A Highgate motorcyclist has won £4.6million in damages after being left paralysed following a crash in St Albans.

Kevin Daniel, 32, was hit by a truck on the North Orbital Road near the M1 after colliding with a car on October 5, 2006.

On Monday, a judge at London’s High Court approved a settlement after lawyers acting on Mr Daniel’s behalf launched legal action against the driver’s insurers and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Watford General Hospital.

Mr Daniel, originally from South Africa, claimed his treatment at Watford General Hospital was negligent and contributed to his life-changing injuries, which resulted in paralysis of his lower body.

The 32-year-old was awarded £4.58million in damages, as well as £700,000 towards his legal costs, from the trust and the insurers.

However, there was no admission of liability by the trust.

Mr Daniel, who was 26 at the time of the accident, lost control of the Yamaha R6 motorbike as he was driving on the A405 when it collided with a blue Peugeot 207.

The bike ploughed on into the back of a large goods vehicle.

Mr Daniel’s lawyers said he did not have a “complete spinal cord injury” when he arrived at the hospital.

But owing to negligent treatment his condition deteriorated by the time of a later CT scan.

Mr Daniel, who was living in Highgate at the time of the crash but has since returned to South Africa, requires constant care as a result of his injuries.