Cycling Accident Claims

At Osbornes Law we pursue cycling accident claims for clients who have suffered serious and life changing injuries and for the families of those killed whilst cycling in London and around the UK.

We have a dedicated cycling accident claims team staffed by experienced lawyers who are themselves cyclists and who are committed members of the London cycling community.

We understand that every case is different and we understand the issues that arise in cycling accident claims. From dooring and flooring, potholing, hooking and filtering, close passing and helmet wearing, to lorry vision regulations and infrastructure standards; we understand the types of injury that cyclists suffer and the short and long term effects that follow; and we understand the often subtle losses and expenses that arise in any given case.

London Cycling Campaign

We are proud to be the legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign. London Cycling Campaign is a charity supported by over 12,000 members. Their aim is to make sure everyone who cycles, or wants to cycle, has a voice in Greater London. Our cycling accident claims team provide free Helpline assistance to any LCC member who has been injured or involved in a collision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Osbornes Law Cycling Injury Team

Our cycle injury claims team is headed up by Stuart Kightley who has been representing cyclists and their families for over 25 years. He still commutes by bike into the firm’s Camden office every day. He is an elected member of the Trustee Board of the London Cycling Campaign.

The team also features catastrophic injury specialist and cycling enthusiast Rob Aylott and experienced cycling lawyers Nikki Hall, Laura Swaine and Andrew Middlehurst.

We regularly blog, vlog and post on cycling and the law. Follow us on Twitter @OsbornesCycling

Accreditations

Our cycling injury team and individual solicitors are regularly ranked in the leading independent legal directories ‘Chambers UK’ and The Legal 500′ for offering ‘niche expertise in cycling related injury claims.’

Typical Situations Resulting in Cycling Accident Claims

Commuter cycling in London is not for the faint hearted, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. Watch out for the following situations that commonly give rise to accidents whilst cycling:

• A vehicle approaching from opposite carriageway, turns right across your path without giving way to you and you collide with its nearside 
• A vehicle emerges from a side road to your left into your path without giving way to you and you collide with its offside 
• You are overtaking or undertaking stationary traffic when a vehicle turns into your path without looking
• A lorry turning left at a junction fails to see you in the nearside  lane
• A pothole or other defect in the road makes you lose control of the bike
• A vehicle door is opened into your path as you pass and causes a collision
• Vehicles, particularly lorries, vans and buses, fail to leave enough room as they pass on the offside  

Shock and pain can make it difficult to react immediately and properly to an accident involving injury, but here is our advice on what to do:

1. Be safe – get out of  danger and get others to help secure the scene;
2. Ring 999 – ambulance paramedics will assess your injuries and the police will investigate the cycling accident;
3. Exchange details with the other party – this is a legal requirement unless the accident has been reported to the police;
4. Evidence – use your phone: photograph the other vehicle, driver and the scene; check for CCTV cameras, speak to witnesses and obtain their contact details;
5. Take legal advice on your rights and obligations.

How our cycling  lawyers can help

Contact our cycling solicitors to discuss your case. We are always happy to advise by telephone and will not charge for an initial consultation.

If we are able to help with a legal claim, what happens next will depend on the particular circumstances of your cycling accident and the seriousness of any injuries, but in summary:

• Funding. We will offer you a No Win No Fee funding agreement so that you will not have to meet the legal costs and expenses as the case proceeds. In the unlikely event that the case is not successful you will not be left out of pocket. If you win you pay us a small success fee but the amount we charge is less than other competitor firms.
• Liability investigation. We will assess what is needed to prove your case and will obtain the police, witness, CCTV, accident investigation and other evidence necessary to win the arguments on liability; we will pursue the claim with the opponent’s insurers and seek an early admission of liability.
• Medical investigation and rehabilitation. We will explore with you what your immediate needs are. That may involve you having an Immediate Needs Assessment with an independent Occupational Therapist and then treatment and/or medical investigations; we will also request your medical records and once the injuries have settled commission expert prognostic reports from independent specialists.
• Interim payments. If liability is accepted then we can access funds to give you financial support whilst you recover from your injuries.
• Negotiation and settlement. Most cases are settled by negotiations and an out of court settlement although some, in particular the most serious injury cases, require court proceedings. Our job is to get you the best possible settlement. In relation to liability that means using our expertise and experience to secure 100% liability, or as close to it as possible on the facts of the case. On damages (quantum) it means understanding which heads of loss to claim, obtaining the evidence necessary to prove the loss and negotiating the best deal.

Published articles

London Cycling Campaign, Spring 2020 Edition: Stuart Kightley explains why liability insurance can provide peace of mind for every cyclist.  Download document here to read article. 

For an initial discussion call our specialist cycling team on 020 7485 8811 or submit your enquiry online and we will contact you.

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