The Sun: Simon Cowell Considering a Lawsuit against E-bike Maker after Almost Dying from Crash

Simon Cowell could sue the manufacturer of an E-bike he fell from, breaking 3 vertebrae, leaving him nearly paralyzed. His lawyers reached out to the manufacturer, following a whistleblower criticizing the dangers of the bike.

"X-factor" boss, Simon Cowell (61) and his legal team are considering a lawsuit after he endured a 6-hour surgery on his back following the fall he sustained on a new Swind EB-01. Experts say Cowell could get up to $12million for pain and suffering.

The BGT chief was with his son Eric (6), and his partner Lauren Silverman's son Adam, when the bike upended at his Malibu mansion in August. He was rushed to the hospital and fitted with a metal rod in his vertebrae.

A former Swind employee warned his employers that Cowell could seriously injure himself. He cautioned against the use of the 60 mph contraption without training and a proper demonstration, with Cowell later joking about not having read the manual.

As noted by the U.K's Bicycle Association, the EB-01 has been mislabeled as a bike, since it falls outside of the three-tiered classification system used by the U.S. The former Swind insider added:

“That thing is a death trap and should never have been sold to Simon without him being taught how to use it.”

The ex-worker further elaborated how people with no training will instinctively squeeze the accelerator on the e-bike, thus causing an accident. He added that he'd felt by not saying more, fearing for his job.

According to Cowell's spokesperson, his legal team has since been in contact with the manufacturer, but with no success. He adds that they'll continue to demand answers pertaining to the claims that have been made surrounding the bike's dangers.

The legalities could get complicated by the disclaimer on Swind's website, which leaves all the responsibility of using their bikes in the hands of the biker.

Since his accident, Cowell has missed work several times while in recovery. This includes missing the "America's Got Talent" finale in September. It is anticipated he will also miss the BGT Christmas special.

His colleague, Howie Mandel sent Cowell a gift which he shared on Instagram recently, as a gesture of letting him know he's being missed. It was a green, three-wheeled bicycle complete with basket and bell. Cowell captioned it:

"This just arrived at my house. Thank you @HowieMandel.

Cowell is respected as a music and television entrepreneur, responsible for creating some of the most successful television shows including NBC's "America's Got Talent," as well as being a judge on FOX "American Idol."

He also helped launch the careers of several artists including British singer, Susan Boyle, and the international pop sensation, One Direction.

While we wait to see whether Cowell's legal team will in fact press on with a lawsuit, the legalities could get complicated by the disclaimer on Swind's website, which leaves all the responsibility of using their bikes in the hands of the biker.

According to Swindon Powertrain's MD, Raphael Caille, it is important for users to read the user manual before attempting to operate any of their devices.