A man from Great Missenden is being sued for massive damages after a motorcyclist was left seriously brain-damaged following a horror crash near Stokenchurch.

Nicholas Howard, of Aylesbury Road, is being sued by Graham Barnes, 35, of Uxbridge Road, Slough, after Mr Barnes’ motorcycle was involved in an accident with Mr Howard’s Audi TT Quattro on the A40 at Aston Hill in June 2013.

However Mr Howard’s solicitors claim the accident was the biker’s fault because of his “reckless” driving.

The claimant’s barrister, Bruce Silvester, told Judge Karen Walden Smith at London’s High Court that Mr Howard’s car pulled out of a side road, drove along the nearside lane and then into the right-turn filter lane into the motorcycle’s path, causing a major crash.

He told the court Mr Barnes’ recollection of events was affected by the “serious brain injury” he suffered and that there was “little doubt” that Mr Barnes was exceeding the speed limit.

However he said “whatever criticisms can be made of Mr Barnes”, primary responsibility for the accident fell on Mr Howard.

Mr Silvester claimed the Audi driver “misjudged the motorbike's speed of approach and distance and, having pulled out of the exit, had not checked again in his mirror, or not checked carefully enough, before moving fully into the middle turning lane, directly into Mr Barnes’ path”.

But Bernard Doherty, for Mr Howard, said the accident was “a consequence of Mr Barnes’ own negligence and not a consequence of any negligence on the part of the defendant”.

He said: “He rode the bike too quickly; he maintained that excessive speed through the staggered junction, even though the junction and the presence of the Audi should have been a clear cue to slow.

“His riding can properly be characterised as reckless.”

The hearing continues.