Bicycle Accident Claims

Frustratingly common traffic gridlocks, rising petrol prices and an increasing focus on health and environmental conservation have all let to a dramatic boom in the number of cyclists on the streets of Britain. While cycling is undeniably an excellent solution to all of the above issues, the rising number of cyclists has also led to an increase in the number of cycling accidents in the country.

Cycling accidents may occur because of several different reasons. You may be thrown off your bike after being hit by a car, lorry or bus or you may fall off your cycle while trying to navigate a particularly poorly maintained patch of road.

With regards to the law, if you are injured in a cycling accident that was caused due to no fault of your own, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries. But first, you need to provide sufficient proof that the accident was caused because of somebody else’s mistake or negligence

What you should and should not do after a cycling accident

To increase your chances at winning your claim for compensation, there are a few things you should do immediately after the incident. Equally important, there are a few things you should not do.

Take a look first at what you should do immediately after the incident:

• Get your bike and yourself off the road and out of any further danger.
• Evaluate your injuries. If they look serious call for an ambulance right away or ask somebody else to do it for you. Remember, medical attention takes priority over everything else if you are badly hurt.
• Stay calm. There is a lot you will need to do and getting agitated will not help.
• Write down the number plate of the other vehicle involved and also get details of the other party’s name, address and insurance details.
• If you can, get photographs of the scene or ask another passerby to do it. also get photographs of your injuries and of the damage to your bike.
• Ask witnesses to the accident for their contact details and ask if they will testify on your behalf in court.
• At the earliest opportunity, file a record of the accident at the nearest police station. You can do this immediately after the accident if you can or even after the medical examination. Keep a copy of this accident report to support your claim.
• Keep all records and payment receipts of this initial visit to the emergency clinic. These will act as vital supporting documentation when you file your compensation claim.

Some things you should absolutely not do:

• Do not just dust yourself off, get on your bike and ride away even if your injuries appear minor at the time. Only a proper medical examination can confirm whether or not you have any internal injuries. Even if you have no intention of claiming compensation at the time of the accident, you may change your mind if your injuries manifest at a later date. Keep this option open by paying heed to all of the steps mentioned above.
• Do not admit liability to anyone at the scene, whether it is to the person who caused the accident or to bystanders. If you do, this can be held against you at a later time.
• Do not accept any compensation that is offered to you by anyone to attend to your immediate injuries. If you accept this initial payout you automatically waive your rights to claim any more. Most insurance companies rush to use this tactic in an effort to get off lightly. It may sound tempting at the time but don’t fall for it. You are entitled to much more by way of compensation and it is worth fighting for.

A look at the damages you can claim for

• Physical injuries – You should be compensated for all the visible physical injuries you sustained in the accident, from scratches and bruises to broken bones and head injury.
• Psychological injuries – Meeting with an accident can be scary. It can shake your confidence and leave you feeling too frightened to go out cycling anymore on the streets of Britain. This restriction can also leave you feeling depressed, which you should be compensated for.
• All immediate and extended medical expenses – The immediate expenses may include the cost of the initial consultation, X-Rays and other diagnostic tests, medication and surgery if necessary. Extended expenses could include short or long term physiotherapy and rehabilitation. All expenses to and from the hospital are covered too.
• Cycle repair or replacement – If your cycle was badly damaged, you are entitled to get compensated for the repair cost. If it is damaged beyond repair, the compensation should cover the cost of a new cycle.
• Interim travel expenses – If your cycle is unusable, you are entitled to get paid back for the price of your interim transportation mode.
• House or vehicle remodeling – You can also claim for expenses incurred if you had to make any structural changes in the home or your vehicle in order to accommodate your injuries.
• Loss of income – A serious injury could force you to stay away from work, resulting in a loss of pay. This absence from work may also result in a delayed promotion or loss of other perks, all of which should be compensated for.

Legal assistance for cycle accident compensation

Each cycling accident claim is decided on its own individual merits and the amount of compensation you are awarded will depend on your unique circumstances and the extent of your injuries. To get the full compensation you deserve, you need to make sure that you file a strong case and provide all the necessary evidence. Leaving any element out may weaken the case and result in you getting only a fraction of what you deserve or in a worst case scenario you may not get any compensation at all.

We have all of the necessary knowledge and expertise to put together a strong case in your favour. In our hands, you have a better chance of winning your cycling accident claim. You needn’t worry about paying any upfront legal fees either as we will agree to work for you on a No Win No fee basis, which means you only pay if we win the case for you and after you have received the award money into your bank account.