Bicycle Accident Lawyers
At Osbornes Law we pursue cycling accident claims for clients who have suffered serious 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. Our cycling accident claims team provide free Helpline assistance to any LCC member who has been injured or involved in a collision. |
Which type of cycling accident claim do you deal with?
Cycling on busy roads is not for the faint-hearted, every year over 4,000 cyclists are seriously injured or killed in road accidents*, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. Watch out for the following situations that commonly give rise to bike accidents:
- A vehicle approaching from the 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
*Figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents show that in 2019, 16,884 cyclists were injured in reported road accidents, 4,433 were killed or seriously injured.
What you should do following a bike accident?
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:
- Be safe – get out of danger and get others to help secure the scene;
- Ring 999 – ambulance paramedics will assess your injuries and the police will investigate the cycling accident;
- Exchange details with the other party – this is a legal requirement unless the accident has been reported to the police;
- Evidence – use your phone: photograph the other vehicle, driver and the scene; check for CCTV cameras, speak to witnesses and obtain their contact details;
- Take legal advice on your rights and obligations.
How our bicycle accident lawyers can help
Contact our specialist lawyers 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.
What are the most common types of cycling accident compensation claims?
Bike crashes are an unfortunate reality for many and we understand that cyclists are vulnerable to serious injuries due to road traffic accidents. Our cycle accident claims specialists can help with everything from head injuries, amputations, back & spinal injuries and leg injuries through to broken bones, facial & dental injuries, sprains & fractures, whiplash and soft tissue injury.
How much cycling accident compensation could I receive?
No two bike accident claims are the same so we can’t say, straight away, how much cycling accident compensation you will get. Cycling injury compensation won’t only include compensation for the incident itself but support with recovery and future life – this might mean making provision for physiotherapy, rehabilitation treatment, loss of earnings, bike repairs and adjustments at home.
Compensation is split into two parts: General damages (based on the severity of injuries and the length of time it takes for you to recover) and special damages (covering current and predicted out of pocket expenses as a result of the injury – such as loss of property, medication, aids and equipment, treatment, travel and loss of income). Special damages can also include repairs to your bike, physiotherapy and counselling.
While we might not be able to say how much you can expect to get, our cycling claims solicitors are experienced in a wide range of cycling accident and injury claims and should be able to give you an estimate, when you speak.
Do I have to pay legal fees when claiming for a bicycle accident?
Not usually. In the vast majority of cases, you will be able to pursue your personal injury claim through what’s known as a Conditional Fee Agreement or ‘No Win No Fee’.
How long do bike accident claims take?
Because each claim is different it’s impossible to say exactly how long your cycling accident claim will take. It will depend on the severity of your injuries and whether or not your opponent admits blame.
A relatively simple cycling injury claim could be settled in a few months. A cycling accident claim relating to more serious injuries – or where the other party doesn’t admit responsibility – will take longer as we’ll have to seek medical evidence. This is partly so that we can make sure any compensation supports you for your longer-term medical needs. We may also have to wait to understand the full impact of your injuries because compensation may depend on how long it takes you to heal.
Other factors that could prolong your cycling accident claim might include whether it has to go to court, when a criminal offence has been committed and police charges also have to be brought and if you’ve been injured in a hit and run accident when the police and insurance companies will be trying to locate the driver.
How long do I have to make a bicycle accident claim?
You have three years from the date of the cycling accident or injury to bring a claim.
What happens if the other person involved in the accident didn’t stop?
If you have been a victim of a hit and run, or hit by an uninsured driver, don’t worry. We may still be able to help you with your cycling accident claim. Working through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) scheme it may still be possible to make a claim and you would be free to choose us as the cycling claims solicitor to represent you, even if your insurance company has recommended another law firm.
Why choose Osbornes Law for your cycling injury claim?
Three reasons to trust Osbornes Law with your cycling accident claim:
- Our cycle accident solicitors are 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 includes serious injury lawyer and cycling enthusiast Rob Aylott as well as experienced cycling injury lawyers Nikki Hall, Laura Swaine, Andrew Middlehurst and Rebekah Watson.
- Not only is our 37-strong team of personal injury solicitors and paralegals regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, but we’re also members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the Law Society. Osbornes are also the exclusive legal partner to the London Cycling Campaign.
- We demonstrate that you can trust us through our more than 40 years of experience, our five star (4.8 out of 5), excellent Trustpilot review and our track record of securing multi-million-pound settlements for clients across the UK, whose lives have been devastated by serious and life-changing cycling injuries and for the families of those killed whilst cycling.
- 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.’ We also feature in The Times Best Law Firm Guide.
Published articles
London Cycling Campaign, Spring 2020 Edition: Stuart Kightley explains why liability insurance can provide peace of mind for every cyclist. Download article here.
London Cycling Campaign, Winter 2020 Edition: Stuart Kightley outlines the key changes to the Highway Code. Download article here.
For an initial discussion call our specialist cycling team on 020 7485 8811 or submit your enquiry online and we will contact you.
FAQs
I may be partly responsible for the cycling accident, can I still make a claim?
Yes. We will be able to advise you on how much blame is likely to be attributed to you. In practice we can usually reach an agreement with the insurance company on a percentage basis.
What do I do if I hit a pedestrian whilst cycling?
You should take the name and contact details of the pedestrian and any witnesses. If you have insurance you should report the accident to your insurer straight away. You may face a claim against you by the pedestrian if they are injured. If you are also injured and the pedestrian was partly responsible for the collision then you may have a counterclaim against you.
Do I need insurance to make a cycling accident claim?
There is no requirement for you to hold third party insurance cover in order to cycle in the UK. We do, however, encourage insurance cover to protect you in the event you are involved in a collision and it is alleged you are responsible. London Cycling Campaign members automatically get insurance cover as part of their membership. Consider signing up or look for an alternative policy online, there are quite a few companies who provide cover.
What can I do to get my bike repaired after an accident?
If you have been involved in a cycling accident, it is likely that your bicycle will have sustained damage or be a complete write off. Take your bicycle to a repair shop where they will then determine the extent of the damage and advise on whether it can be repaired or not. They will provide a written quote for the repairs or alternatively if the bicycle is beyond repair advise on the replacement cost. You will need to retain copies of the estimates if you intend on making a claim for bike damage.
What kind of rehabilitation can I get?
Rehabilitation is vital to help you reduce – as much as possible – the effects of a cycling accident injury on your life.
How you begin to respond to rehabilitation gives us an idea how much progress you can make and what impact the injury will have on you and your family in the long term. Then we can pursue the appropriate level of settlement for you and secure funding for your rehabilitation.
That depends on your injury. You may need outpatient physiotherapy to help you regain use of an injured limb or joint. In serious injury cases, you may need to spend time at a rehabilitation unit where therapists can help you re-learn skills lost as a result of a physical or neurological (brain) injury.
A brain injury, in particular, can result in memory loss, speech and language difficulties and a change in personality. Rehabilitation can teach you and your family ways to overcome these issues and provide tactics for dealing with the limitations you may now face.
OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO SAFEGUARD YOUR LONG-TERM CARE AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD IN YOUR RECOVERY.
Successful rehabilitation can also involve reassessing your accommodation needs. Where appropriate we consult with architects to secure funding for home alterations, so you can live as independently as possible. We also look at your transport needs and any other support you might require.
Cycling Case Studies
Cycling claim settled for £100,000
Andrew Middlehurst recently settled a case for a cyclist who injured his shoulder and wrist whilst cycling along a London street for a sum in the region of £100,000. The […] Read MoreCyclist receives £18,870 compensation for South London bike accident
Blanca Diego, a bicycle accident solicitor in the Osbornes Personal Injury Team, settled a claim for a 25 year old Spanish cyclist who was involved in a road accident in […] Read MoreCyclist receives £35,000 compensation for bicycle accident in Bristol
Blanca Diego, a bike accident solicitor in the Osbornes Personal Injury Department, settled a claim for a 30-year-old Spanish cyclist who was involved in a road traffic accident in Bristol. […] Read MoreCycling accident claim settled for £13,500
Our cycling accident lawyers have settled a personal injury claim for a 35-year-old cyclist who was involved in a road traffic accident. Our client was riding his bicycle along an […] Read MoreCompensation of £335,000 for fatal London cycling accident claim
Newlywed Hungarian National was killed in a “hit and run” road accident. A speeding driver mowed down and killed the female newlywed who was cycling home from work in the early hours […] Read MoreCyclist awarded £30,000 damages following bike accident
The accident occurred when our client had been cycling along the main road when a van pulled straight out of a side road colliding into her. As a result of […] Read MoreCycling accident claim settled for £20,000
A music teacher was cycling in traffic on his way to work. A bus changed lanes and drove into the back of his bike. The client suffered a fractured hip […] Read MoreCompensation (£25,000) for bike accident in Blackheath
A cyclist was travelling near to Blackheath on his way to work when he was involved in a road accident. He was struck on a roundabout by a car that […] Read MoreIT worker receives £40,000 following cycle accident claim
An IT worker was hit whilst on his commute by a car turning right across his path while he was cycling straight ahead in a cycle lane. He suffered injuries […] Read MoreBicycle accident claim against Uber driver
A cyclist has been awarded £7,000 following a road accident in which she was knocked off her bike by an Uber driver whose insurers admitted liability and made a very […] Read MoreEast London cyclist receives £70,000 compensation
We acted for Dom, a 40-year-old media executive, living in East London. He and his wife owned their own home; she was expecting their first child and he spent his […] Read MoreSeven-figure cycling accident claim for spinal cord injury
Our client was thrown off his bicycle after being hit by a lorry. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury. Despite footage from a camera mounted at the front of the lorry which shows the collision in full, liability is denied. Collision reconstruction experts have been instructed.Read MoreSeven-figure cycle accident claim against local authority
Our client came off his bicycle whilst on a cycle path. This was after a large stone became lodged in his front wheel. The local authority responsible for the cycle path are contesting liability and High Court proceedings have been issued.Read MoreCycle injury claim settled for £12,000
Our client was injured on an East London road when a car pulled out of a parked position into his path as the driver tried to turn her vehicle around. […] Read MoreCycling to work accident settles for £20,000
Our client was cycling to work when a passing car clipped his handlebars and he fell into the road. He suffered a scaphoid fracture to his right wrist and required surgery following the collision. His losses included additional travel expenses as he was no longer able to ride his bike Read MoreCycling lane accident compensation claim
Our client was riding in a cycling lane when the passenger door of a stationary car was suddenly opened into his path. He was knocked off his bike and suffered several injuries, the worst being a forearm fracture which required surgical plating. In this case surgery failed to unite the fracture Read MoreCyclist receives £6,000 for neck and back injuries
Our client hit his bicycle brakes as he approached queuing traffic. As he was doing this he was passing a side road to his left. A vehicle travelling in the […] Read MoreHead and face injury lead to successful bicycle accident claim
Our client was cycling to work. He approached a crossroad where he had right of way when a white van unexpectedly pulled out in front of the crossroad before our client. Our client was unable to brake in time and crashed into the side of the van. This resulted in him coming off his Read MoreSevere brain injury due to cycling accident results in 7-figure compensation claim
Our client was a successful businessman when is was knocked to the ground. He suffered various fractures and internal injuries. The most severe injury was a traumatic head injury which left him with a diffuse axonal brain injury.Following rehabilitation our client did retain Read MoreDamages of £8,500 for cyclist who fractured ankle
Our client was cycling at night with lights and a hi-vis jacket. He was using a mini-roundabout when a car drove into his rear as it entered the roundabout behind him. The impact fractured the Claimant’s ankle requiring fixation surgery, effectively leaving our client housebound and having Read MoreGallery
Accreditations
Latest Cycling Accident News
Highway Code changes just the start in protecting cyclists
Changes to the Highway Code do not go far enough to change driver behaviour and protect cyclists and pedestrians, leading cycling accident claims lawyer, Stuart Kightley, has told the government. Stuart […]
Read MoreCyclist receives compensation for broken back & pelvis
An avid cyclist had his ‘body broken’ and was left unable to walk unaided for almost a year after a motorist drove into him while on the wrong side of […]
Read MoreBoom time for bikes – London Mayor’s new Streetspace plan announced
Yesterday Sadiq Khan unveiled his ‘London Streetspace’ programme designed to transform London’s streets to accommodate a possible ten-fold increase in cycling and a five-fold increase in walking when lockdown restrictions […]
Read MoreDeath of cyclist in road traffic accident opens up helmet debate once again
After the death of a cyclist outside the Olympic park, Stuart Kightley, personal injury solicitor at Osbornes re-visits the question of whether cycling helmets should be mandatory. The buzz and fanfare […]
Read MoreBadly maintained roads putting cyclists at risk
With the numbers of cyclists killed or seriously injured due to badly maintained roads ‘mushrooming’ out of control, there have been urgent calls for the government to fix Britain’s roads. […]
Read MoreResearch shows that cycling helps you live better for longer
It is well known that cycling makes you healthier, even if you are breathing in the fumes of London’s roads. What hasn’t been known until now is how it helps […]
Read MoreDriver Jailed After Attack Left Cyclist With A Fractured Spine
In a recent cycling accident case in which an unhinged BMW driver was sent down for 27 months for deliberately ramming a London cyclist and then, as the cyclist lay […]
Read MoreCyclist pushing bike killed in Southall by HGV
London’s cycling death toll due to grew by another death last week due to a cycling accident when a 60-year-old cyclist was killed by an HGV as he was pushing […]
Read MoreToo close for comfort? Police to target cycle ‘close pass’ drivers
As a cyclist when was the last time a car, truck or bus passed you too closely? This morning? Yesterday? Sadly in the UK this is a hazard every cyclist […]
Read MoreLondon Mayor Plans to Ban Lorries to Reduce Cycling Accidents
London’s new mayor Sadiq Khan has announced plans to ban up to 35,000 lorries from London’s roads in the name of road safety by 2020 under a new safety scheme […]
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