How To Report A Cycling Accident To The Police

It isn’t always clear what steps need to be taken if you are in a road traffic accident while cycling. Our guide will help by not only explaining when you should report a cycling accident to the police, but covering other useful things to consider.

We discuss the evidence you could collect to help with a compensation claim against another road user if they caused the collision. Furthermore, the guide offers a reminder of the importance of getting medical attention as soon as possible.

Exchanging details is an important post-incident step that is often required by law, as we explain later in the guide. Lastly, learn how you could make a No Win No Fee claim with one of our expert personal injury solicitors’ help if you have a valid case.

You can get your potential case assessed, or even ask for information on useful steps people can take after cycling accidents, by contacting us today. Our advisors give clear and useful information for free, so choose one of these options to get started:

A bike lying on its side in the road with some debris.

Select A Section

  1. How To Report A Cycling Accident To The Police
  2. How To Gather Evidence Of Your Cycling Accident
  3. Get Medical Help With Your Cycling Accident Injuries
  4. Exchange Details With Other Road Users Involved
  5. Get Advice On Claiming For A Cycling Accident
  6. Learn More About Road Accident Claims

How To Report A Cycling Accident To The Police

If you’re involved in an accident while on the road, it is worth being aware of your rights and protections under the law. Recent updates to the Highway Code, as shown in Rule 204, identify cyclists as one of the most at-risk groups using the road. 

While all road users must adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA) and the Highway Code to ensure they use the road responsibly and protect themselves and others from harm, Rule 204 states that drivers with the bigger chance of causing serious harm carry a greater responsibility to keep other road users safe.

As such, there are some important reasons to report a cycling accident to the police:

  • If a crime is committed, the police are in the best position to investigate and take necessary action.
  • The police and government being aware of cycle incidents means they can assess what is needed to protect vulnerable road users.
  • The police report could be useful if you plan to make a personal injury compensation claim.

If you believe you have a claim for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident, get in touch today and an advisor can assess your case for free.

How Do I Make A Report To The Police And What Is In A Police Accident Report?

If you are involved in a road traffic accident as a cyclist, a police officer may attend the scene for which you can provide your account of the event. Alternatively, you can visit the local station or report the incident online. Typically, an accident report will include:

  • Details about the parties involved. This includes each person’s name, address, mobile phone number and insurance details.
  • The incident time, date and location.
  • Information about the vehicles involved. This can include a motor vehicle registration number, or make and model.
  • Photos or a description of the incident scene. Include tyre marks, traffic lights, road markings or anything else that may be relevant.
  • Witness contact details.

You can get in touch with us today for any guidance you might want on reporting an incident to the police or how cycling compensation claims work.

How To Gather Evidence Of Your Cycling Accident

You may be looking at how to report a cycling accident to the police as you have been hurt in a road collision that was not your fault. Did you also know that if you are injured in an accident on the road caused by a driver, you could make a personal injury claim? However, very often, when making a compensation claim, you will need to have evidence that shows the liability for the accident that caused your injuries and evidence of the injuries themselves.

Here, we have provided examples of evidence that could be useful for you to gather if you intend on making a personal injury claim after a cycling road collision: 

  • CCTV or camera footage. As we mentioned previously, someone navigating the roads must act in a way that ensures their own safety and that of other road users. You can request a copy of road camera footage showing a road user breaching their legal duty of care or present video from a camera mounted on your bike.
  • A police incident number. When you report a cycling accident to the police, the person you speak to can provide you with a unique reference number for that case.
  • Photos of any injury suffered or, as covered in the previous section, elements of the incident scene that might be relevant.
  • Witness contact details.
  • Medical evidence. Read on to the next section for more information on why this is important.

If one of our experienced road traffic accident solicitors takes on your case, they can be instructed to help you collect and present evidence or seek out additional witnesses. Please call if you want further guidance on how to prove someone else’s liability for a collision.

An upturned bicycle and helmet, with a car behind them.

Get Medical Help With Your Cycling Accident Injuries

Unfortunately, a road traffic accident can leave a cyclist badly hurt, even when wearing the proper safety equipment. Even if you receive first aid at the scene and don’t need an ambulance, it is still worth seeking medical attention.

Whether you visit A&E or a walk-in centre, or speak to your GP, there are multiple reasons to get a professional opinion. Firstly, they can give you a check-up and make sure there are no underlying issues, such as concussion.

Also, any note they make about conditions or symptoms you’re experiencing can be put forward as medical evidence during legal proceedings. You can request a copy of your health records as proof of your treatment in your case.

Additionally, an independent medical assessment will be required during the cycling accident claim process. A solicitor could help arrange this examination and make sure you have all the medical evidence you need. Find out more by calling the number at the top of this page.

Exchange Details With Other Road Users Involved 

It is worth being aware of Section 170 of the RTA, as it sets out the legal requirement for a driver to stop and exchange details with other parties involved in an accident if an injury or damage has been caused. You would have a reasonable right to ask them for their:

  • Name.
  • Contact details.
  • Insurance information.

Also, make sure you get the vehicle’s make and model, as well as the registration number. If the driver leaves the scene without sharing details, you will need to report the cycling accident to the police if you intend to make a claim. For hit-and-run accidents where the driver is at fault, claims can be made via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau MIB. The MIB provide compensation to road users who are injured by fault drivers in hit-and-run accidents or when a fault driver is not insured. 

Luckily, it is still possible to claim compensation against an unidentifiable or uninsured driver, as one of our helpful advisors can explain, should you decide to get in touch with us.

Get Advice On Claiming For A Cycling Accident

Once you have reported the incident to the police, you might be wondering what your next steps are. Our advisors can help you learn whether you have fair grounds to pursue compensation for the injuries suffered in the accident.

One of our expert cycling accident claim solicitors could help you with a valid claim. If they took on your case, a solicitor would offer a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). As such, they would commit to taking zero in solicitor fees before or during your claim.

As a CFA is a No Win No Fee agreement, it also means you wouldn’t be out of pocket for their work if they cannot help you win the case.

If successful, your solicitor would take a small percentage of your compensation as their success fee. The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 makes sure this percentage has a legal cap, so you can be certain that the majority of your payout would go your way.

An injured cyclist asking a solicitor for advice on how to report a cycling accident to the police.

How To Speak To An Expert

You may still be wondering if you have a good case, or how much compensation you could receive if you can make a successful claim. Our advisors can clear things up for you with straightforward, useful and free advice.

After a discussion with an advisor, you can find out whether you could be connected to one of our solicitors for dedicated legal representation.

We’re here to help, so whether you want guidance on reporting the accident to the police or making a personal injury claim, you can reach out to us. Our 24/7 service is available through multiple routes:

  • Our free helpline, 0800 073 8801.
  • The online form, where you can contact us and describe your potential case.
  • The live chat tab below.

Learn More About Road Accident Claims

You can get further useful information from our other guides:

Also, check here for guidance:

Thank you for looking through our guide on how to report a cycling accident to the police.