If you’ve sustained bicycle injuries in a road traffic accident, you may want to know how cycle accident solicitors can help you claim compensation. A cycle accident solicitor will need to assess whether you are eligible to make a bicycle accident claim. In this guide, we explain the eligibility criteria you need to satisfy in order to have a valid cycle accident injury claim.
If you meet these criteria, you may like to launch a cycling accident claim. However, the personal injury claims process can be complex. We look at some of the ways a specialist cycling accident solicitor can help you. Additionally, we provide information about how compensation could be awarded in a successful personal injury claim.
If you decide to file a compensation claim, you may want to have a solicitor to guide you through the process. However, you may not have the financial means to meet legal costs. We conclude this guide with a look at the benefits of instructing a solicitor to work on your claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you have any questions about making a claim, please contact an advisor from our team:
- Call 0800 408 7825
- Fill in our contact us form and an advisor will call you.
- Ask how a solicitor can help with your accident claim in our live chat.
Select A Section
- What Is A Cycling Accident Claim?
- How Cycle Accident Solicitors Could Help You Claim
- What Could Help You Make A Cycling Accident Claim?
- How Much Compensation For A Cycling Accident Injury Claim?
- Why Choose Our Panel Of Cycle Accident Solicitors To Help You Claim?
- More Resources About Claiming For Cycling Accidents
What Is A Cycling Accident Claim?
While you are on the roads, the road users, including vehicle drivers, motorbike riders, pedestrians and cyclists, owe each other a duty of care. This means that anyone using the roads should navigate in a way that avoids damage and injury to themselves and to the others on the roads. As part of this duty all road users should comply with relevant road safety legislation, including the Road Traffic Act 1988, and they should also adhere to any relevant sections of the Highway Code.
If you would like to claim compensation for injuries suffered in a cycling accident, you will need to satisfy the eligibility criteria. You will need to prove that:
- Another road user owed you a duty of care.
- They breached this duty. For example, by exceeding the speed limit.
- You sustained injuries due to this breach. For example, when the driver exceeded the speed limit, they hit your bicycle, causing you to suffer broken bones and a head injury.
Speak to an advisor from our team to discuss how one of the cycle accident solicitors from our panel could help you prove that you are eligible to claim for your cycling injuries.
Cycling Accident Statistics
The Department for Transport collects road casualty statistics and publishes them each year. The latest available was updated on 28 September 2023.
For 2022, 135,480 casualties among all road users were reported to the police, at a rate of 413 casualties per billion vehicle miles travelled. Of these:
- 15,693 of all reported casualties involved pedal bike users, occurring at a rate of 4,026 casualties per billion vehicle miles.
- 91 fatalities occurred among pedal bike riders, or 23 per billion vehicle miles.
- 4,147 pedal bike users were killed or seriously injured (adjusted) in this time span. This occurred at a rate of 1,064 per billion vehicle miles.
How Cycle Accident Solicitors Could Help You Claim
If you satisfy the bicycle accident claims eligibility criteria we discussed earlier in this guide, you may want to make a cycle accident injury claim. A solicitor can help you navigate the personal injury claims process and make it simpler while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Some of the ways a solicitor can help include:
- Explaining complex legal jargon to you.
- Preparing and sending important documents on your behalf.
- Accurately valuing your personal injury claim.
- Ensuring that your case is presented in full and within the limitation period.
- Providing you with updates.
- Helping you to gather evidence to support your claim.
Direct any further questions you have about the benefits of instructing cycling accident solicitors to work on your claim to one of our team members.
What Could Help You Make A Cycling Accident Claim?
As discussed above, cycling accident solicitors can help you gather evidence to support your claim. This evidence needs to show liability for the injuries you sustained in the cycling accident. It may include:
- Police reports. If the police attended the scene, you can submit a copy of the police report.
- Witness contact details. If anyone saw the bike accident, you could note their contact details so they can provide a witness statement later on in the road traffic accident claims process.
- Medical records. If you sought treatment following the cycling accident, you can request a copy of your medical records. These can help illustrate the nature of your injuries and what impact they are expected to have on your day-to-day life.
- Relevant photographs and videos. You may have pictures from the accident scene, of damage to your bike or of your injuries that could be submitted. Additionally, there may be dashcam footage of your accident.
Is There A Time Limit When Claiming Cycling Accident Compensation?
All cycling accident compensation claims must be filed within the time limit. Generally, this is three years from the date of the bike accident. However, there are some exceptions to this. Speak to our advisory team to find out more.
How Much Compensation For A Cycling Accident Injury Claim? nn
If you make a successful cycle accident injury claim, your settlement could consist of two parts: general and special damages.
To compensate for your physical injuries and emotional damage, if your claim is successful, you will be awarded general damages. When valuing your injuries, those tasked with doing so, such as cycle accident solicitors, may refer to the compensation guidelines from the Judicial College (JCG).
We’ve provided a table. In the top row, you can see how you could be compensated for multiple severe injuries and special damages. The information in the top row is not part of the JCG.
The following rows contain injuries from the JCG 17th edition that could be relevant to cycling accidents. As all cycling accident compensation claims are different, this table is only provided as guidance.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries and Special Damages, such as Lost Wages | Very Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Neck Injuries | Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Arm Injuries | Severe | £117,360 to £159,770 |
| Injuries to Pelvis and Hips | Severe (i) | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Facial Disfigurement | Very Severe Scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Knee Injuries | Severe (i) | £85,100 to £117,410 |
| Severe Leg Injuries | Very Serious | £66,920 to £109,290 |
| Elbow Injuries | Severely Disabling | £47,810 to £66,920 |
| Facial Injuries | Le Fort Fractures (a) | £29,060 to £44,840 |
Additionally, your settlement might also include special damages. This part of your cycling accident settlement is awarded to compensate for any out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of your injury. Your cycling accident payout may include compensation for:
- Loss of earnings, including pension contributions.
- Care costs, such as a nurse.
- Domestic help during your recovery, such as a cleaner.
- Medical expenses, including those for prescriptions and physical therapy.
- Specialist equipment, such as a wheelchair.
As part of the road traffic accident claims process, you might be asked to prove your costs. You could submit receipts, invoices, payslips or copies of your bank statements.
If you have any questions about how settlements are awarded for cycling accident compensation claims, speak to a member of our advisory team. They can also help calculate your compensation and give you free advice about special damages.
Why Choose Our Panel Of Cycle Accident Solicitors To Help You Claim?
If you are eligible to claim compensation and decide to do so with legal representation, one of the cycle accident solicitors from our panel could support your claim. Our panel generally offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
When your cycle accident solicitor offers a No Win No Fee service, they:
- Won’t ask you to pay for their work on your bicycle accident claim upfront.
- Don’t ask for you to cover costs as your claim is ongoing.
- Also won’t collect a fee for their services if your bike accident claim fails.
- Only collect a small success fee if your cycle accident injury claim succeeds. This is taken as a percentage of your award and is legally limited.
If you have any questions about how a No Win No Fee solicitor can help you, please talk to a member of our advisory team. Additionally, if you meet the eligibility, you could be connected to one of the cycling accident solicitors from our panel.
To discuss cycling accident compensation claims:
- Call 0800 408 7825
- Request a call back using our contact us form.
- Ask about making a cycling injury claim in our live chat.
More Resources About Claiming For Cycling Accidents
Additional guides about cycling accident claims:
- Details about claiming for being knocked off your bicycle and the personal injury compensation you could get.
- A case study about a cycling accident that caused a ruptured Achilles tendon and how to calculate compensation.
- Information about claiming for a cycling path accident and the possible compensation settlement.
External websites that might be useful:
- Guidance on road safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
- Advice on cycling safety from Think! Road Safety.
- Information on the rules and regulations for cyclists from the Highway Code.
- Cycling UK on the debate of bicycle helmets
Speak to an advisor about how one of the cycle accident solicitors from our panel can support your claim.