Road Traffic Accidents Claims

If you were injured in a cycling accident, you may be able to bring a claim provided the accident happened within the relevant time limits and there is evidence that another road user caused or contributed to what happened.

Premier Legal Assist is a FCA regulated claims management firm that works with experienced solicitors specialising in road traffic accident claims, including those involving cyclists.

To get started, simply fill in our short online form with details about what happened and the injuries you suffered. Once we have reviewed your enquiry, we will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation.

If your claim is eligible, we will refer you to a member of our panel of specialist road traffic accident compensation solicitors. Should they agree to take your case on, they will handle the full claims process for you, including gathering evidence, dealing with the relevant insurer or insurers, and working to secure compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis.

You do not need to use a representative to make a claim for low-level personal injuries sustained in a road traffic accident. You can claim through the online Official Injury Claims portal yourself, for free. If your injury damages exceed the small claims limit, we recommend you use a specialist legal service.

The amount of compensation depends on the nature and severity of your injuries, and how they have affected your life, work, and wellbeing. Claims are made up of General Damages (for pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life) and Special Damages (to cover financial losses such as lost earnings, rehabilitation, damage to your bike and future care needs).

While minor injuries may result in compensation of a few thousand pounds, more serious or life-changing injuries, such as spinal, brain, or multiple crush injuries, can lead to settlements reaching several hundred thousand pounds or more, particularly where long-term care or loss of earnings is involved.

Cycling accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries depending on the type of collision, the road conditions, the speed involved, and how the cyclist landed. Common injuries include but are not limited to:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Head injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Cuts, bruising and road rash
• Ligament and tendon damage
• Dental and facial injuries
• Scarring
• Psychological injuries such as anxiety, PTSD and depression

In the most serious cases, particularly where injuries are multiple or long-term, compensation can be substantial, especially if ongoing care is needed and income has been affected.

Potentially, yes. A cycling accident claim may still be possible if another road user caused you to crash without making physical contact. For example, a driver may have pulled out suddenly, turned across your path, or opened a car door into your route, forcing you to take evasive action. What matters most is whether another person’s negligence caused your injuries.

You may still be able to pursue compensation; the Motor Insurers’ Bureau may be able to compensate victims of uninsured drivers and hit and run drivers. 

Potentially, yes, but it will depend on the circumstances. Not wearing a helmet does not automatically prevent you from making a claim. The key issue is whether another road user caused the accident. In some cases, arguments may be made that the absence of a helmet affected the extent of the injuries, but that does not mean the other party was not at fault.

In most cases, an adult has three years from the date of the accident to begin a personal injury claim. Where the injured person was under 18 at the time of the accident, the usual three-year limitation period generally starts from their 18th birthday.

The stronger the evidence, the easier it may be to show what happened, who was responsible and how the accident has affected you. In cycling accident claims, useful evidence may include:

• Photos of the road, junction, cycle lane or accident location
• Images showing damage to your bike, helmet, clothing or other equipment
• CCTV, dashcam, helmet camera or bike camera footage
• Details of the driver or other road user involved
• Witness names and contact details
• Police or ambulance reference numbers, where applicable
• Medical records showing your injuries and treatment
• Receipts or records of expenses, lost earnings and other financial losses

A solicitor can help identify what evidence is needed and may be able to obtain further information, such as camera footage, insurer details or expert reports, to support your claim.

You do not need to understand the Highway Code before making a cycling accident enquiry. Your solicitor can consider the rules and explain how they may apply to your case.

However, the Highway Code can be relevant when looking at whether another road user acted safely and responsibly. This is often important in cycling claims involving:

• Vehicles passing too closely
• Drivers turning across a cyclist’s path
• Collisions at junctions or roundabouts
• Drivers opening car doors into cyclists
• Failure to give way or check mirrors properly
• Unsafe overtaking

The Highway Code includes guidance on giving cyclists enough space, sharing the road safely and priority at junctions. Where a driver has failed to follow relevant guidance, this may help support your claim.

Most cycling accident claims settle without a Court hearing. In many cases, your solicitor will deal directly with the driver’s insurer and try to agree liability and compensation through negotiation.

Court may only become necessary if there is a dispute about who caused the accident, the seriousness of your injuries, or the amount of compensation being offered. Even where Court proceedings are started, many claims still settle before a final hearing.

If your claim does need to go further, one of our panel solicitors will guide you through the process, prepare the evidence and represent your interests. A judge would then consider the evidence and decide whether compensation should be awarded.

In most cases, cycling accident claims can be started on a no-win, no-fee basis through one of our panel solicitors.

It is important to note that if your claim is successful and you receive compensation, your solicitor will take a pre-agreed "success fee" from your compensation. This percentage is legally capped (currently at 25% of your general and past special damages) to ensure you keep the majority of your payout.

You may be charged cancellation fees by the legal service we introduce you to if you cancel your agreement after any applicable cooling-off period and before the claim is concluded.
You should always be told what deductions may apply, how the agreement works and what you are likely to receive if your claim is successful.