Many measures have been introduced to improve cycle safety in recent years. There are also steps you as a cyclist can take to protect yourself from an accident.

When an accident does occur, it can cause severe injuries, which in turn have serious consequences – for example, leaving you unable to work.

Injuries can vary significantly and gathering evidence of the accident can be extremely complex, making it crucial to use specialist and experienced solicitors. From the outset, they can guide and support you through the complexities of your case.

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to suffer an injury, regardless of its severity, it’s important that your loss is remedied. We’re dedicated to ensuring you receive the compensation you’re entitled to, as well as any treatment or rehabilitation that might be needed.

Official figures show that more than 20,000 cyclists are killed or injured in road accidents each year in this country. However, these figures probably underestimate the overall total, as many accidents go unreported.

The method of making a cycling claim is explained below, in the hope of demystifying the process so that victims of cycle accidents are not discouraged from claiming.

Step One

Once you have sought medical attention, if necessary, and ensured your injuries have been appropriately treated, you should gather as much evidence as possible.

This may include photographic evidence of the accident scene, your injuries and any clothing or equipment damaged in the accident. The date and time of the accident should also be recorded.

You should also obtain the details of anyone who witnessed the accident or your injuries and, most importantly, anyone who directly caused the accident. Their names, addresses and telephone numbers should be taken.

Step Two

The second step in the claims process is to instruct one of our cycling claim specialist solicitors.

The initial interview with the solicitor will aim to gather all the evidence essential to your case. There will be a thorough exploration of any evidence you have, including photographs of the scene, injuries and damage to the bicycle.

Evidence will also include how much financial loss you have suffered, including the value of the damage to your bike and equipment, any medical treatment and any loss of earnings.

If you have the names of any witnesses who are willing to support your version of the accident, their details should be given to the solicitor to follow up on your behalf.

All this information will enable your solicitor to start a claim against the person or organisation who is responsible for the accident.

In some cases, liability may be split between different people. Your solicitor will advise you on that. Providing details of the claim will enable those responsible to consider the evidence against them and hopefully settle the case fairly, without having to go to court.

Our solicitors have a thorough understanding of cycling law, including technicalities involved with issues such as potholes in the road surface. Our team can be trusted to obtain the highest possible compensation for you.

Step Three

If at the time of the accident your injuries did not seem severe enough to go to your local hospital, you may still need to visit your doctor to have a full assessment carried out.

The more serious the injuries, the more specialised the doctor will need to be. This will, of course, depend upon the nature of the accident.

An independent medical report will be obtained to provide evidence of the impact the accident has had on your life. The report will help to quantify the compensation ncessary to put you back in the position you would have been in if the accident had not happened.

It’s extremely important to note that personal injury claims must be made within three years from the date of the accident, or three years from the date you turn 18 if you are under 18 at the time of the accident.

If this is not done, your case will be “time barred”. It is, therefore, essential to begin proceedings as soon as possible, as the compensation process can be lengthy.