Transport secretary Chris Grayling could face private prosecution after knocking a cyclist to the ground in Westminster.
Footage has emerged of a cyclist crashing to the floor when Mr Grayling opened the door of his ministerial car right into his path.
The October clip, published by The Guardian this week. then shows the politician walk over to the biker, 35-year-old Jaiqi Liu, in order to apologise and put his hand on his shoulder.
Mr Liu, who informed police without realising who Mr Grayling was, said he was left shocked and in pain.
Now campaign group Cycling UK has said it is willing to use its defence fund to assist Mr Liu in a possible case against Mr Grayling.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s senior road safety and legal campaigns officer, said: “Mr Grayling as a former justice, and the current transport secretary, should know it’s a criminal offence to open any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger anyone.
“Currently, it’s treated as a minor offence with a maximum £1,000 fine, despite the fact that people have been killed and seriously injured by car dooring.
“Cycling UK is keen to speak to Mr Liu to see if our cyclists’ defence fund is able to provide legal assistance.
"There are questions about why Mr Grayling was not prosecuted for what appears to be an offence, and CDF has in the past been prepared to commence private prosecutions on behalf of injured cyclists.”
The Road Traffic Act 1988 states: “No person shall open, or cause or permit to be opened, any door of a vehicle on a road so as to injure or endanger any person.”
A spokesman for Mr Grayling said it was “an unfortunate accident”
“Mr Grayling got out of the car, checked the cyclist was OK and waited until he was back on his feet," he said.
"Mr Grayling spoke to the cyclist and apologised; they shook hands before he left."
