Have you or a loved one been injured in a bicycle accident on the road? This guide talks you through the bicycle injury claims process.
Firstly, the personal injury claims eligibility criteria are discussed to establish when bicycle injury claims can be made. We also discuss a few illustrative cases of how another road user’s negligent actions could cause a bicycle injury to be sustained.
To prove the extent and the liability of your bicycle injury, we then look at types of evidence that will support your road traffic accident claim. Afterwards, we explain how personal injury compensation is calculated once a road traffic accident claim is deemed successful.
Bicycle Injury Claims Guide
Moreover, you will learn the benefits of our panel’s No Win No Fee solicitors and more about the work they can do if they represent your case. To potentially begin the claims process, get in touch with us today. We will provide you with advice free of charge. Contact us by either:
- Calling us on 0161 696 9685
- Using our live chat feature
- Completing our contact form
Select A Section
- Eligibility Criteria For Bicycle Injury Claims
- What Bicycle Accidents And Injuries Could You Claim For?
- What Evidence Do You Need For An Injury Claim?
- How Much Could Bicycle Injury Claims Be Awarded?
- Make A Bicycle Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
- More Information On Bicycle Injury Claims
Eligibility Criteria For Bicycle Injury Claims
By law, whilst on the road, all road users owe a duty of care to one another to act responsibly to ensure that they keep each other safe and prevent any injuries from occurring.
All road users owe this duty of care, including cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists. The rules of the road that road users must follow are laid out in both the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code.
So, you may be able to make a personal injury claim following a road traffic accident if you can prove:
- You were owed a duty of care.
- A third party breached this duty.
- You suffered an injury as a result of this breach.
Contact us today. Once you explain the foundations of your bicycle injury case, we can tell you whether another road user breached their duty of care towards you, thus making you eligible to make a personal injury claim.
What Bicycle Accidents And Injuries Could You Claim For?
Listed below are a few examples of what types of injuries could be sustained following a bicycle accident and how another road user could be responsible for them:
- Brain damage or other serious brain injury. A car driver’s senses may be impaired if they drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They could thus swerve into you from the other side of the road, causing you to sustain an injury to the head.
- Paralysis. A van driver could crash into you if they fail to stop at a red light, causing you to suffer multiple serious injuries. A reason they could fail to stop in time is if they are using their mobile phone whilst driving.
- Broken or fractured bones. A parked vehicle driver could fail to look before opening their door directly in front of your path, knocking you over and causing you to fall harshly and break one of your bones.
There are various negligent acts in which road users can breach their duty of care and be responsible for another road user’s injury. Talk to our advisors today to learn more about valid bicycle accident claims.
What Evidence Do You Need For An Injury Claim?
Personal injury claims for road traffic accidents can be complex. Speaking to us can help make this process feel smoother. We may be able to put you through to our panel of expert solicitors who can help gather the evidence needed for your case as part of the No Win No Fee service that they offer eligible claimants. Some examples of evidence include:
- Medical records – Any document created by a medical professional, paramedic, or hospital can strengthen your claim.
- CCTV footage – Collect any CCTV or dashcam footage to provide a video of the accident.
- Pictures – Take photographic evidence of your injury, the accident site, and the vehicles involved if there was a collision.
- Witness details – Collect details from bystanders
- Police records – If any reports are made to the local police, they may have records on file for your accident. A legal professional may help to procure these for your case.
You must prove that another road user was at least partially liable for your bicycle injury. You must also prove the extent to which you’re injured, both physically and psychologically. Talk to us today if you have any questions about the evidence you need to gather to support a bicycle injury claim.
How Much Could Bicycle Injury Claims Be Awarded?
In successful bicycle injury claims, compensation for general damages will be awarded. This covers the physical and psychological harm you have suffered. These are some factors that are considered for this head of claim:
- The severity of pain and discomfort.
- Your quality of life.
- Your recovery.
Whoever is calculating your compensation will use your independent assessment reports and the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to work out your general damages sum. The JCG contains guideline compensation bracket figures for a multitude of injuries.
Guideline Compensation Table
Please see the table for some guideline figures for different injuries that may result from a bicycle accident. These figures are not a guarantee.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries including financial losses | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ | Several injuries of a serious nature plus financial losses such as past and future loss of earnings. |
| Paralysis | Tetraplegia (a) | £324,600 to £403,990 | Factors such as age and degree of independence will influence this award. |
| Paraplegia (b) | £219,070 to £284,260 | Factors such as age and degree of independence will influence this award. | |
| Brain damage | Very severe (a) | £282,010 to £403,990 | The extent of physical limitation and sensory impairment will influence this award. |
| Moderately severe (b) | £219,070 to £282,010 | The extent of physical limitation and sensory impairment will influence this award. | |
| Moderate (ii) (c) | £90,720 to £150,110 | Cases in which there is a moderate to modest intellectual deficit, and the ability to work is greatly reduced. | |
| Back | Severe (a) (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Spinal cord damage leading to consequences such as incomplete paralysis. |
| Severe (a) (iii) | £38,780 to £69,730 | Soft tissue injuries and disc lesions or fractures leading to chronic conditions. | |
| Minor (c) (ii) | £4,350 to £7,890 | Back injuries that fully recover within 1-2 years. | |
| Leg | Severe (b) (iii) | £39,200 to £54,830 | Serious fractures leading to instability. |
| Arm | Injuries resulting in permanent and substantial disablement (b) | £39,170 to £59,860 | Where 1 or both forearms are seriously fractured and permanent disability remains. |
Please note that the first entry is not a part of the JCG.
Claiming Special Damages
In addition, you may receive compensation for special damages. This encompasses the past and future costs that arise due to your injury. This can include:
- Loss of earnings
- Property adaptation, i.e. making your house wheelchair accessible.
- Travel expenses between medical appointments.
It is important to keep evidence where possible for special damages to prove that you have suffered financial damages due to your injury. You should keep invoices, payslips, bank statements, and travel tickets.
For more information on bicycle injury claim compensation, talk to us today.
Make A Bicycle Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis
Should you intend to make a bicycle injury claim, speak to us. We can determine if you have a solid foundation for your case. We may then forward you to our panel of expert No Win No Fee solicitors.
Our panel of lawyers work via a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), a type of No Win No Fee contract. CFAs are a financially beneficial option for hiring a solicitor’s services. There are no upfront fees for the solicitor’s work, no solicitor fees throughout the claims process, and no fees should your claim be unsuccessful.
If your claim is successful, your solicitor will receive a success fee, which is a percentage of your compensation that the law caps.
If you would like help from our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors, then reach out to us today by:
- Calling us on 0161 696 9685
- Using our live chat feature
- Completing our contact form
More Information On Bicycle Injury Claims
Please see our other personal injury claim guides that present similar information to this guide:
A guide on Cycle Accident Claims
Compensation Payouts For A Cyclist Hit By A Car
Plus, here are useful external links:
THINK! – a road safety campaign.
NHS – When to call 999.
Gov.UK – information on receiving Statutory Sick Pay.
Thank you for reading this guide. Contact our advisors today for more information about the bicycle injury claims process and how to prove your claim.