Cycling has become an increasingly popular mode of transportation. With more and more people taking to their bikes for the daily commute to and from work, this puts a greater number of cyclists on the road for a greater amount of time. While there are many clearly marked cycle lanes, especially in larger cities, these lanes are also used by buses and other motorists attempting to pass or avoid long traffic queues. Often accidents occur when a biker and motorist come into contact in a cycle lane.
Greater Exposure Leads to Serious Injuries for Cyclists
Unlike the occupants of a car, cyclists are completely exposed, and they are not secured to their bicycles with seat belts. Cyclists, therefore, have a greater exposure to a risk of injury and often these injuries can be serious or even fatal.
Cyclist injury claims commonly result from the following:
- Defective road surfaces, including roads with potholes causing a fall
- Being forced to the pavement by a car
- Having to swerve for overtaking vehicles
- An open door on parked vehicle
- Reversed into at residential driveway exits
- Defective cycling products
- Accidents at junctions
- Traffic light accidents
- Roundabout accidents
- Change lane accidents
- Bus lane accidents
- Accidents outside school gates
- Zebra/pelican/toucan crossing accidents
- Rural lane accidents/country lanes
- Unmarked junctions
- Shedding load accidents/items falling off the back of a lorry
At Graham Coffey & Co Solicitors, we recover not only compensation for any injury sustained through a bike accident, but we also look to include the cost of repairing or replacing the bike. Increasingly, specialist bikes are being manufactured from high-tech materials such as carbon fibre and this can translate to a replacement cost of a bike that is on a par with the cost of a small motor vehicle or motorbike.
If the injury sustained through the accident prevents you from going to work then your lost earnings will also need to be included in your claim.
Cyclist Accident Case Study
Our client, Mr. H., was riding his bicycle when he was knocked from his bike by the defendant's car and sustained a serious head injury. The defendant blamed Mr. H. for his failure to have lights on his bike, for wearing dark clothing and failing to wear a helmet. Despite these assertions, we pursued compensation for Mr. H. on the basis that the roundabout was well lit and that the motorist would have seen Mr. H. if he paid adequate attention to other users of the road.
We successfully obtained an admission of liability from the defendant's insurer, and despite persistent attempts by the insurer to reduce the compensation payable to the claimant due to his failure to wear a helmet, we recovered over £10,000 for the client.
Serving Greater Manchester, Including Bolton: Solicitors Handling Bicycle Accident Claims
To arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced Manchester solicitors handling cyclist injury claims, call 0161 820 9613 or contact us online. We serve clients throughout the Greater Manchester area, including Bolton. We offer solicitors who speak Punjabi and Urdu.
