If you are wondering, ‘Can you claim for a cycling accident that wasn’t your fault?’, this guide may be able to help you. Within this guide, we discuss the duty of care you are owed while using the roads and when you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Additionally, we will provide some examples of how a bicycle accident may occur and if you could make a claim for the examples we have provided. Furthermore, this guide will discuss the importance of collecting evidence as part of the claiming process and share examples of the evidence you could gather.
This guide will also explain how compensation is calculated in personal injury cases and the different heads you could be awarded for a successful claim. Lastly, we will share how one of the specialist solicitors on our panel could help you in claiming compensation and the various advantages of making a claim with one of them on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you have any questions regarding the bicycle accident claims process or would like to receive free advice for your particular case, you can contact a member of our advisory team. They can be reached by: Completing our ‘claim online‘ form for a callback to discuss your No Win No Fee cycle accident claim
Browse Our Guide
- Can You Claim For A Cycling Accident?
- Examples Of When You Could Make A Cycling Accident Compensation Claim
- Evidence That Could Help In A Bike Accident Claim
- How Much Can You Claim For A Cycling Accident?
- Make A Cycling Accident Claim Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Learn More About The Cycling Accident Claims Procedure
Can You Claim For A Cycling Accident?
Everyone who uses the road owes a duty of care when using the road. Per their duty, they must navigate the roads in a safe and responsible manner to avoid causing injury to others and themselves. Furthermore, they must adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1998 and the rules and regulations found within the Highway Code to maintain their duty of care.
If you have been injured in a collision while riding your bike on the road, you may be wondering can you claim for a cycling accident. To make a personal injury claim following a cycle accident road collision, another road user must be at least partly responsible for the accident occurring.
In order to form the basis of a valid personal injury claim, the following criteria need to be met:
- A duty of care was owed to you.
- This duty was breached by another road user.
- This breach caused you to suffer an injury.
Please note that personal injury claims for cycling accidents are subject to a time limit. In most cases, the time limit is 3 years from the date of the accident. There are exceptions for minors and those with reduced mental capacity.
To check the eligibility of your specific case or to find out if claiming compensation is an option, you can contact a member of our advisory team.
All Road Users Owe Each Other A Duty Of Care
Examples Of When You Could Make A Cycling Accident Compensation Claim
There are various ways that cycling accidents could take place. However, you must remember that in order to form the basis of a valid claim, you must be able to demonstrate that your injuries were caused by a fellow road user breaching their duty of care.
Some examples of how cycling accidents on the road could occur and lead to compensation claims include:
- A motorist is driving under the influence of alcohol. Due to this, they crash into you while you are on your bicycle and knock you into oncoming traffic, causing a serious head injury.
- A bus driver pulled out of a junction without checking whether the road was clear first. This causes an accident involving them crashing into your bicycle, and you suffer a head injury, serious spine injury as well as a fractured arm.
- A taxi driver is distracted by their phone and fails to notice that you have come to a stop at a red light. They crash into the back of your bicycle, and you suffer a leg injury and a broken wrist.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident and would like to learn more about the road traffic accident claims process or if claiming compensation is an option, you can contact one of our advisors.
Evidence That Could Help In A Bike Accident Claim
If you are eligible to make a bicycle accident claim, you will need to provide evidence that helps support your case. Collecting the right types of evidence could help with demonstrating how your bicycle accident occurred and who was liable for the injuries sustained.
Some examples of evidence that could be used to help strengthen bicycle accident claims include:
- Video Footage – This could be dashcam or CCTV footage that captures your bike accident taking place.
- Witness contact details – Anyone who witnessed your accident taking place may be able to provide a statement about the event at a later date.
- Photographs – This could be of the accident scene or any visible injuries you have suffered, such as cuts and scarring.
- Medical evidence – This could include your medical records that clearly state both physical injuries and psychological injuries and the treatment they required.
One of the solicitors on our panel who has experience with bicycle accident claims could agree to take on your case, if they do, they will help you gather evidence to support your case.
Contact a member of our advisory team today to discuss your bicycle accident and see whether one of the solicitors on our panel could help you gather evidence and claim compensation.
Learn When You Could Make A Bicycle Accident Compensation Claim
How Much Can You Claim For A Cycling Accident?
You may be wondering, ‘How much compensation could be awarded for successful cycling accident claims?’. Compensation for all personal injury claims is assessed on a case-by-case basis, with factors such as the initial severity of your injury, the treatment required and prognosis being taken into consideration.
However, if you do make a successful bicycle accident claim, your compensation settlement will include general damages. This is the head of claim that provides you with compensation for the suffering and pain caused by your injuries, both psychological and physical.
Those responsible for calculating this head of your cycling claim will use any medical evidence provided to help them. Additionally, they may also refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) for guidance. This publication lists guideline bracket amounts for various types of injuries at varying severities.
For the table we have created below, we have used some of the excerpts listed within the most recent edition of the Judicial College Guidelines.
Compensation Table
| Type of Injury | Severity | Award Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Several Severe Injuries That Cause Significant Financial Losses | Severe | Upto £1,000,000 + | Compensation for multiple (very serious) injuries and financial losses such as loss of employment prospects and rehabilitation are included. |
| Injury Resulting from Brain Damage | Very Severe | £282,010 to £403,990 | There will be little, if any, evidence of meaningful response to environment, little or no language function, double incontinence. |
| Back | Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Cases of the most severe injury involving damage to the spinal cord and nerve root. |
| Neck | Severe (i) | In the region of £148,330 | Cases of incomplete paraplegia, including cases of permanent spastic quadriparesis. |
| Leg | Severe (i) Most Serious | £96,250 to £135,920 | Injuries severe enough to warrant an award that is similar in amount for amputation cases. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe | £54,830 to £115,730 | The person has severe difficulty coping with work, education, personal relationships and life in general. |
| Foot | Very Severe | £83,960 to £109,650 | Injuries in this bracket create severe and constant pain or a serious level of disablement. |
| Hand | Amputation of Index, Middle and/or Ring Fingers | £61,910 to £90,750 | Leaving the hand of little use with any grip that remains being very weak. |
| Ankle | Very Severe | £50,060 to £69,700 | Only a limited number of rare injuries typically come into this bracket, such as a transmalleolar fracture. |
| Arm | Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement. | £39,170 to £59,860 | Fractures to one or both forearms and cosmetic or functional disability exists because of this. |
Please only use this table as a guide. Furthermore, the first entry featured in this table has not been taken from the JCG.
Special Damages In A Bike Accident Claim
The second head of loss that can be awarded for a successful bicycle accident claim compensation payout is known as special damages. This provides you with compensation for the financial harm you have experienced due to your injuries. Some examples of the costs that special damages could compensate you for include:
- Past and future lost earnings if you required time off from work to recover from your injuries.
- Travel expenses to essential appointments, such as doctor appointments.
- Medical costs, such as having to pay for prescriptions.
- The cost of home adaptations needed to cope with your injuries, such as installing a ramp.
When claiming special damages in a personal injury claim following a bike accident, you will need to provide evidence of the financial losses you have suffered. Evidence may include payslips, receipts, and invoices.
For a free valuation of how much compensation you could potentially receive for a successful bicycle accident compensation claim, contact a member of our advisory team today.
Make A Cycling Accident Claim Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you have been injured in a cycling accident caused by another road user, you may be thinking of making a cycling accident claim. We always advise that when making a legal claim, you at least get some professional advice. One of the specialist solicitors on our panel could assist you with making a claim for your bicycle accident on a No Win No Fee basis.
The solicitors on our panel have years of experience dealing with cycling accident claims. They could assist you with gathering evidence, ensuring your claim is filed within the limitation period, as well as negotiating a fair compensation settlement.
Additionally, our panel of solicitors generally offer to represent their clients under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement. With this particular type of No Win No Fee contract in place, you will not have to pay anything upfront for them to begin working on your cycling accident claim. Furthermore, you will not be expected to pay any fees for the work they have provided while your claim is progressing or if you are not awarded compensation following an unsuccessful claim.
However, should you successfully claim compensation, they will be due a success fee. A success fee is a small percentage that is deducted from your compensation. There is a legal limit in place for this percentage, which helps to ensure that you keep the majority of what is awarded to you.
Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis With A Bike Accident Solicitor
Contact Us Today
If you are still wondering, ‘Can you claim for a cycling accident that wasn’t your fault?’ or ‘How much compensation could I receive for a successful cycling accident claim?’, you can contact a member of our friendly advisory team. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide you with free advice and answer any questions you may have about the cycling accident claims process.
Additionally, they may also connect you with one of the No Win No Fee cycling accident solicitors from our panel if they deem your case to be strong.
To contact them today, you can: Complete our ‘claim online‘ form for a callback to discuss your No Win No Fee cycle accident claim
Learn More About The Cycling Accident Claims Procedure
Additional guides by us:
- Details on when you could be eligible to make a serious injury claim following a car accident.
- Information on the steps you could take if you have been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver and how you could make a claim.
- Guidance on when you could claim compensation for a pedestrian crossing accident and how the solicitors on our panel could help you.
Also, here are some other helpful external resources:
- Gov.UK – Statutory Sick Pay
- Think! – cycle safety.
- NHS – When to call 999.
If, after finishing this guide, you are still wondering, ‘Can you claim for a cycling accident that wasn’t your fault?’ you can contact a member of our advisory team.