By Danielle Nicholson. Last Updated 22nd November 2023. Are you a cyclist? Are you wondering how much compensation for being knocked off your bicycle you could claim? This article will explain examples of common cycling injuries, what steps to take after your accident, how much compensation you could receive and how No Win No Fee arrangements can help you fund legal representation.
Cycling road traffic accidents can be unsettling experiences. Because you are sharing the road with faster and bigger vehicles you are considered a vulnerable road user. The injuries you could sustain can range from minor to major and have a significant impact on how you live your life, from mental health to physical activities, as well as your ability to work.
Our advisors are here to help with free legal advice and can determine whether your personal injury claim is valid. They may pass it to our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors who can help you get the claiming process started. Contact us today by:
- Calling us on 0161 696 9685
- Contacting us through our online form
How Much Compensation For Being Knocked Off My Bicycle Could I Get?
Select A Section
- Average Compensation For Being Knocked Off Your Bike
- Knocked Off Bike By Car Compensation Eligibility
- Types Of Injuries You Could Suffer If You Were Knocked Off Your Bike
- How Long Does A Cyclist Knocked Off Their Bike Have To Claim?
- What Steps Should You Take After Being Knocked Off Your Bicycle?
- Knocked Off Your Bike – Claiming With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
Average Compensation For Being Knocked Off Your Bike
You may have questions about just how much cycling accident compensation you could claim if you were a cyclist knocked off your bike. Claims involving injured cyclists are valued on a case-by-case basis and there are numerous factors which could influence the final payment for successful claims. For example, the severity of your initial injury could affect the amount you receive.
If you make a successful claim, your settlement will include general damages, which compensates you for the pain and suffering you’ve endured due to your injury.
Many legal professionals will refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them value claims. This document lists compensation guidelines for various injuries. In the table below, we have used some of the amounts listed in the 16th edition of the JCG. Please note that the top entry is not from the JCG.
Please only use this table as a guide.
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple injuries of a serious nature plus expenses | Up to £1,000,000 | Settlements may include compensation for multiple injuries plus the incurred expenses, including lost wages and nursing care costs. |
| Very severe brain damage (a) | £282,010 to £403,990 | Serious disability with the little or no meaningful response to their environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and requiring full-time care. |
| Minor brain or head injury (e) | £2,210 to £12,770 | Minimal brain damage. Level of award affected by initial severity, recovery period, residual symptoms and headaches. |
| Severe neck injury (i) | In the region of £148,330 | Incomplete paraplegia or permanent spastic quadriparesis where despite wearing a permanent collar for years there are still movement limitations and suffers intractable headaches. |
| Severe knee injury (ii) | £52,120 to £69,730 | Leg fracture going into the knee joint causing permanent constant pain, limiting movement or impairing agility and increasing osteoarthritis and arthroplasty risk. |
| Other arm injuries (b) | £39,170 to £59,860 | Serious fractures to one or both forearms with notable permanent disability either functional or cosmetic. |
| Less serious leg injuries (i) | £17,960 to £27,760 | Fractures with an incomplete recovery with a metal implant defective gait, impaired mobility, limping, discomfort and soft tissue injuries to one or both legs with cosmetic, functional and/or nerve damage in the lower limbs. |
| Chest injury (d) | £12,590 to £17,960 | A simple injury, like a penetrating wound, causing permanent tissue damage but with no long-term lung function impairment. |
Some knocked off a bike by a car compensation claims could include special damages. It is under this head that claimants can be reimbursed for any expenses related directly to their injuries. If you are claiming special damages, you might be asked to submit proof of your costs, such as receipts, invoices, and payslips.
If you were a cyclist knocked off your bike and seeking special damages as part of your claim, you could potentially claim for:
- Repairs to your bicycle, or the cost of a new bike.
- Loss of earnings.
- Carer costs.
- Home and/or vehicle adaptions.
- Medical expenses.
- Travel costs.
Call our advisors for free advice about what special damages could be included in your cycling accident claim as well as a free estimate of general damages.
Knocked Off Bike By Car Compensation Eligibility
All road users must navigate the roads in a way that prevents injury and damage to themselves and others. This is their duty of care. As part of this duty, they are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations found in the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 that apply to them. If you were knocked off your bike by a car, compensation could be claimed for your injuries.
However, you must meet the personal injury claim eligibility criteria. This means that you must prove that:
- A duty of care was owed to you.
- This duty was breached.
- You suffered an injury because of this breach.
To see whether you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury claim as a cyclist, you can contact our advisors. They could also help answer any questions you may have, such as, ‘What is the average compensation for being knocked off your bike in a road traffic accident?’.
Types Of Injuries You Could Suffer If You Were Knocked Off Your Bike
There are various injuries you could suffer if you are knocked off your bike. These include:
- Serious multiple injuries, such as a brain injury and a broken neck. Injuries such as these could leave you dependent on full-time nursing care.
- Traumatic amputation. For example, you could suffer the loss of your arm if it is subsequently run over after falling off your bike, or a crushing injury may result in a loss of limb if it requires surgical amputation.
- A fractured bone, or multiple broken bones. Fractures could occur to any bone in your body with the impact.
- Internal organ damage, such as to your bowels, due to the impact of the handlebars.
- Lacerations and cuts leading to a permanent scar. For example, you could be dragged over gravel, resulting in lots of little cuts. You could receive a payment for scarring as part of your compensation for a bicycle accident.
- Dental damage, including a broken tooth.
If you would like a free valuation of your potential knocked off bicycle compensation that considers all of your injuries as well as special damages, contact an advisor from our team.
How Long Does A Cyclist Knocked Off Their Bike Have To Claim?
If you have been negligently knocked off your bike by a car, a compensation claim needs to begin within a specified time limit to be considered. Under the Limitation Act 1980, a cyclist who was knocked off their bike usually has three years to start a personal injury claim. This time limit applies from the date of the cycling incident.
In certain circumstances, the time limit for claiming for a cycling injury can vary. If the victim is a child, then the three-year time limit for starting a claim does not begin until the day of their 18th birthday. From this point, the victim will be old enough to start their own claim. Someone close to the victim (such as a parent or guardian) may be able to start a claim on the victim’s behalf while they are still a child while acting as a litigation friend.
For further guidance on cycling accident claim time limits and the exceptions that can apply, speak with a member of our team today.
What Steps Should You Take After Being Knocked Off Your Bicycle?
If your injury was due to another road user’s negligence, you must prove that the other party breached their duty of care. To prove that another road user was at fault, you must gather evidence, which can feel easier if you hire a No Win No Fee lawyer. Some examples of evidence can include:
- Medical records – It is important that you seek medical attention to take care of your well-being first, plus any report created by a medical professional can help support your claim.
- Video footage – CCTV footage, bystander recordings as well as dashcam footage can help strengthen your claim.
- Photographs – Take pictures of your injury as well as the accident site, to show the extent of the damage to yourself and other vehicles, for example, if you were in a collision.
- Witness details – Gather witness details and a professional can take statements at a later time.
Make sure you seek medical attention first as your health is of the most importance. Afterwards, we urge you to contact our advisors who can help you with further guidance on what you should do after a cycle accident and a solicitor from our expert panel could help you collect evidence.
Contact our advisors to learn more about how much compensation for being knocked off your bicycle you could receive.
Knocked Off Your Bike – Claiming With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you have been knocked off a bike and are eligible to make a personal injury claim, one of the solicitors on our panel may be able to assist you. They may also offer to represent you in your claim on a No Win No Fee basis with a Conditional Fee Agreement. With this arrangement in place, you won’t have to pay antsy service fees upfront or during the claims process. Furthermore, if your claim fails, you won’t need to pay your solicitor for their work.
If your claim succeeds and you are awarded compensation, your solicitor will deduct a legally capped success fee from this.
If you have any questions about making a personal injury claim after being knocked off a bicycle or the compensation that could be awarded, you can contact our advisors. They can also offer you free advice for your potential claim, and if it seems like a strong case, they may connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
Contact an advisor today by:
- Calling 0161 696 9685
- Using our pop-up live chat.
- Contacting us online.
Motorcycle And Bike Accident Claim Resources
Please read our other helpful articles:
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Cycling Accident Without A Bike Helmet?
- Is There A Time Limit For A Car Accident Claim?
- How Long After A Road Traffic Accident Can You Claim Compensation?
Or, other informative links:
Contact our advisors for more information on how much compensation for being knocked off your bicycle.