.

After a year, however, his physiotherapists said working was making his condition worse and his company, British Energy, pensioned him off.
But he was left with a £24,000 a year shortfall between the pension he was allowed and his usual salary.

His union, Unite, instructed Thompsons Solicitors to take action against the roadsweeping firm. The settlement was made for loss of earnings, pain and suffering and for ongoing care.

A former Dewsbury councillor, Mr Powell also used to be a convenor for the T&G union before he started work at Eggborough.

He said: "Joining a union is not just about job security and pay concerns – you also get their support in legal cases.

"If I hadn't been a member of Unite I wouldn't have been able to afford to take action and probably would not have been awarded anything."

Representing Mr Powell, Nikki Sharpe from Thompsons Solicitors in Sheffield, said: "We're relieved for Mr Powell.

For over 10 years he has cycled this same route to work without any problems. His career has been cut short and he deserves every penny of his compensation."