Cycling Accident Claims are there to protect you if you have been involved in a non-fault road traffic accident (RTA). Bike riders are classified as vulnerable users due to being small and quick. Drivers will often not notice bikes due to this and, if they pull out in the middle of traffic and do not see you, it’s likely that an accident will occur. Recently, the government has been encouraging people to use their bikes to commute around their cities. This is known as the cycle scheme. As the weather continues to warm up, it’s very likely that you will see more cyclists on the road. The heat may also encourage cyclists to wear less protective gear as they will want to keep cool. This may mean that they are more likely to experience severe accidents. If you are the driver of a larger vehicle, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of any small vehicle or pedestrian that crosses your path on the road. That way you can avoid accidents from happening.
We understand that if you have been involved in a cycling accident, it can leave you with traumatic injuries. Some of these injuries can take months or years to recover from. That’s why if you are considering asking about Bike accident claims, Solicitors On Your Side will be there to support you and give you advice on claiming compensation. Call us today on 0330 912 2124 to get started or visit our RTA page below:
What can cause Cycling Accidents?
As a bike owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are careful when you are on the road. This includes wearing highly visible protective clothing and obeying the rules of the road. It can be tempting to weave in and out of traffic or to ride forward when a red light on a traffic signal occurs, but if you do this and someone gets hurt, you could be guilty of negligence. All drivers on the road have a responsibility to keep others safe on the road. This is known as a “duty of care”. With that said, if you are a cyclist, and you do get hurt due to another driver’s negligence, you could be eligible to make a compensation claim against them. Take a look at the gif below to get a better idea of what sort of bike accidents could win you a successful compensation pay-out.
As you can see, there are many ways that a cyclist could get hurt. Some of them are due to the negligence of other drivers, however, others could be due to other factors. Keep in mind that if you want to make a claim, you need to understand who is responsible for your accident. So, if there was no other person on the road, and instead you were hurt due to the environment/physical conditions of the area, it is most likely that you would make your complaint against the local government. Additional parties responsible for your accident could include:
- Another driver or road user/pedestrian
- The manufacturer of your bike
- The state of the road you are travelling on (Pothole Accidents)
Speak to a solicitor from Solicitors On Your Side to make sure you fully understand who you are making your claim against, and how you could be eligible to make a cyclist accident claim in general.
What sort of injuries could make me eligible for Cycling Accident Claims?
Now that you understand the type of accidents that can befall a bike owner, it’s essential that you know what types of injuries you can claim. Now, in general, if you have suffered from an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you can make a claim if you have been physically hurt. However, depending on how bad your injuries are, you may or may not want to make a claim. For instance, if you have only suffered from a few minor scrapes, you may not think it is worth making a claim. However, if you have suffered from life-changing injuries, there is a chance that you could be owed thousands in damages.
There are different types of damages that you can claim when it comes to compensation.
For any injuries that you have suffered from, these will be known as physical damages. However, you can also claim for emotional, financial and technological damages, as well as loss of opportunities. Here are some examples of the injuries that you could have suffered from when making cycling accident claims:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- Head and neck trauma
- Loss of eyesight, hearing and teeth
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Internal/external bleeding
- Organ damage
- Brain damage
- Crushed limbs/Loss of limbs
The injuries and damages you suffer from will affect the amount of compensation you receive as a whole. In other words, the more severe your injuries, the more likely it is that you will receive a higher amount of compensation. That’s why it is crucial to get a medical report to prove that you are a victim of someone else’s negligence. Speak to Solicitors On Your Side now to get advice on what you can claim for.
What should I do if I was involved in a cycling accident on the road?
No matter what sort of accident you have been affected by, the first thing you should do is get medical help. You do not know how severe your injuries are. Therefore, if you have been in a cycling accident and have fallen over, there is a chance that you could be suffering from internal bleeding or organ damage. That’s why we would highly recommend that you either ask someone who knows first-aid to help you or phone up emergency services to come to assist you.
With that said, when we think about bike accidents, it is most likely that your accident is going to be due to a collision. That means you will need to get the registration details, contact details and licence plate number of the other vehicle. You should also find out about the insurance details of the other driver. If they are driving without any insurance, this is a crime and you will have to alert the authorities.
You should then start looking for evidence that can back up your claim. Take a look at the infographic below to get a better idea of what you could use as evidence:
You should try to collect as much evidence as possible to prove that you are the victim of a cycling accident. Your solicitor can then help organize this evidence and start correspondence with the other party/their insurer. They will help you create a settlement agreement that can be offered to the other party. We would always advise you to speak to a lawyer at Solicitors On Your Side right away. That way our law firm can give you guidance on what to do after a cycling accident.
Are you ready to get started on a Cycling Accident Claim?
If you have suffered from injuries from a cycling accident, it is very likely that you could claim compensation from the other party. This is where Solicitors On Your Side and our team of experienced RTA solicitors can step in to help you.
Our law firm can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can offer you our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never need to pay any hidden fees. We will only ask for payment if our solicitors win your case for you. This entails you will always come out on top, no matter the result of the case.
Get in contact with Solicitors On Your Side today by calling 0330 912 2124, emailing [email protected] or by using our LiveChat facility on the website.
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