Cycling Accident Claims

Cyclists are vulnerable road users and cycling accidents can cause serious injuries with lasting consequences. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation or to claim on behalf of a loved one who’s been injured.

Usually, your injury will have been caused by a collision with a car, van or other road user, but it could also be due to a road or cycle lane in poor condition (e.g. potholes), or because your bike or helmet failed. Even if you’ve been injured in a hit and run and can’t identify the driver you could still claim.

The most common causes of collisions that our lawyers deal with are when a motorist:

Fails to spot a cyclist especially when pulling across junctions
Drives at excessive speed
Doesn't leave sufficient safe distance when overtaking or manoeuvring.

Cyclists are especially at risk when larger vehicles are manoeuvring into junctions, due to vehicle design and sight lines. It's an unfortunate fact that drivers can sometimes be openly hostile to cyclists. If an incident that led to an injury was deliberately caused, for example in a road rage incident, then you may be able to make an application for damages under the government-operated Criminal Injuries scheme.

Contact us today to discuss making a bicycle accident claim for compensation. We’ll arrange a free initial consultation where we’ll learn more about the accident and tell you how much compensation you could be entitled to.

If you’ve lost a loved one who was involved in a cycling accident, we can also help you to secure compensation.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell for your bicycle injury claim?

If you've been involved in a cycling accident, choosing the right legal team to support you is crucial.

Specialist legal expertise

Our solicitors are part of the largest personal injury team in the country and we’ve decades of experience in helping clients in cycling accident claims. Supported by experienced investigators and medical professionals, they’ve the expert knowledge needed to value your claim and get you the compensation you need.

Our accident investigation team includes a former police investigator. They’ll help our lawyers gather evidence for your claim, ensuring your case is as strong as possible.

No win no fee approach

We can take most claims on a no win no fee basis, meaning there’s no financial risk to you should your claim be unsuccessful.

Comprehensive support and rehabilitation

We put our clients first and you’ll be given all the support you need by our friendly team throughout your claim. If you sustained a serious injury, our support and rehabilitation team can connect you with medical and rehabilitation services from leading charities and private health professionals to help you make the best recovery possible.

Cyclist advocacy and safety

We work with leading road safety charities like Brake and RoadPeace, and are active members of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, supporting the work needed to enhance safety for vulnerable road users.

Protecting your compensation

We can help you access the means-tested benefits you're entitled to and set up a personal injury trust for you. This keeps your compensation separate from your other finances, stopping it from being considered when calculating your benefit entitlement.

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Peter Lorence Senior Associate Solicitor Meet the team

More information on cycling accident claims

Client Story - Cycling Accident

“I know nothing will change what I’ve been through, but I know I’m lucky to be alive and I hope that by sharing my story I can encourage drivers and road users to be safe on the roads. I wouldn’t want anyone else going through what I have.” - Clive, client

“While he continues to make progress with his recovery, he still has challenges to face. We’re pleased to have secured this settlement for him which will ensure he has access to the specialist treatment he needs to move forward with his life as best he can." - Peter Lorence, Senior Associate Solicitor

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet and other safety equipment?

There’s no legal requirement in England, Wales, or Scotland for a cyclist to wear a helmet, even though the Highway Code encourages their use.

There’s also no law that says failing to wear a helmet leads to a reduction in compensation if the accident led to a head injury.

However, it’s a factor that could be considered by the court when your compensation amount is being decided. Much of it depends on whether wearing a helmet could have significantly lessened your injuries. Sadly, some injuries may not have been avoided even if a helmet had been worn and there would be no reduction in the compensation.

This is also the case in circumstances when a law has been broken.

What if I didn't have lights?

It's a legal requirement that bicycles have front white and red rear lights switched on when it's dark, as well as a red rear reflector. If the bike was manufactured after 1 October 1985, it must also have amber pedal reflectors.

Failing to have proper lights and reflectors can reduce visibility of your bike in the dark or in poor weather conditions. If the incident occurred at night, or at a time when weather conditions caused poor visibility and you didn’t have lights switched on, then compensation payments may be reduced to reflect this if it was a factor in the accident.

What if I wasn't wearing hi-vis clothing?

Although lights are a legal requirement when riding in darkness, hi-visibility clothing is not. However, failing to wear hi-vis clothing can still reduce the visibility of a cyclist at night or in poor weather, and if this was a factor in the accident then a court could take this into account. However, if your bike is properly fitted with the required lights, then a lack of hi-vis should not affect your compensation, as lights should make you visible to a motorist driving with reasonable care.

In all these instances the amount of compensation you receive could be reduced, but it doesn’t affect your right to make a claim.

Can I still make a cycling injury claim if the driver was uninsured?

Yes, you can make a claim against an uninsured driver if they were responsible for your cycling accident or even if the driver was untraceable. However, the process will be slightly different as you won’t be claiming against the driver’s insurer.

Instead, we’ll take your claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB), which is an organisation set up for this type of situation. The MIB will attempt to confirm the identity of those involved and assess whether compensation can be paid – and by who. If the person responsible can't be traced, the MIB will pay your compensation - a proportion of everybody's annual motor insurance premiums are put into a pool by the MIB to cover situations like this.

Get in touch with us to discuss your situation. We’ll advise you on the best course of action for making a cycling injury claim against an uninsured driver.

Can I make a cycling injury claim if the driver can’t be traced?

If you're involved in a hit and run accident with a driver who can't be traced, we can still help you to claim.

We'll claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) under the Untraced Drivers Agreement. These accidents must be reported to the MIB within three years of the accident.

What should I do immediately after a cycling accident?

If you've been involved in a cycling accident, you should:

Prioritise safety

The first thing you should do after a cycling accident is prioritise the safety of yourself and others involved. If anyone has any serious injuries, you should call the emergency services immediately.

Take photos and take witness contact details

If you're able to, try to get the contact information of potential witnesses and take photos of the scene.

Report the accident to the police

It's also important to report the accident to the police if necessary.

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Clear market leaders in terms of expertise and experience. The team is always well prepared and on top of the case."

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