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If you have recently been in a cycling accident and believe that someone else is at fault, then you may be able to make a personal injury claim. Successful cycle accident claims will receive personal injury compensation for the pain suffered as well as any losses associated with the injuries sustained.
A driver may have been using their mobile phone whilst driving and did not realise that the vehicle had entered the cycle lane and caught the back wheel of your bicycle. This caused you to go over the handlebars and slip a disc in your spine. With sufficient evidence of their fault for your injuries, you could make a claim.
The solicitors on our panel want to help you with the process. They can advise on how to collect copies of your medical records that show your injuries and interview any witnesses who can testify to your version of events. Our panel provide their services on a No Win No Fee basis. They understand that cycling accidents can result in many different injuries as well as physical and financial losses. Therefore, they want to support you in getting the compensation that you deserve and will ensure that your claim is accurately valued.
Our advisors offer free consultations to assess the circumstances of your claim, your eligibility, and answer any of your questions about cycling injury claims. Get in touch today to take the first step towards receiving your deserved compensation.
Jump To A Section
- Who Can Make Cycle Accident Claims?
- Common Causes Of Accidents Whilst Cycling
- What Injuries Could Be Sustained In A Cycling Accident?
- How Much Cycling Injury Compensation Can I Claim?
- Can I Claim For Other Damages As Part Of My Cycling Accident Compensation?
- What Fatal Cycling Accident Compensation Could Be Awarded?
- The Process For Bringing A Cycle Accident Claim
- Why Claim For Cycling Injuries With Legal Helpline
- No Win No Fee Cycle Accident Claims
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Information
Who Can Make Cycle Accident Claims?
Cycle accident claims can be made by anyone eligible, such as someone injured because a car driver knocked them off their bike by not navigating safely.
Before beginning your cycle accident claim, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria:
- You Were Owed A Duty Of Care
Anyone navigating the roads owes a duty of care to other road users, including cyclists, to use the roads in a safe manner that avoids damage and injury to themselves and others. To meet their duty of care to cyclists, other road users can ensure that they adhere to the road safety rules set in the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act 1988. This includes items such as adhering to speed limits and paying attention to the road so that cyclists are recognised. This can be achieved by a driver not using their mobile phone so that they notice when a cyclist is travelling in front of them.
- The Duty Of Care Was Breached
Anyone who fails to comply with the relevant road safety rules has breached their duty of care. For example, a driver speeds through a red light, knocking you off your bike. The driver did not comply with road safety laws.
- You Suffered An Injury
You must have suffered an injury in a cycling accident because of the breach of duty. Cycle accident claims can be made for a wide range of injuries from the minor to the very severe, including lacerations, soft tissue injuries or spinal cord injuries and brain damage.
Cycle Accident Claims Where The Injured Party Was Partially At Fault
In some cycle accident claims, it may be the case that the injured party was partly at fault. They may have contributed to their injury, in which case, this is known as ‘contributory negligence’ or may be partially responsible for the accident, which is known as ‘split liability’.
Under a split liability or contributory negligence claim, the compensation is decreased by the percentage in which the claimant was responsible for the accident or injuries. So if the defendant was apportioned 75% of the blame for the accident and the cyclist was apportioned the other 25%, they would receive 75% of the overall compensation awarded.
Can I Claim For Cycling Accidents On Behalf Of An Injured Loved One?
Yes, you can claim for a cycling accident on behalf of an injured loved one if you are appointed to act as their litigation friend. Litigation friends act in legal proceedings for those who cannot make their own claim, such as children under the age of 18 and those without the mental capacity to do so. This should be someone whom the victim trusts will have their best interests at heart and will act with integrity throughout the process.
Your eligibility can be assessed today, free of charge, so give an advisor a call. They can also explain split liability and litigation friends.
Common Causes Of Accidents Whilst Cycling
The roads can be a dangerous place and therefore cycling accidents can be caused in many different ways. Some of the most common causes that lead to people making a cycling accident claim are discussed below:
Cyclist Hit By A Vehicle
Both the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Highway Code set out certain rules and regulations that must be followed by all road users. For anyone driving a motor vehicle, they must adhere to rules such as set speed limits and giving their full attention to the road. When a driver fails to obey these rules, it can result in a collision with a cyclist who expects drivers to be meeting these regulations.
Cyclist Injured By Poor Road Conditions
Many cyclists are involved in accidents that have been caused by road conditions such as ice and potholes. Where this is the case, a claim can be made against the highway authority, typically the local council, under the Highways Act 1980 and the Occupiers Liability Act. These state highway authorities should ensure the roads are safely maintained so that cyclists (and other road users) do not injure themselves. Local councils should also maintain roads by re-tarmacking over potholes and ensuring that roads are gritted in icy conditions.
Cycle Accidents Caused By Defective Equipment
Cycling accidents can also be caused by the bicycle itself. It may be that the brakes of your bike are faulty or the bike chain has become loose. If it can be found that the manufacturer of the bicycle has not run the reasonable checks that the bike is safe before it has been sold to you, then they would be found to be negligent. These rights are set out in the Consumer Protector Act 1987 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Animal Caused Cycling Accidents And Injuries
An unexpecting cyclist may have been injured in a cycling accident due to a dog running in front of them on a busy road. This would therefore make the owner of the animal responsible as they have not taken the reasonable steps to ensure your safety by putting the dog on a lead, for example. The Animals Act 1971 details your rights as a cyclist to claim against the owner of a domestic or tamed animal. The Highways Act 1980 also states that it is an offence for livestock to be on the side of a highway or road, therefore owners will be held liable for any cycling accidents caused.
Get in touch to discuss the specific details of your claim today.
What Injuries Could Be Sustained In A Cycling Accident?
The severity of a cycling accident can vary and therefore so can the type of injury that is sustained. Some examples of injuries that can be sustained in a cycling accident are listed below:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries such as sprains
- Joint injuries such as dislocations
- Surface injuries such as cuts and lacerations
- Bruising
- Internal organ damage such as ruptured spleen or bladder
- Back and neck injuries such as a slipped disc or damage to the spinal column
- Psychological harm
- Injuries to the face such as broken teeth
If you want to discuss the injuries that you have sustained from your cycling accident, contact Legal Helpline today.
How Much Cycling Injury Compensation Can I Claim?
The amount of cycling injury compensation that you could receive depends on the type of injury that you sustained as well as its severity. All successful personal injury claims will receive general damages, which compensate for the pain that you have suffered. For example, if you have suffered a sprained wrist from your cycling accident, you may be awarded up to £5,790. However, a back injury resulting in paralysis could receive up to £196,450, as it is more severe and will have more of an effect on the cyclist’s life. These figures were taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which your solicitor may consult to reach a fair amount of compensation. They provide guidelines for the general damages that may be awarded to different types of injuries, differing in severity.
In the table below, you will find more examples of amounts of compensation suggested by the JCG for different injuries that may be sustained in a cycling accident. These amounts should not be taken as a guarantee. The first figure was also not taken from the JCG.
| Injury and severity | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe injuries and special damages | £1 million+ | There are multiple severe injuries after the accident and special damages such as rehabilitation, loss of earnings and care costs have been compensated for. |
| Very Severe Brain Injury | £344,150 - £493,000 | Brain damage resulting in little to no response to surroundings and possibly some ability to follow basic commands. |
| Paraplegia | £267,340 - £346,890 | exact amount will depend on factors such as the victim's degree of independence and life expectancy but paralysis will or is at risk of worsening gradually over time. |
| Neck injury - severe (i) | In region of £181,020 | likely that victim will suffer incomplete paraplegia and there is little to no mobility with the addition of painful headaches. |
| Very Severe Scarring | £36,640 - £118,790 | Where the scarring sustained is disfiguring leading to psychological reactions that are severe |
| Pelvis and hips - Moderate (i) | £32,450 - £47,810 | A hip replacement has been required but there is no permanent risk or long-term effects post-surgery |
| Fracture of cheekbones (i) | £12,450 - £19,260 | Serious fractures where surgery has been required and there is an element of disfigurement to the face. |
| Shoulder - Moderate | £9,630 - £15,580 | Can include injuries where discomfort persists for approximately 2 years or soft tissue injuries where ongoing symptoms are minor. |
| Damage to teeth (i) | £10,660 - £13,930 | multiple of the victim's front teeth have been lost/knocked out or suffered serious damage. |
| Psychiatric damage - less severe damage | £1,880 - £7,150 | There has been a period where the victim has struggled with day-to-day life due to the psychiatric damage so amount will be decided based on the length of time and persistence of these symptoms. |
To discuss how much compensation could be awarded for your specific injuries, please speak to one of our advisors.
Can I Claim For Other Damages As Part Of My Cycling Accident Compensation?
Yes, as well as general damages, you may also receive special damages for the added expenses that you had to pay out as a result of the cycling injuries. Special damages can include;
- Loss of earnings – the cycling accident left the victim unable to work.
- Travel costs to and from medical appointments
- Care costs for any hired care
- Medical equipment hire or purchase such as crutches or wheelchairs
- Adjustments made to home
- Repairs to your bike that had to be made after the accident or replacement of personal belongings that were broken during the collision
You will need to prove that you are owed compensation for special damages, so evidence such as receipts for transport tickets and invoices to hired care should be provided.
To discuss what special damages you may be entitled to, get in touch with one of our advisors today.
What Fatal Cycling Accident Compensation Could Be Awarded?
In the devastating event that a cycling accident has resulted in the death of your loved one, the estate can claim compensation on their behalf for the pain and suffering that they endured prior to their death. You can also claim for the bereavement that you have suffered since losing your loved one to the collision, as well as the impact on the family’s finances (the estate can do this, or if no claim was made by the estate within the first six months of their death, then certain relatives can make this claim).
More information on what compensation can be awarded for a fatal cycling accident can be found in our fatal accident claims guide. Alternatively, you can discuss claiming for a fatal cycling accident with one of our advisors.
The Process For Bringing A Cycle Accident Claim
To bring a cycle accident claim, you will need to provide evidence to prove that another road user was at fault for your injuries. You will also have to meet the personal injury deadline for making claims. Both parts of this process are discussed below:
Evidence To Support A Cycle Accident Claim
To support your cycle accident claim, you should gather evidence that proves the liability of the other road user. This can include things such as photos of the scene or CCTV footage, and dashcam footage from other road users that caught the collision taking place. Witness contact details of anyone who saw the accident take place and medical records detailing the injuries sustained is also useful evidence for a cycle accident claim.
You should try to compile this evidence as soon as possible so that you are already in a strong position to make your claim. Our dedicated evidence for a personal injury claim guide provides more examples of evidence that you can begin compiling.
How Long After A Cycle Accident Can I Make A Claim?
You will have a 3 year time limit to begin making your claim. This primarily begins from the day that the accident happened. There are some exceptions to this deadline, which are detailed in our personal injury time limits guide.
If you are still unsure about the process of making your claim, contact an advisor today so you can get started on the first steps.
Why Claim For Cycling Injuries With Legal Helpline
Legal Helpline can handle your compensation claim while you focus on recovering from your cycling injuries. Cycling injuries can be caused by traumatic accidents with often severe outcomes. These are circumstances that our panel of solicitors here at Legal Helpline are sympathetic towards and want to help bring justice to. Therefore, our panel strives to get the best possible outcomes for each claim made.
A solicitor from our panel will do this by asking you a series of questions to better understand your situation better before evaluating the compensation you could receive. Additionally, they may arrange for you to attend an independent medical exam to ensure that the full scope of your injuries is considered when calculating your compensation. Furthermore, they can help connect you to any specialists, such as a physical therapist or plastic surgeon, to help ensure that your medical needs are met.
Once they have gotten to know you and your claim, they will give you the opportunity to ask any further questions that you have about the claims process. They will ensure that they keep details of the process simple and explain every step in a way that is digestible for anyone outside of the legal sector.
Once our panel agrees to support your claim, they will be on hand to answer any further questions you may have throughout the claims process. They will also handle all of the necessary legal documentation and evidence to support your claim, so that you can focus on recovering from the cycling injuries that you have sustained from your accident. We want this process to be as easy as possible for you since suffering cycling injuries is difficult enough.
To claim for your cycling injuries with the support of a solicitor from our panel, contact an advisor today.
No Win No Fee Cycle Accident Claims
Deciding to make a claim with the help of one of the solicitors on our panel means that you will be given the opportunity to have legal representation through a Conditional Fee Agreement, which is a type of No Win, No Fee Agreement. This means that you will not have to pay any upfront solicitor fees, or any during the claims process. You also do not have to pay your solicitor for their services if your claim is unsuccessful. It is when your claim is successful that your solicitor will take a percentage of the compensation that is awarded to you. This is called a ‘success fee’. This is a capped percentage by law, therefore, it is always fair to the services that your solicitor has provided during the process of your claim and its success.
If you would like to discuss the Conditional Fee Agreements that the solicitors on our panel offer further, do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our advisors.
Contact Our Advisors
Our advisors are here around the clock to help answer any questions you have about cycle accident claims.
- Call us: 0333 000 0729
- Use our free live chat function
- Complete the form on our contact page
Frequently Asked Questions
Now we will take a look at some frequently asked questions regarding cycle accident claims.
What Rights Do Cyclists Have On The Roads In The UK?
Cyclists’ rights are similar to those that motor vehicle drivers possess. There are dedicated lanes for cyclists on certain roads that cyclists should stay within, and they should wear protective clothing, such as bright colours and helmets. Cyclists are permitted to filter through traffic and they have priority over traffic when turning at junctions. However, cyclists are considered more vulnerable than motor vehicle drivers, which means that drivers need to take care of bike riders. Cyclists, though, are not as vulnerable as pedestrians and need to consider the safety of people on foot.
How Can I Claim For A Cycling Accident If The Other Party Was Uninsured?
If the responsible party was uninsured on their vehicle, you can claim through the Motor Insurer’s Bureau. The Bureau compensates cyclists who have been injured by an uninsured driver who was at fault in the same way an insurance provider would.
Can I Claim For Damage Caused To Personal Possessions During A Cycle Accident?
If you have had to pay to repair your bike or buy any replacements for personal possessions damaged in the collision, you can receive compensation for these damages and expenses. These factors will be considered when you make your claim. However, make sure you save the receipts to recover these costs.
How Long Will I Take To Settle A Cycle Accident Claim?
How long it will take to settle a specific cycling injury claim will vary depending on several factors, such as the severity of injuries and disputed liability. A cycle accident claim can be settled within a few months. However, if the third party denies liability or the injury prognosis is uncertain, then proceedings and settlement may take longer. It all depends on the circumstances of the claim.
Will A Cycling Injury Compensation Claim Go To Court?
Most cycling injury compensation claims do not have to go to court. However, in cases where the third party has denied liability or it can’t be settled during arbitration, then the claim will be taken to court.
Give an advisor a call if you have any more questions that the above have not answered.
More Information
Find more of our useful guides below:
- Learn more about claiming compensation for road traffic accidents
- more information on claiming for a spinal cord injury
- You may want more information on brain injury claims
Some useful sites include:
- Here’s how you can retrieve video evidence to support your claim
- Information from the NHS on how to know whether you’ve suffered a broken hip
- Advice from the police about road safety
Thank you for reading our guide on cycle accident claims. To make a start on your claim, get in touch today.