Cyclist Accident Claims Guide
This guide offers advice on collecting evidence for a cyclist accident claim. Suffering injuries after a cycling accident can cause stress, especially if your injuries are negatively affecting your life. In order to make a successful personal injury claim, you must provide supporting evidence that third-party negligence was the cause of the accident that led to your injuries.
We will explore the personal injury claims process after a bike accident and what steps you can take to start a cyclist accident claim. Furthermore, we show an alternative way to calculate your compensation rather than using a bicycle accident compensation calculator.
Continue with this guide to learn more about collecting evidence to prove liability in your cycle accident claim. You can also contact our advisors for additional support and free legal advice.
- Call 0161 696 9685
- Use our website to contact us
- Message us directly through the live chat
Select A Section
- How To Make A Cyclist Accident Claim?
- Bicycle Accident Claim Payouts
- Do I Need Medical Evidence Of My Injuries?
- How Do I Prove My Cyclist Accident Claim?
- What Official Report Could Support Your Case?
- Begin Your Claim Today
How To Make A Cyclist Accident Claim?
Cyclists are considered vulnerable road users because of their lack of outer protection and the fact they can be very difficult to see especially at night. This is why it s very important for cyclists to wear the correct safety gear, such as a bike helmet and clothing that can be seen easily in the dark.
Cyclist accidents can happen for all different reasons some can be the fault of the cyclist if they act carelessly on the roads. However, if you were injured in a road traffic accident due to another road user’s negligence, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 outlines the rules for road users to follow. It states the responsibilities that road users must abide by. The rules of the road, alongside other road information, can be found in the Highway Code.
The Road Traffic Act states that road users owe one another a duty of care. When a road user breaches this duty, and it leads to harm and damage, they can become liable in a personal injury claim. To prove who is at fault for any road traffic accident, you may need to provide evidence.
See below for more information on starting the claims process. Alternatively, you can contact our advisors with any questions about the cyclist accident claim process.
Bicycle Accident Claim Payouts
The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a publication used by legal professionals to value general damages in personal injury claims. General damages relate to the physical and psychological injuries you sustained as a result of third-party negligence. Similarly to a compensation calculator, we’ve included a table below highlighting compensation brackets from the JCG. However, these figures are only a guide. Our advisors can provide you with a personalised compensation estimation of your cyclist accident compensation once your case has been reviewed.
| Injury | Compensation | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Very Severe Head Damage (a) | £282,010 - £403,990 | Injuries leave the injured person with little to no language function, little response to environment and the need for full-time nursing care. |
| Moderately Severe Head Injury (b) | £219,070 - £282,010 | Injuries will lead to limb paralysis, or marked impairment of intellect and life expectancy may be reduced. |
| Severe Back Injury (a) (i) | £91,090 - £160,980 | Injuries to the spinal cord cause severe pain and disability with a combination of significantly impaired bowel function and incomplete paralysis. |
| Severe Back Injury (a) (ii) | £74,160 - £88,430 | Some cases include impaired mobility, loss of sensation, impaired organ function and unsightly scarring. |
| Very Severe Ankle Injury (a) | £50,060 - £69,700 | Injuries in this bracket are unusual, with extensive soft tissue damage causing deformity resulting from a transmalleolar fracture of the ankle. |
| Severe Ankle Injury (b) | £31,310 - £50,060 | Treatment will be extensive due to the seriousness of the injury, ankle instability caused by significant residual disability resulting in severely limited ability to walk. |
| Severe Shoulder Injury (a) | £19,200 - £48,030 | Neck injuries damaging the brachial plexus, causing significant disabilities. |
| Serious Shoulder Injury (b) | £12,770 - £19,200 | Damage to the lower brachial plexus causing pain in the shoulder, arm and elbow. |
| Less Serious Leg Injury (c) (i) | £17,960 - £27,760 | The injured person can make a reasonable recovery with remaining sensory loss, discomfort, and impaired mobility. |
| Less Serious Leg Injury (c) (ii) | £9,110 - £14,080 | Simple femur fracture without damaging the articular surfaces. |
You can also seek special damages, which compensate you for the financial losses you sustained due to your injury. These can include:
- Loss of earnings due to the severity of your injuries preventing you from returning to the workplace
- Travel costs for alternative arrangements
- The cost of care
Evidence is crucial in order to claim special damages. It is advised that you keep all proof of costs that relate to your injuries, such as receipts and prescriptions. See below for more examples of relevant evidence that can help with the validity of your cyclist accident claim.
Do I Need Medical Evidence Of My Injuries?
If you have been involved in a cycling accident on the road, it is vital that you have any injuries looked at by a medical professional so that you can receive any treatment you need to make a speedy recovery. Injuries that may only seem minor in nature could be more serious than you think, so no matter how minor you think your injuries are, it is always best to have them treated.
Having your injuries looked at by a medical professional not only ensures that you receive the treatment and care you need, but it also provides evidence. All your diagnoses and treatment will be documented in your medical records and can be used as evidence in your cycle accident claim. You may also be invited to an independent medical assessment as part of the personal injury claims process.
How Do I Prove My Cyclist Accident Claim?
Proving liability can be a complicated process. This is why it is advised to start collecting evidence as soon as possible after the accident has occurred but only if it is safe to do so and you are not in need of medical care.
Photographs of the scene have the ability to show how the accident occurred. You could also take photographic evidence of your injuries. If the accident was caused by defects in the road, such as potholes taking measurements of the width and depth may also be useful in your case.
CCTV and dashcam footage can also show the details of what happened during the accident. If you were the victim of a car dooring accident, then nearby CCTV or even certain doorbells may have captured how this happened.
You can also ask witnesses for their contact details at the scene, which will allow an appropriate person to contact them at a later date to take a statement. It may also be helpful to keep a diary with extra crucial information, such as the time and date of the accident.
What Official Report Could Support Your Case?
Following on from your main sources of evidence, you can also enquire about official reports to validate your cyclist accident claim. If there are police present at the accident, or if you report the incident during the aftermath, you can request a police collision report.
If you receive medical attention after the accident, you can request medical records as evidence. This can include ambulance reports or hospital admission records. The NHS offers information on how to access your health records.
For more support regarding your claim, see below how you can contact our advisors today.
Begin Your Claim Today
Our advisors can assist you in starting the claims process today. You can also learn more about what compensation you may be eligible to receive and receive advice for collecting valid evidence.
- Call us at 0161 696 9685
- Message us through the live chat
- Use the contact form on our website
No Win No Fee Cycling Accident Claims
You may be interested in legal representation to approach your cyclist accident claim. Our panel of road accident solicitors offer their services through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which sets out the conditions of their payment. This type of No Win No Fee agreement allows you access to expert legal support, usually without paying any upfront or ongoing solicitor fees. There are also no solicitor fees to be paid to your lawyer in the event that your claim fails.
Your personal injury solicitor only receives payment at the end of a successful claim in the form of a success fee. This sum is taken from your settlement total with a legal cap, to ensure you keep the majority of your award.
If you’re interested in learning more about No Win No Fee agreements, our advisors are available to answer any questions you may have.
Read More About Making A Cyclist Accident Claim
For further reading, see the external links attached below.
You can find more of our guides here.
Thank you for reading our guide regarding collecting evidence for a cyclist accident claim. For additional support, contact our advisors today.
Page by AN
Published by AL.