Bicycle Accident Claims
What types of Bicycle Accident Claims are common?
In October 2013 RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents released detailed information regarding bicycle accident claims and statistics which can be found at the following link:
Some of the interesting points raised in the report are:
- Bicycle accident claims involving child cyclists are often the result of the child playing, doing tricks, riding too fast or losing control.
- For teenage and adult cyclists, bicycle accident claims are more likely to involve collisions with motor vehicles, but about 16% of fatal or serious bicycle accident claims reported to the police do not involve a collision with another vehicle, but are caused by the rider losing control of their bicycle.
- In bicycle accident claims involving a bicycle and another vehicle, the most common key contributory factor recorded by the police is “failed to look properly” by either the driver or rider, especially at junctions. “Failed to look properly” was attributed to the car driver in 57% of serious bicycle accident claims and to the cyclist in 43% of serious bicycle accident claims at junctions.
- Other common contributory factors attributed to drivers are “poor turn/manoeuvre” (in 17% of serious accidents involving a cyclist) and “careless, reckless, in a hurry” (17%). Cyclists are more likely to suffer serious injuries when a driver is judged to be impaired by alcohol, exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast for the conditions.
- The second most common contributory factor attributed to bicycle accident claims was “cyclist entering the road from the pavement” (including when a cyclist crosses the road at a pedestrian crossing), which was recorded in about 20% serious collisions (and over one third of serious collisions involving child cyclists).
- The most common vehicle involved in collisions with cyclists is a car or taxi, with the rider usually being hit by the front of the vehicle. In a quarter of fatal cyclist accidents, the front of the vehicle hit the rear of the bicycle.
- However, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) present a particular danger for cyclists, especially in London where around 20% of bicycle accident claim fatalities occur involve an HGV. These often occur when an HGV is turning left at a junction. About one quarter of bicycle accident claims resulting in serious injury to a cyclist involved an HGV, bus or coach passing too close to the rider.
Common Bicycle Accident Claims
- Motorist emerging into path of cyclist
- Motorist turning across path of cyclist
- Cyclist riding into the path of a motor vehicle, often riding off a pavement
- Cyclist and motorist going straight ahead
- Cyclist turning right from a major road and from a minor road
- Child cyclist playing or riding too fast
What can a cyclist do to minimise the risk of a bicycle accident claim?
The health and safety tips below will help you get the most out of your cycling and reduce the risk of bicycle accident claims:
Suggestions include:
- Make sure your bicycle is appropriate for your height and needs. Ask staff at bike shops for help when choosing a new bicycle.
- Have your bicycle professionally serviced once every year.
- Regularly check your bike yourself, perhaps once a week, to make sure it is in good repair. Check the tyres, bearings, gears, nuts and bolts, and lubricate the chain and cables. If you’re not sure how to do this, consult with staff at bicycle stores or bicycle repair shops.
- Adjust your saddle for your leg length. Your knee should be only slightly bent when your foot is on the pedal with your leg fully extended. You risk knee strain if your knees are too bent.
- Your handlebars should be positioned about five centimetres lower than your saddle height.
- Narrow seats may be uncomfortable, particularly for women. Opt for a wider saddle or a gel-filled saddle. You could also pad the seat with a sheepskin cover or similar.
Bike Helmet and Bike Helmets for Kids
Suggestions include:
- Always wear a bike helmet. Research suggests that wearing a bike helmet reduces the risk of head injury by up to 60 per cent.
- Making bike helmets compulsory by law so that cyclists could be fined if caught riding without a bike helmet.
- If your bike helmet hits the road or an object, replace it even if it still looks okay.
- Look after your bike helmet. Keep it out of direct sunlight when not in use, and clean it strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
We can help with your Bicycle Accident Claim
David Healey at Carter & Carter Solicitors is very experienced in handling Bicycle Accident Claims and we can help by valuing your claim how ever serious your injuries. David is a specialist dealing with accident compensation claims involving fatalities, catastrophic injuries and amputations.
Get in touch now about your Bicycle Accident Claim…
If you think that you have a case, would like to have a chat about a potential Bicycle Accident claim or require further information, contact David Healey.
Our Free phone number is 0800 652 0586
My Direct Dial is 01663 761 892
Email me on [email protected]