Bicycle accident compensation claim
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If you or a loved one has been injured in a cycling accident, then you may be able to claim for compensation.
Compensation can help to pay for ongoing care, treatment, rehabilitation and aids to make an injured person’s life more manageable.
The process of making a claim can also help to reveal exactly what happened during an accident. It may also highlight dangers to other people to prevent them from suffering in the same way.
We are specialists in serious injury claims. That includes spinal injuries and brain injury claims. Our mental capacity team is expert in helping when a victim is unable to make decisions for themselves. We also help with fatal injury claims.
Contact us if you think you may have a claim. We will offer free initial advice on how to proceed.
Do I have a valid bicycle compensation claim?
You may have a valid claim if someone else was wholly or partially at fault for the accident that hurt you or a loved one.
The person at fault could be another road user, the authority responsible for maintaining a road or the manufacturer of the cycling equipment you use.
Claims we can help with include cyclists hurt due to:
- collisions with other vehicles
- a vehicle door being opened in their path
- pedestrians stepping out in front of them
- hit and run incidents where the other vehicle does not stop at the scene
- poor road surfacing, road markings or signage
- defective equipment such as bike helmets.
Cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, with much higher casualty rates per mile travelled than all other types of road user, apart from motorcyclists.
A particular danger for cyclists are Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)/lorries. According to ROSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) three main collision types are:
- HGV turning left across the path of a cyclist
- HGV and cyclist turning left
- HGV overtaking a cyclist.
Any of these could lead to a valid compensation claim.
If you are not sure if you have a claim, we are happy to advise. Do get in touch.
Bike accident – how to claim
Calling a legal firm for some initial advice is the first step to making a claim.
If you call us, we will ask you some questions to understand what happened to you or your loved one.
We will then advise you on whether you may have a valid claim. If you want to work with us, we’ll put you in touch with one of our specialist solicitors who will get the process started for you.
We will ask the person responsible for the injuries to accept fault, then we’ll claim from their insurers. We’ll help you to identify all the help you need to cope with your injuries and work to secure the compensation to pay for it. That may include support with living costs due to loss of earnings, help with rehabilitation and care costs, home adaptations and mobility aids.
Bicycle accident claim tips
If you think you have a bicycle accident claim, seeking specialist legal advice as early as possible is one of the best things you can do.
You and your solicitor will rely on evidence to build a claim. Here’s what to do in the event of a bicycle accident, to ensure you have the best chance of making a successful claim.
- It’s a good idea to seek medical attention immediately and to keep a record of the time and date of all related contact with health providers and what was said – if you can.
- If possible, take the details of the third party involved in your injury. This may include:
- registration number
- name, address, phone number
- details of their insurer
- If you can, take photos of the accident scene.
- Report the collision to the police.
- Keep records of costs you incur such as bicycle repairs, damage to your helmet and clothing or loss of earnings relating to the accident.
what to do if you’ve been involved in a bicycle accident and think you may have a claim. Get in touch today.
TIM WAS KNOCKED OFF HIS BIKE BY A LORRY WHILST CYCLING BACK FROM WORK AND SUSTAINED A SEVERE BRAIN INJURY.
Bicycle accident compensation claim – damages secured
We secured compensation for Tim* to pay for specialist care and rehabilitation when he was knocked off his bicycle and suffered a severe brain injury.
A lorry knocked Tim off his bike and down a grass verge when he was cycling home from a night shift on an A road at 6am. The driver didn’t realise he’d hit him and continued driving.
*Name has been changed
How long does a bicycle claim take?
A claim could take many months or even a couple of years to settle.
Interim compensation payments may be possible to secure to help until a full and final settlement is achieved.
The more complex the injuries suffered the longer a claim is likely to take. This is because it is vital to understand and provide evidence for all the long-term needs that may arise because of the injury. The compensation should address all the costs involved in these.
Another factor that may make a case take longer is if the person responsible for the injuries does not accept the blame.
Most cases can be settled via negotiations out-of-court. In some cases, it will be necessary to go to court. Our experienced solicitors will support you every step of the way.
How much compensation will I get for a cycle accident?
This depends on the injuries suffered and the long-term implications of those.
Sadly, cyclists can suffer very severe injuries that mean they require lifelong care. This could include spinal and brain injuries, for example.
There are guideline amounts to indicate how much should be paid to compensate for the pain and suffering involved in different injuries (known as general damages).
In addition to general damages, tailored ‘special damages’ payments are made. These are intended to cover the special or individual costs incurred by an injured person. This may include, for example, loss of earnings, costs of ongoing care or the costs involved in adapting a home. These vary from person to person.
Serious injury claims can run to many thousands or millions.
Guideline damages payments relating to bike claims might include:
- Very severe brain damage – up to £379,100 plus unspecified special damages
- Severe back injury – up to £151,070 plus unspecified special damages
- Amputations – such as:
- a leg below the knee – up to £124,800 plus unspecified special damages
- an arm below the elbow – up to £102,890 plus unspecified special damages.
A specialist solicitor will know of the best treatments and aids available to help you cope with life after your injury. They will discuss these with you and seek to secure compensation to cover the costs involved in accessing them.
Can a cyclist claim for a hit and run collision?
It is possible to make a claim in hit and run cases.
Following an investigation, it may be possible to trace the driver involved and claim from their insurance, if they have it.
A specialist scheme exists to allow people to claim compensation when they have been involved in a collision with an insured or untraced driver. Enable Law can help with these claims which are made via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
As in any cycling claim, it is prudent to have a specialist solicitor on your side. A specialist solicitor will ensure all aspects of your injury are understood and seek maximum compensation to cover all costs you have incurred and may incur in the future.
Which is the best solicitor for a cycling claim?
The best solicitor is likely to be one who has experience dealing with claims like yours.
A good solicitor will care about you and take time to understand your specific circumstances and challenges. They’ll be good at listening to and responding to your questions and keeping you well informed throughout the process.
Making a claim can take a long time so it is important you chose a solicitor you have a good rapport with and feel you can trust. They need to be approachable too.
Enable Law is proud to have a team that embodies all these qualities. You can see for yourself what our clients say about us via: Why choose Enable Law?
