Knocked off your bike by a taxi

Cycling Accidents Involving Taxis

Any cyclist travelling through a busy town or city will be keenly alert to taxi and minicab drivers, who are required to drive with as much care as any other road user. If you’ve been injured in a collision with a taxi driver, it’s likely you can claim compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained.

Like all motorists, taxi drivers owe a duty of care to other road users; and must take additional precautions to protect pedal cyclists. Unfortunately, accidents between cyclists and taxis are not uncommon – which is unsurprising when you think that as at 1 April 2023, there were  346,300 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles were operating in England.

Not far off a third of those (104,700) were operating in London alone.

Collisions between cyclists and taxis can happen in several ways, for example, a taxi may cut across a cyclist’s path without warning; exceed the speed limit while getting their passenger to their destination quickly; or a passenger opens a door straight into a cyclist’s path.

Taxi accidents are distressing; can cause serious injuries; and keep you off your bike for some time. Claiming compensation can make all the difference in your recovery.

Osbornes Law are specialist cycling injury lawyers with years of experience recovering compensation for cyclists injured following collisions with taxis and other vehicles.

For a free initial assessment with an experienced cycling injury lawyer contact us on 020 7485 8811. We’ll discuss your options with you and help you recover the compensation you deserve.

How Do Taxi / Cyclist Accidents Happen?

Taxi drivers undoubtedly find themselves urged by passengers to speed up because they have a train to catch or a meeting to get to. However, they have a legal duty to stick to the rules of the road – or risk an accident.

If they fail to exercise due care, they place any pedal cyclists in their vicinity in serious danger. They also risk losing their licence and their livelihood.

The most common causes of collisions between cyclists and taxis include:

• Taxi drivers failing to look properly or to check wing mirrors
• Drivers incorrectly judging a cyclist’s speed
• Lack of familiarity with the area (many taxi drivers must take a ‘knowledge’ test to obtain a licence to operate)
• Failure to give a cyclist priority
• Careless or reckless taxi drivers
• Drivers or passengers opening car doors without checking for approaching cyclists
• Fatigued taxi drivers
• Speeding or travelling too fast for the road or weather conditions

Cyclists are classed as vulnerable road users because they are at greater risk of injury if hit by taxis, minicabs or other motor vehicles. A cyclist has little physical protection from the force of a collision – even at low speed – which means they risk being seriously injured, potentially fatally.

Though some cyclists may walk away relatively unscathed, perhaps with a few bruises and cuts, others may not be so lucky. The reality is, a cyclist hit by any vehicle can sustain serious, potentially life-threatening injuries, such as:

• Head injuries and brain damage
• Neck, spinal cord and back injuries
• Internal injuries
• Traumatic amputation
• Fractures and soft tissue damage
• Permanent scarring
• Psychological harm

We know that cycling injuries can be devastating and have profound consequences for your health, your finances and your family life. If you or a loved one has sustained injuries in a tax collision, we can help: our cycling experts are experienced in helping clients recover maximum compensation.

Legal Considerations for Cyclists

Taxi drivers are expected to drive to the standards expected of a reasonably competent driver and to comply with the Road Traffic Act. They must also adhere to the rules set out in the Highway Code (which was updated in 2022 to better protect cyclists).

Cyclists are also expected to travel on their bicycle in a safe and reasonable manner. However, cyclists are – by their very nature – classed as the most vulnerable in the hierarchy of road users and they have priority on the road.

The Highway Code sets out the extra precautions taxi, minicab drivers and other motorists are expected to take to protect cyclists. These include:

Overtaking – Drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres’ room when overtaking a cyclist at a speed of up to 30mph (and a wider gap if travelling faster than 30mph)

At junctions – Taxi drivers must give way to cyclists at junctions – whether they are travelling straight ahead, or turning into or out of a junction. This applies even if the cyclist is using a cycle lane.

Opening car doors – Taxi drivers and their passengers must not open car doors or allow them to be opened without first checking to see if any cyclists are approaching. This can cause ‘car dooring’ injuries and may be a criminal offence.

At roundabouts – Taxi drivers and other motorists must give way to cyclists travelling on a roundabout and allow cyclists to move across lanes ahead of them. They must not overtake a cyclist on the lane they are in.

A careless taxi driver who breaches the rules and causes an accident with a cyclist risks a financial penalty, potential criminal proceedings and the loss of their licence. And the victim can bring a personal injury claim for compensation.

Cases and legal precedent

In any road accident, it can be the case that one party is not 100% to blame for what happened – the injured person may also have contributed to the incident (this is called ‘contributory negligence’). The driver may, for example, rely on the fact that you weren’t wear a helmet, or looking out properly.

This is one of the most common legal issues we have to consider in RTA claims.

If you are a cyclist and have been injured in a collision with a taxi and you think you may be partly to blame, always discuss it with us (you might be pleasantly surprised to find you’re not at all blameworthy).

While every case is considered in the context of the full circumstances, court rulings on the issue are always helpful for lawyers. In 2017, for example, a cyclist was found to be 20% to blame for an accident in which he collided with a van – even though the driver was convicted of a driving offence and admitted negligence.

The cyclist, who was left paralysed, had been taking part in a time trial and was cycling in a ‘head down’ position – so that he failed to see the van (Rickson v Bhakar | [2017] EWHC 264).

The outcome in cases where contributory negligence is found is that the cyclist’s compensation payout will be reduced proportionately.

Crucial steps to take after an accident

If you are ever involved in a collision with a tax or minicab, you may be too injured or shocked to do much straightaway. In our experience – as keen cyclists and lawyers ourselves – witnesses and other members of the public are always helpful and concerned, and will do what’s necessary to get emergency help for you and to provide information.

But if you are able to (and if it’s safe to do so) it is important to take a few initial steps, such as getting the driver’s contact and insurance details. Try to find out if there is any dashcam footage of the incident that you could request.

It is also important to get the taxi driver’s local authority licence number so that the LA can be contacted. If the accident involved an Uber or Bolt driver, let the company know about the accident or ask us to do so on your behalf.

What’s the claims process for cyclist-taxi accidents?

Starting your claim for injuries you’ve sustained in a collision with a taxi is straightforward. Contact the specialist cycling injury team at Osbornes Law on 020 7485 8811 and we can explain how we can help you file your claim and what it involves.

For more information about the claims process read here.

Compensation and Damages

If you’ve been hit by a taxi or a minicab, you should be able to claim compensation for your injuries and the wider impact on your life. We will hold the tax or minicab (via their insurance company) legally responsible for what happened to you.

The amount of compensation you will receive depends on several factors such as the severity of your injuries and the extent of the impact on your life. We know that cyclists involved in taxi and other accidents involving motor vehicles can be seriously injured, sometimes catastrophically.

We will claim maximum compensation for your injuries, as well as loss of earnings, medical costs and other financial costs stemming from the accident. In serious cases, compensation payouts can be substantial: if you’ve been left unable to work; requiring carers; adaptations at home; and so on – we will take into account the full financial impact of the accident on your life.

Our experienced cycling injury team will be pleased to discuss your compensation with you.

You can read here for more information about personal injury compensation and what it can cover.

Client Stories

Our expert team has recovered substantial compensation settlements for several cyclists injured in devastating collisions involving taxis, London cabs and minicabs. For example:

£130,000 for a cyclist hit by taxi in cycle lane

Our client was cycling in a cycle lane in a Central London park when a black taxi pulled out of a junction into his path. The taxi driver collided with our client causing serious hand and wrist injuries and spinal injuries. He was also left with long-term physical and psychological problems: we settled his claim for £130,000 to reflect this.

You can read more cases of cyclist injuries Osbornes have settled by reading here.

Osbornes Law specialist cycling solicitors

The service we provide is unique given our recognised expertise and reputation in recovering compensation for the victims of cycling accidents involving taxis, minicabs and other vehicles. Osbornes has been exclusive legal partner to London Cycling Campaign (LCC) for 10 years, during which time we have helped countless cyclists, many serious injured.

Our specialist lawyers not only focus on achieving a financial settlement for their clients, they also ensure access to the best medical treatment, including any rehabilitation therapies that might be needed.

Our approach is simple: we are uniquely familiar with the predicament of our cycling clients. We are also experts in securing early admissions of liability from insurance companies; and experienced in building robust cases in order to secure early settlement – allowing clients to get on with their lives.

With our experience, we bring a personal approach to each client. We advise with empathy and full appreciation of the significant impact cycling injuries have on victims and their families.

Contact Osborne’s Law

We understand that making the first step to getting legal advice can be difficult. Our specialist cycling injury team are able to provide a free initial assessment to help you start your claim for compensation following your taxi collision.

A specialist cycle injury lawyer will make an initial evaluation of whether you have a good chance of winning compensation. Assuming you have a case, we will explain what happens next and what we need from you get your claim started.

Get in touch with the team at Osbornes Law on 020 7485 8811. Alternatively, complete our online contact form and we will be pleased to call you when convenient.

Additional Resources

Links to safety guidelines and preventive measures for cyclists

• • The Highway Code
  • Helpful tips and advice for cyclists and drivers
  • How to check your bike is safe to ride
  • TfL: Cycling safety in London
  • Knocked off my bike by a car
  • Cycle lane accidents
  • Cycling accidents involving car dooring
  • Cycling accidents at roundabouts