Cycling is a popular way of commuting and keeping fit, but cyclists can be vulnerable. If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, we could help you claim personal injury compensation.
The UK has seen a huge increase in the number of people getting on two wheels in the last few years. With great British success at the Tour de France and Olympic cycling competitions, as well as lockdown measures, cycling has seen a massive rise in popularity – as both a form of transport and a way to keep fit.
But with more bikes on the road comes more risk to those riding them. In 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) found that 14,770 cyclists were injured in accidents, while 84 cyclists were killed.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident on your bicycle that was caused by someone else, you could be able to make a claim for compensation.
Cycling can be a fantastic way to keep fit. But riding on the same roads as cars, vans and lorries poses a real risk. In fact, the DfT found that the second most common reason for people not cycling more were road safety concerns.
Most cycling accidents involve another vehicle. These can include:
Road conditions can also pose a threat to cyclists. Potholes and other dangerous road defects will cause a lot more damage to a cyclist than to a motorist. These kinds of bike accidents may not involve another road user but are the responsibility of the local authority or highway agency.
Cyclists are not as protected as car drivers, so accidents can cause significant injuries to cyclists. Some of the most serious are head injuries. The University of Rochester Medical Center has found that head injuries are common among cyclists.
Also common are injuries such as:
If you’ve been hurt in a cycling accident, you could be able to make a claim against the person or organisation responsible – whether that’s a car driver or the local authority for not maintaining road surfaces.
For a successful bike injury claim, the compensation you are awarded will be based on your injuries and how they are expected to affect your health and your life.
This means that without an initial consultation with you, it’s difficult to say exactly how much you might be entitled to in cycling accident compensation. Our compensation calculator may be able to give you a rough idea of what you could receive for a bike accident claim. You can also just get in touch with us for free to discuss your claim.
Compensation is split into two parts:
This part compensates you for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as a result of your cycling accident. It covers any effect your injury has had on your quality of life. For example, general damages take into account whether you’ve had to give up any hobbies – like cycling – or if you’re unable to participate in family life the way you did before your bike accident.
This reimburses you for the financial impact your accident has had. If you’ve suffered a loss of earnings through being unable to work, special damages will cover that. This part of your compensation will also cover any expenses, such as medical treatment or travel to medical appointments. It also reimburses you for any damaged property, such as your bike or cycling gear.
In most cases, you’ll have three years to make a cycling accident claim. But the rules can differ for some.
For example, if you’re claiming on behalf of someone without the capacity to claim for themselves, you won’t face a deadline. Meanwhile, children who have been involved in a bike accident can claim at any point until their 18th birthday, when they will then have three years to begin their claim.
It’s advisable to begin your cycling claim as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the clearer the details of what happened will be in your mind and in the minds of any witnesses or anyone else involved.
You may also find it easier to get certain evidence when you start your claim soon after your bike crash.
The stronger your evidence, the stronger your cycling accident claim. That’s why you should ensure you collect certain pieces of evidence if you can.
Make sure you get the names and details of anyone involved in your bike accident and anyone who saw it happen. At the scene of the accident, if possible, you should also take photos and video footage of your bike, the road, any other vehicles and your injury.
You should also inform the police of your accident, as a police report could be a valuable piece of evidence when it comes to making a compensation claim.
Medical evidence is also crucial so ensure you seek out treatment as soon as possible. Your solicitor will also likely arrange for you to have a medical assessment, which will show how serious your injury was and how it might affect you in future.
Your accident solicitor will let you know what evidence you will need to present the strongest case possible.
If you have been injured in a bike accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be able to make a claim for compensation. First4Lawyers could help you through the process and ensure you are matched with the right personal injury solicitor for you.
This is true even if your injuries were caused by a motorist who didn’t stop at the scene or an uninsured driver. We could help you make a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
So if you think you may have a claim, just get in touch with the friendly and understanding team at First4Lawyers. We’re happy to talk you through your situation and set out your options.
We work with expert accident lawyers, who will take on your case on a No Win No Fee basis. This means there is no upfront cost and no risk to you if your claim is not successful.
To find out more about how we can help you, just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online.
Where we offer No Win No Fee services for road traffic accident claims typically customers pay 35% + VAT of the amount recovered by our solicitors.
Success fees are common practice and they were introduced when the law changed in April 2013. This amount is higher than the normal 25% on all other personal injury claims because of changes introduced through the Civil Liability Act 2018.
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