Following on from our support of The Times’ Cities Fit For Cycling Campaign, at Cycle Claims we are producing a ‘Cyclist’s Accident Card’.
In The Times’ manifesto, one of their key points is for the education of both cyclists and drivers so that everyone is aware of their rights and responsibilities on the road. This coincides with a previous suggestion to us by Carlton Reid, the executive editor of the popular cycling website Bikebiz.com. Reid was among a few cyclists, having been shown a bicyclist’s accident report card circulating in the States created by Boston lawyer Josh Zisson, to suggest that Cycle Claims should produce something similar for the UK cycling community. Because we are a well established personal injury firm and committed to providing independent legal advice, making a point of never buying in claims or selling them on, we are well placed to create this card as a means of providing sound advice to cyclists.
Our concerns over cycling safety meant we were already looking into how we could produce a source of safety advice for cyclists in the UK. After researching the idea of the card more, we realised that there was actually a significant gap in the market for some sort of cycling accident card in the UK. Although there were already several advice cards explaining ‘what to do in the event of an accident’ (most notably by the LFGSS forum member SkyDancer), we wanted to produce one that would provide cyclists with advice and the space to take down important information following a cycling accident whilst detailing the rights cyclists have when on the roads. This is a real problem in the UK, where drivers frequently see the road as their personal domain and can act with hostility towards cyclists.
We want cyclists and drivers to have a clear point of reference about what cyclists’ rights are on the road, which is why we have included a section on the Highway Code on the back of our card. James, one of our cycling experts, researched and identified four significant paragraphs within the Highway Code that apply to cyclist safety; paragraphs that a cyclist, in the event of an incident, could show to a driver to demonstrate that they are well within their rights to be cycling on the road. It is hoped that this will help to challenge common misconceptions about cycling and increase cyclists’ awareness of their rights whilst cycling on the roads, encouraging a safer cycling environment across the UK.
The Cycle Accident Card can be used in a variety of ways. Cyclists may use the card to record details of poor road conditions or cycling facilities to their local councils, encouraging local authorities to pay more attention to the needs of the cycling community and take active steps to improve road safety. The card could also be used to report dangerous and aggressive driving both to the police and to private companies. Predominantly, the card will serve as a guide for what information an injured cyclist should take note of when they have been involved in a cycling accident and will allow them to contact us for expert independent legal advice. It is our hope that the Cycle Accident Card will give cyclists some of the support they need on the roads, helping the UK to create British cities and towns that are truly fit for cycling.
Download a wallet-size version of our Cyclist Accident Report Card in PDF format.
