Cycling Accident Claims

If you were unlucky enough to have been hurt in a cycling accident that was not your fault, the Liddy’s Solicitors personal injury team could help you to secure the compensation to which you are entitled.

Our solicitors are among Yorkshire’s leading specialists in road traffic accident claims and have helped a number of cyclists to win damages for their injuries and associated costs, including loss of earnings.

We have an in-depth knowledge of both accident claims and relevant cycling-specific issues, such as how cycle lane layouts, wearing a helmet, road maintenance and having lights on your bike will affect your claim.

Choose Liddy’s to handle your cycling injury claim and you will gain much more than legal expertise. We have close working relationships with rehabilitation specialists, neurological physiotherapists, chiropractors and occupational therapists, so can also help to arrange the best possible treatment for your injuries.

Common causes of cycling accidents

Department for Transport statistics show that 109 cyclists were killed on Great Britain’s roads in 2013, with 3,143 suffering serious injuries and a further 16,186 receiving minor injuries.

A number of trends have been discovered in the data – such as that 75% of all cycling accidents happen at or near junctions and that 80% of them occur in daylight – and the most common causes of incidents established.

The majority of cycling accidents involve a collision with a motor vehicle, often in the form of a driver failing to give way at a junction or a vehicle turning left across the path of the bike. Cyclists being hit from behind by a vehicle is less common, but the injuries suffered in such collisions tend to be more serious.

Police have identified that ‘failed to look properly’ is the most common contributory factor in collisions where the motorist is at fault, ahead of ‘poor turn / manoeuvre’, ‘careless or reckless’ driving, drink driving and speeding / travelling too fast for the conditions.

There are other circumstances in which a driver’s actions can cause a bike rider to have an accident, such as overtaking too close to a cyclist, blocking a cycle lane with a vehicle or opening a car door across the path of a moving rider.

Not all cycling accidents involve vehicles and factors such as poor road surfaces, potholes, oil spills, faulty repairs and loose animals can also lead to injuries.

The cause or causes of your accident will be a key factor in determining whether or not your compensation claim will be successful. Liddy’s personal injury solicitors have vast experience of gathering evidence that demonstrates negligence and can help you to put a strong case together.

Types of cycling accident injuries

The most common injuries suffered by cyclists who come off their bikes are cuts and bruises, and fractures of the hand, arm, collarbone, shoulder blade, leg, pelvis and coccyx, as well as soft tissue injuries to the back or neck that can develop into long-term conditions.

Head injuries are also a worryingly common occurrence in cycling accidents, with more than 40% of riders affected by problems that range from minor concussions to skull fractures and even brain damage.

The very worst cases see cyclists killed or suffering life-changing injuries that leave them requiring care for the rest of their lives.

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a cycling accident, you should ensure you seek medical attention, as the full extent of your injuries may not be immediately apparent. Tell the hospital staff or your GP what happened, as they will keep a record of the accident.

Can I claim compensation for injuries suffered in a cycling accident?

Whether or not you can make a successful compensation claim for injuries sustained in a cycling accident will depend on the exact circumstances of the incident and who was to blame for it.

If, for example, you rode off the pavement in front of a car or attempted a quick right turn across the path of moving vehicles, you may struggle to build a strong claim as the incident is likely to be regarded as your fault.

However, in most cases cycling accidents are not the fault of the injured biker rider and it is in fact the negligence of a motorist, local authority responsible for the road, cycle repairer or animal owner that is to blame.

It is not sufficient to simply believe that the cause of your accident was someone else’s negligence, even if it appears obvious. For your personal injury claim to be successful, you will have to prove that was the case.

Liddy’s Solicitors has extensive experience of gathering evidence, such as eye witness statements and expert opinions, that demonstrates negligence and can help you to build the case which will lead to an admission of liability and a settlement offer.

Our team will also help to calculate the damages to which you are entitled, which should include compensation for your injuries and any long-term problems related to the accident, together with reimbursement for loss of earnings, the cost of private medical treatment, travel expenses and the cost of bicycle repair.

We have good relationships with a variety of medical experts and rehabilitation specialists, and where necessary will arrange appointments for examinations to uncover the full extent of your injuries to ensure you receive the best possible treatment and that damages are calculated correctly.

Your solicitor will then handle negotiations with the other party (usually an insurer) to ensure you receive an appropriate settlement or, if necessary, that Court proceedings are issued.

How to make a cycling accident injury compensation claim

Your first step towards making a successful compensation claim after being injured in an accident is to seek advice from a reputable solicitor.

Liddy’s is one of the leading firms of personal injury solicitors in Yorkshire and has extensive experience of handling claims relating to road and cycling accidents.

Our solicitors all understand that if you are unfamiliar with legal processes, making a claim can seem like a daunting prospect, so will do everything they can to make it as simple as possible.

They will guide you through every stage of your claim from initial consultation to the negotiation of a settlement, keeping you informed of progress and providing all the expertise you require.

For a discussion about making a cycling accident injury claim, please fill in the ‘How Can We Help You?’ form, call us at our Wakefield office on 01924 780753 or contact our Barnsley office on 01226 731314.