'My client simply did not see Mr MacIntyre coming.'

Remember this case? For feeble excuses these take some beating:

"My client simply did not see Mr MacIntyre coming. As a result, the cycle went into the rear of the vehicle and he was tragically killed."

He claimed the cyclist was not wearing high-visibility clothing and was in a "hunkered down" position, making his body size very small.

The family were furious that the police at the scene made no effort to check whether or not the driver had been using a mobile phone.

And now

The widow of champion Scottish cyclist Jason MacIntyre who was killed following a road accident last January is seeking £500,000 damages.

Caroline, 33, and other members of her family have raised an action against van driver Robert McTaggart and his employers Highland Council.