By Stephen Bishop. Last updated 11th July 2024. Welcome to our bike accident claims guide. Cycle accident claims are one of the most common types of personal injury claims made today due mainly to the fact that so many people cycle every day. People cycle to commute to work, to get fit, to stay healthy or simply because it’s much cheaper than operating a motor vehicle.
The benefits of cycling are quite obvious but the downside is when a cycling accident happens it can cause a lot of damage both physically and financially. If you have been involved in a cycling accident, or you are considering making a claim because somebody you know was seriously (or fatally) injured in a cycling accident, then give us a all on 0161 696 9685. It’s free to call or claims management service, or if you want to learn more first then keep reading our in-depth guide.
Jump to a section:
- Who Could Make Cycle Accident Claims?
- Common Causes Of Cycling Accidents And Injuries
- Bike Accident Claim Tips
- Cyclists Involved In Hit And Run Accidents
- Compensation For Cycle Accident Claims
- No Win No Fee Bicycle Accident Claims
- Helpful Links And Resources
Who Could Make Cycle Accident Claims?
Everyone who uses the roads, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, owes each other a duty of care. All road users, per their duty of care, must use the roads responsibly and safely to avoid causing harm. They must also adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
If you have been injured as a cyclist by another road user, in order to make a personal injury claim, you will need to prove:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- This duty was breached by another road user. For example, a driver failed to check a junction was clear before pulling out.
- This breach caused you to become injured.
To ask any questions about the cycle accident claims process or to check whether you may have a valid claim, you can contact our advisors.
Common Causes Of Cycling Accidents
There are many types of cycling accident that lead to bicycle injury claims but some of the more common ones are:
- Pot holes and poorly maintained road surfaces.
- Oil, petrol or diesel spills on the road surface which causes the road to become slippery.
- Drivers of other vehicles not paying attention.
- Vehicles not indicating properly at roundabouts.
- Negligence by motor vehicle drivers such as moving into the path of the cyclist or even opening the car door as cyclist is passing.
It is fair to say that most cycling accident injuries are accidental but if you’ve suffered personal injury and somebody else was at fault then we have a panel of personal injury solicitors who are experts in dealing in cycling accidents and operate on a no win no fee basis.
Bike Accident Claim Tips
If you’ve been injured in a cycle accident, you may be able to claim compensation if the accident was caused by the negligence of another road user. There are certain steps you can take that could increase your chances of success. For instance, you’ll need to gather evidence to corroborate your version of events.
Some examples of this could be:
- Visual evidence – This can include a few forms of proof. CCTV/dashcam footage and photographs can be useful. You can provide evidence of the scene of the accident and of your injuries.
- Medical records – You have a right to request these at any time. They will contain vital details such as information pertaining to your injuries as well as how you were treated and any medication you were prescribed.
- Witness contact details – Others may have seen the accident. Make sure you have a way of contacting them so they could submit a statement.
There are other forms of evidence you could acquire – this is not a complete list. If you’d like more examples or information in general regarding what you can do to help support your claim, get in touch with our advisors today. If your bike has been hit by a car, legal advice can be sought by reaching to us out today.
Cyclists Involved In Hit And Run Accidents
If the other party involved in your cycling accident doesn’t stop at the scene of the accident then you may think that you don’t have anybody to claim against but there is something called the ‘untraced drivers agreement’ with the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).
When you have a cycling accident and the driver doesn’t remain at the scene we can make a claim for your cycling accident with the MIB and they will investigate with us and try to work out a fair amount of compensation for your personal injuries and any damage to your property. So even if you can’t trace the other person involved in your cycling accident then get in touch and one of our specialists can begin the process of your personal injury claim.
A hit and run accident is one of the worst cycling accidents there are an we know it can leave the cyclist traumatised. Therefore, we always approach bike accident claims sympathetically and professionally for all of our clients.
Compensation For Cycle Accident Claims
If you make a successful cycle claim, then you will receive general damages as part of your settlement. This compensates you for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced due to the injuries caused by your cycling accident.
The amount of compensation offered for general damages in a cycling accident claim is decided on a case-by-case basis. However, lots of legal professionals may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them when valuing this head of claim. This document provides guideline compensation amounts for different injuries. We have included some of the figures listed in the 16th edition of this publication in the table below. This table should be used as a guide only.
| Type of Injury | Ammount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Up to £500,000+ | If you have a valid claim for multiple serious injuries, you could receive a payout covering all of these plus any related special damages, such as travel costs for attending medical appointments |
| Severe back injury (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 | Long-term loss of mobility and potentially paralysis |
| Moderate back injury (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 | Loss of imobility with some pain |
| Minor back injury (i) | £9,630 to £15,260 | Simple bruising and sprains |
| Severe neck injury (i) | In the region of £181,020 | Long-term loss of mobility and potentially paralysis |
| Moderate neck injury (i) | £30,500 to £46,970 | Long-term loss of mobility and pain |
| Moderate head injury (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 | Some affect on mental abilities |
| Minor head injury | £2,690 to £15,580 | Minor injury with full recovery |
| Severe shoulder injury | £23,430 to £58,610 | Long-term immobilty of one or both arms |
| Moderate shoulder injury | £9,630 to £15,580 | Long-term immobilty of one or both shoulders |
If you are eligible to claim for general damages, then you may also be able to receive special damages as part of your cycling collision compensation. Special damages may be included in a personal injury claim to cover for financial losses or expenses that have been directly caused by your injuries.
An example of special damages may be loss of earnings if you’ve had to take time off work due to your cycling accident injuries. If a cycle accident solicitor supports your case, they can help with calculating the value of your potential personal injury claim.
For more advice on compensation for cycling accidents, contact our advisors today.
No Win No Fee Bicycle Accident Claims
If you have valid grounds to claim bicycle accident compensation, then our advisors could connect you with one of the No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel.
The solicitors on our panel can support a cycling injury claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). When you claim under such an agreement, you won’t need to pay your solicitor for their services before your case has begun or while it’s being processed. Also, you won’t be required to pay your solicitor for their work if the claim fails.
If your bicycle accident claim is successful, then your solicitor will take a success fee. This means they’ll take a legally capped percentage of the compensation awarded for your case. The legal cap ensures that you will get to keep most of the compensation awarded to you.
For more advice about working with a No Win No Fee solicitor, contact us today either online or by calling us. Our team can also discuss other aspects of claiming, such as bicycle accident claim payouts or whether it’s possible to use a bicycle accident settlement calculator. You can get in touch with our team by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685
- Using our online contact page
- Or you can use our 24/7 live chat service
Helpful Links And Resources
- Road traffic accident compensation claims
- How to claim as a cyclist hit by a car
- Compensation payouts for cycling accident claims
Thanks for reading our cycle accident claims guide.