By Joanne Jeffries. Last Updated August 20th 2021. Welcome to our guide about what to do after a bicycle accident. Being involved in a cycle accident can be a frightening experience, especially if you are injured. Fortunately, there are things that you can do at the scene of the accident to stay safe and collect information that will help you if you need to make a compensation claim.
This guide on what to do after a bicycle accident will provide you with cycling accident advice and bicycle accident claim tips. Whether you were involved in a road traffic accident with another bike, a motor vehicle, or you had an accident due to poor conditions on the road, we will explain what to do after a bike accident.
If you need to claim compensation for injuries caused by your cycling accident and damage to your bike, call Accident Claims UK today. We can offer you free advice about making a cycling accident claim. If we can see that you are eligible to claim, we can provide you with a No Win No Fee personal injury lawyer to negotiate on your behalf. To begin your claim, call 0800 073 8801 or use our online claims form to reach us.
Select A Section
- A Guide On What To Do After A Bicycle Accident
- What Are Cycling Accidents?
- What To Do After A Bicycle Accident
- Stay At The Accident Scene And Ensure People’s Safety
- Get The Other Road Users Details
- Report Serious Accidents Or Injuries To The Police
- Get Medical Treatment For Your Injuries
- Keep Photos, Video Footage And Witness Statements
- Keep A Record Of Any Expenses
- Cycling Safety Facts And Statistics
- Calculating Compensation For Cycle Accidents – Updated August 2021
- Could I Claim Special Damages?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Cycling Accidents
- Why Choose Accident Claims UK?
- Begin A Cycle Accident Claim For Compensation
- Supporting Resources
A Guide On What To Do After A Bicycle Accident
Cycling is a cheap and environmentally friendly way to get about. It’s also great exercise. Unfortunately, cyclists are more vulnerable to road traffic accidents. Firstly, a narrow 2 wheeled vehicle can be more difficult for drivers of cars, vans or other motor vehicles to spot, which can cause collisions. Secondly, if a cyclist is involved in a collision or road traffic accident, their vehicle does not have a protective outer shell like a car does, meaning that they are more likely to be injured.
In this guide, we will explain what you should do if you have a cycling accident. We will look at what information to collect and how to proceed with making a no win no fee compensation claim for any injuries you suffered due to a cycling accident that was not your fault.
Call Accident Claims UK today, or use our online claims form to reach us. If we can see that you are entitled to cycling accident compensation, one of our panel of solicitors will be assigned to your case and will start working on your claim as soon as possible.
What Are Cycling Accidents?
A cycling accident is any road traffic accident involving a bicycle rider. The bike accident can be a collision with a motor vehicle. This can often happen when a driver turns or changes lane without properly looking in their mirror. Bike on bike accidents can also happen, where one bike collides into another. A driver can also reverse out of a driveway without looking and hit a cyclist. Poor conditions on the road, such as oil spillages or potholes, can also cause cyclists to have accidents.
Injuries that cyclists can suffer include broken or fractured bones, traumatic head injuries and even life-changing injuries such as paralysis. Sadly, a disproportionate number of cyclists are killed on the roads, compared to drivers and passengers of cars, vans, lorries and buses. So, what to do after a bicycle accident? If you have been involved in a bike accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible to claim compensation for any injuries you suffered or damage to your bike. If your claim is successful, you will also be awarded compensation for any expenses you may have due to your accident, such as payment for medical treatment.
What To Do After A Bicycle Accident
If you are involved in a bicycle accident, your priority should be to keep calm, to stop the situation from escalating and to seek the appropriate medical treatment if you or another person is injured. You can also collect evidence to support your case if you need to make a personal injury claim or claim damages to your bike.
What to do after a bike crash?
- Stop at the scene of the accident to ensure you and others are safe. Do not cycle away.
Contact the police if necessary. - Take pictures or film the scene of the accident on your phone.
- Exchange your contact details and other relevant information with the other parties involved in the accident.
- Ensure you seek the correct medical care for your injuries.
- When you get home or to a safe place, write down the details of everything that happened to you.
- Speak to a solicitor about making a compensation claim.
We will look at these steps in more detail later in this guide.
Stay At The Accident Scene And Ensure People’s Safety
Unlike motorists, cyclists are not legally obliged to stop at the scene of an accident (see the Road Traffic Act 1988). However, we recommend that you do so for your safety and the safety of others.
After a bicycle accident, you may feel dizzy or be in shock. You may want to pull over to have a break and make sure you feel calm enough to ride away again. You can also check your bike to see if it has been damaged or it is in good enough condition to ride away safely.
Suppose you or another person is seriously injured and in need of an ambulance dial 999. If your injuries are not urgent but need to be seen, you can go to a GP surgery or an Accident & Emergency department at a local hospital. If you dial NHS 111, their non-emergency number, an operator will be able to advise you on what to do. You can also help others around you by administering first aid, providing you know how to do it safely.
Get The Other Road Users Details
In terms of what to do after a bicycle accident, remember that cycling accidents can be disorienting and upsetting situations. It’s important to try and stay calm when you talk to other road users to stop the situations from escalating into an argument.
When you speak to other people involved in the accident, such as a car driver, pedestrian or another cyclist, it’s important not to say anything that could be considered an admission of fault. For example, saying “I’m sorry” or “that was my fault” it could be taken as an admission of liability for your injuries, even if you were not the person who caused the accident. Instead, wait until the fault has been determined (usually by a police investigation). Similarly, after your accident, do not sign any papers or documentation given to you by the driver (or other cyclists), their insurer or solicitor, without first consulting your solicitor, as you may admit fault by signing.
What details to exchange with the other parties:
- Your name and address
- Your phone number
- If you are hit by a car, you can also collect details of their insurance provider, insurance policy number and vehicle registration number.
Report Serious Accidents Or Injuries To The Police
According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, accidents where a motor vehicle is involved should be reported to the police within 24 hours if you don’t exchange details at the scene. An accident involving a serious injury or property damage should be reported to the police. You can report accidents to the police using their non-emergency number 101.
Get Medical Treatment For Your Injuries
What to do after a bicycle accident when it comes to getting medical treatment? If you are injured in any way, we recommend going to a hospital A&E department or a GP surgery for the appropriate treatment. Going to see a doctor will also provide evidence of your injuries. If you are unsure whether you need medical treatment, you can call NHS 111 for advice. If you find out you have been injured later on (for example, you are experiencing symptoms of whiplash), visit a GP for treatment and to receive a medical report, which will be taken as evidence of your injuries.
As we have said before, if someone is seriously injured, call an ambulance by dialing 999.
Keep Photos, Video Footage And Witness Statements
If you are injured due to a cycling accident that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation for your injuries. What to do if you have a cycling accident about providing evidence to support your claim? You can take the following steps to collect evidence to support your claim:
- Take photos of the cycle accident scene. We recommend photographing hazards that caused your accident, such as a pothole in the road, photographs of your injuries, or photographs of any damage to your bike. Include a date stamp if possible.
- Record video footage from the scene of your bicycle accident, if possible.
If a motor vehicle was involved in the accident, record the make, model, colour and license plate registration number. - Speak to eyewitnesses, taking down their names and contact details. They may be able to provide a witness statement to support you.
Keep A Record Of Any Expenses
Another important part of what to do after a bicycle accident is to keep the receipts of any purchases you have made about your injury. These can include taking a taxi home from the scene of the accident or to the hospital. These receipts may serve as evidence to support you. You may also be able to claim these expenses back as special damages.
Cycling Safety Facts And Statistics
How often do cycling accidents happen? The most recently available statistics at the time of writing tell us that in 2019, 100 cyclists were killed on the roads in Great Britain. This may sound relatively low, but this is because there is a relatively low proportion of cyclists than other road users. Note that there were also 4,333 cyclists that were seriously hurt and 12,451 cyclists suffering minor injuries during the same period. Cyclists are actually classed as vulnerable road users, and in 2017 they had the highest rates of deaths on the road after motorcyclists (5,604 per billion miles, compared to 238 experienced by car users). These stats are important to keep in mind as you wonder what to do after a bicycle accident.
Calculating Compensation For Cycle Accidents – Updated August 2021
If you are a cyclist hit by a car or a cyclist that was injured due to poor conditions on the road, you may be able to make a no win no fee compensation claim for your injuries. If your compensation claim is successful, you will be awarded compensation for your injuries. You will receive two heads of claim. The first is general damages, which is normally the largest portion of your compensation award. General damages compensate the claimant for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity they have suffered due to their injuries. Special damages are reimbursements for any expenses the claimant has incurred as a result of their injuries.
You can use our personal injury claims calculator to estimate how much compensation you could claim in general damages. The information in this table is in line with the Judicial College Guidelines, but you may receive more or less depending on your circumstances. This calculator excludes Special damages you could claim.
| Type Of Injury | Seriousness | Settlement | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back injury | Moderate (i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | Instances where residual disabilities to the claimant are less severe than higher categories. There may be a wide range of injuries included within the category such as crush injuries, fractures and compression of the spine. |
| Severe Leg injuries | Moderate (iv) | £27,760 to £39,200 | Including either multiple or complicated fractures or crushing injuries to (generally) a single limb. |
| Pelvis and hip injuries | Moderate (i) | £26,590 to £39,170 | Those classed as moderate, at this level there may still be significant injuries to the hips and pelvis. |
| Neck injury | Moderate (i) | £24,990 to £38,490 | Including injuries to the neck such as a dislocation or a fracture which caused immediate symptoms. Chronic conditions may also be included in this category. The claimant may be more vulnerable to further injury in the future. |
| Neck injury | Moderate (ii) | £13,740 to £24,990 | Including cases in which a wrenching type injury has happened to the soft tissues of the neck or disc lesions. There may be permanent pain, discomfort or stiffness. |
| Neck injury | Moderate (iii) | £7,890 to £13,740 | Including injuries to the neck which exacerbate or accelerate existing conditions in the neck. May also include moderate soft tissue injuries where the recovery may be over a longer period of time. |
| Elbow injuries | Less Severe | £15,650 to £32,010 | Elbow injuries which might impair the elbows function but which does not need major surgery. |
| Foot injuries | Moderate | £13,740 to £24,990 | Fractures to the metatarsal bones which may be displaced. May lead to continuing deformity and symptoms. |
| Whiplash | One or multiple whiplash injuries | £4,215 | Symptoms last 18-24 months. |
| Whiplash | One or multiple whiplash injuries | £3,005 | Symptoms last 15-18 months. |
Alternatively, if you wonder what to do after a bicycle accident, call Accident Claims UK to speak to an advisor. And they could inform you how much you could claim.
Could I Claim Special Damages?
If your claim is successful, it will also include special damages. This is a payment that will reimburse you for any financial losses you have experienced due to your injuries. Special damages you could claim could include funds to pay for medical bills, repair or replacement of your bike, mobility equipment, home adaptations and care if you have suffered a life-changing injury as a result, and loss of income if you had to take time off work to recover from your injuries.
No Win No Fee Claims For Cycling Accidents
If you have been injured due to a cycling accident that was not your fault, you may be owed compensation for your injuries. Accident Claims UK offers our clients the option to make a no win no fee claim for compensation. With a no win no fee claim, you will only have to pay your solicitors fees if your claim is successful, so there is less financial risk involved for you. Because your fee will be deducted from your compensation payout, no win no fee is also the more affordable option for many.
If you wonder what to do after a bicycle accident, but you want to learn more about making a no win no fee claim, call Accident Claims UK today. If we can see that you are eligible for compensation, we can provide you with a no win no fee solicitor to handle your case.
Why Choose Accident Claims UK?
If you need to make a compensation claim for being injured after falling prey to a bicycle accident caused by negligence on the part of someone else, call Accident Claims UK today for your free consultation. We can provide you with a knowledgeable solicitor to handle your claim, with up to thirty years of experience. Your solicitor will fight to win you the maximum amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive, and you will also have the option to make a no win no fee claim.
Begin A Cycle Accident Claim For Compensation
To begin your cycle accident claim, call Accident Claims UK on 0800 073 8801, or use our online claims form to get in contact with your contact information. If you have legitimate grounds to make a personal injury claim against the insurance companies of other road users, we will be happy to help you as you decide what to do after a bicycle accident.
Supporting Resources
Cycling Accidents Claims And Advice – How Much Compensation Can I Claim For An Injury?
Road Traffic Accident Claims A Guide To Claiming Compensation – How Much Can I Claim?
Whiplash Compensation Claims Calculator – 2020 Update
External Resources
Brake – the road safety charity can offer support to people who have been injured due to a cycling accident.
What To Do After A Bicycle Accident FAQs
How can I relieve the pain from a cycling accident?
Most of the pain and aches after a cycling accident go after a few days. In those cases, simple rest with ice and painkillers should help greatly. We would still advise you to seek medical attention for even minor injuries. Only if you suffer broken bones or torn muscles or hit your head from a bike accident should you require further medical treatment.
What should I do immediately after a cycling accident?
The best thing to do is to stop somewhere safe as soon as possible. You should then ensure that the cyclist is okay and help to calm them down. And at that point, it’s important to inform somebody else who may be able to help the victim. It’s important to keep a clear head in what could be upsetting and frightening circumstances for the victim.
Could the instigator of a cycling accident go to jail?
This is only really an outcome if the cyclist suffers serious injuries or dies from the accident. For most minor cycling collisions, it may go to court, but it’s unlikely to result in the driver being imprisoned.
What insurance covers cycling accidents?
There isn’t any specific insurance for cyclists. Oftentimes, homeowners insurance covers a bicycle, including the bike being in a crash on the road. And general auto insurance could also cover the costs of a cycling accident as well.
Should cyclists have insurance?
Cyclists don’t legally require insurance to use the road, but the option is there for them to have insurance policies.
Who is at fault if a bicycle hits a car?
If a cyclist hits a car with the bike rider at fault, then they have liability and thus could be sued.
Can you sue a cyclist?
This is possible, but it can be tricky to successfully sue a cyclist.
What are my rights if a cyclist damages my car?
The driver does have the right to sue the cyclist if they damage a car. But note that, if they don’t have insurance (since it’s not a legal requirement), the claims process may take a little longer.
Should I go to hospital after a bike crash?
It may not always be necessary for you to visit your local hospital’s A&E department after a bike crash but it could be really useful to go and seek medical help for any injuries you sustain. Not only could this mean you get the most appropriate medical advice and treatment, which could help your recovery In addition, you could then have a record of having sustained the injury. However, this would not usually be enough to prove your injuries when it comes to making a claim.
What to do after a bicycle accident when it comes to proving your injuries?
You would need to see an independent medical expert to provide evidence of your injuries. You would attend for an examination and the medic would assess your injuries and may ask you questions. Once they had the information they needed, they would write up a medical report. This could be vital in determining an appropriate level of compensation for your injuries.
How many cyclists were injured in 2020 on UK roads?
As you can see, cyclist accident and fatality rates rose in 2020, despite 4 months of lockdowns. The Government’s provisional figures show how this compares to the previous year. It is thought that there were more cyclists on the roads at this time than previous years as many people took up cycling during the pandemic. The number of pedal cyclists injured for all severities in this period was 16,230. This is slightly lower than in 2019.
Thank you for reading our guide about what to do after a bicycle accident.