Personal Legal Services » Personal Injury Solicitors » Bike Accident Compensation
Government Statistics show that in 2021 111 pedal cyclists were killed in Great Britain and 4,353 were reported to be seriously injured and 11,994 slightly injured. The number of casualties was down by 30 from 2020, but the other two numbers showed slight increases.
No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
We offer a free consultation with one of our friendly solicitors to get the ball rolling. After you’ve told us what happened, we’ll provide you with expert legal advice at no cost to you.
Our PI team regularly represents cyclists after serious accidents including two recent cases where two cyclists were deliberately run off a country road by a motorist and another who recovered over £500k in compensation after suffering life-changing injuries.
Our guide to assist cycling victims to improve their chances of recovering compensation based on decades of experience is set out below:
1. What should you or others do at the scene of the accident?
1. What should you or others do at the scene of the accident?
- If possible and when safe to do so, use your mobile phone to take photographs and/or film of the location, all the vehicles and people involved including witnesses.
- Accurately record the time of the accident – check with others that they agree that the time is correct.
- Ask the driver involved for their mobile phone number. That may be a lead to important evidence at a later date if liability is denied, as the service provider will be able to ascertain if the motorist was using their mobile phone at the time of the accident.
- Take names and contact details of the person(s) who was/were responsible for the collision and all those who witnessed it. Film the witnesses telling you what they saw.
- Ensure you take the registration number(s) of all the vehicle(s) involved.
- If you have a GPS or other record of your journey, make sure it is stored safely for future use if needed.
- Record details of the Police officers who attend including their names, collar numbers and Police station. Often they will hand you a business card.
- Make a record of the exact location of the accident. Either the Police, your SatNav, Stava App or your phone will provide the details.
- If you cannot do any of the above, ask someone else to do it for you as soon as possible after the accident.
2. As soon as possible after the accident
2. As soon as possible after the accident
- Report the incident to the Police if you haven’t already done so and obtain the Police reference number for the accident. Please do this even if you can’t trace the person and/or vehicle which caused the accident.
- Arrange for all your damaged property including the bicycle and clothing to be stored in a safe place in case insurers want to inspect it later. If that is not possible, please take digital photos of your property in its damaged state. Make a record of when you bought the items, how much you paid and try and find your receipts. If that information is no longer available, search for the items on the internet and save the pages showing their replacement costs, either for identical goods or those as close as possible to the damaged ones.
- Record your own recollection of the accident either using the recording function on your phone or by typing it. Do this as soon as reasonably possible and send a copy to your solicitor.
- Report the accident to your insurers who will arrange for the repair/replacement of any damaged items, but remember to record them first as stated in b) above.
- If your accident occurred near buildings, consider visiting them to see if any of the occupants/residents were witnesses to the accident and take their contact details. Ask if they have CCTV and if so, ask for a copy. Remember that most CCTV is not available/deleted after 30 days.
- Where possible obtain 2 quotes for the repair/replacement of the bike. Ensure that you keep the damaged bike in a safe and secure place. If it is going to be repaired, take plenty of photos of it from many different angles showing all the relevant damage before it is mended.
- Check if you have legal expenses insurance to cover the cost of bringing a claim against the person responsible for the accident. The cover could be contained in your house buildings and contents policy, in a specialist bike insurance policy or elsewhere. This could save you thousands of pounds at a later date. Make a note of the date by which you should report the accident to your insurers and advise your solicitors of this when you consult with them – see below.
- Start to keep a record (preferably on a spreadsheet) of all your losses and expenses including receipts where possible from the date of the accident. Remember to include mileage to and from medical and other appointments and hours of unpaid care and assistance from friends and family.
- Photographs of your injuries are helpful but not urgently required. If you do take them, ensure they are of high resolution, taken outdoors in daylight and start with a head-and-shoulders shot of you facing the camera followed by pictures of you pointing to the injuries and then close-ups of the injuries with a ruler, measuring tape or similar alongside them. The photos should be digital and contain metadata as to when they were taken. Please make a note of the name and contact details of the person who takes them.
- Draw a diagram to show how the accident happened.
- If possible, in some cases it will help your claim if you return to the scene of the accident and take photos and film showing the approaches of all parties to the accident location.
- Instruct an established, reputable firm of solicitors that deals with injury claims, preferably one located close to you so that you will be able to visit their offices to consult with a qualified and experienced solicitor or other lawyer. You should do this as soon as possible after the accident as that will make their job much easier, particularly as your memory of the accident will be clearer than if you instruct them much later. Solicitors will be able to obtain CCTV, Police Collision Reports and other information on your behalf.
- Record your own recollection of the accident either using the recording function on your phone or by typing it. Do this as soon as reasonably possible and send a copy to your solicitor.
- In serious injury cases, start a chronology/diary of events starting from the accident itself and recording significant events such as hospital visits, other medical appointments, your return to work, dates when expenses were incurred and other significant events. Keep this running until you have fully recovered from your injuries or your solicitor tells you it is no longer needed.
No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
We want to make your claim process a smooth one. That’s why we offer a free consultation with one of our friendly solicitors to get the ball rolling. After you’ve told us what happened, we’ll provide you with expert legal advice at no cost to you. We also operate a No Win, No Fee policy here at Taylor Emmet.
What can I claim?
The value of your claim will depend on a number of factors including:
- The nature of the injury or illness
- Whether your child (or you) recover fully from the injury or illness or if it has a long term effect on their
- The amount of any losses you incur as a result of the injury
You can claim compensation for the following things if they are a result of your injury:
- Pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- Loss of earnings
- Medical and nursing care costs
- Special equipment needed to carry out daily activities and any costs involved in adapting your home
- Other expenses incurred as a result of your injury, for example, travel expenses incurred whilst receiving medical treatment.
Bike Law UK: FREE Legal Consultation for Cyclists
Based in Yorkshire & Derbyshire, BikeLaw UK provides advice to cyclists nationally. We’re happy to help with your query and advise on the options available to you and potential next steps. We provide legal advice to cyclists. We are based in #Sheffield, with offices in #Derbyshire & the #PeakDistrict. We campaign for better, safer, more inclusive cycling infrastructure for cyclists of all ages, both in our cities & rural areas.
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Our reaction to the Government’s latest road casualties report
The Department for Transport recently released their report on the number of road traffic accidents (RTA) in the UK in 2023.
The report found there were 1,645 fatalities on UK roads as a result of RTAs. Although a shocking statistic, this was a 4% decline vs 2022, which is positive.
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Accidents in Public Places
Road Accidents
