Cycling Accident Solicitors

As a cyclist sharing the same roads as cars, lorries and trucks makes cyclists some of the most vulnerable road users. Even in low-speed accidents, cyclists can suffer serious injuries, including everything from lacerations and bruises to broken bones, brain and spinal injuries, and even psychological trauma.

Our team of lawyers are experts when it comes to claiming compensation for cycling accidents. They have over 20 years of experience successfully claiming compensation for bicycle accidents on a "No Win No Fee" basis.

Are you able to make a compensation claim for a cycling accident?

To make a successful claim, we need to establish that another road user was negligent and caused the accident in some way. We also need to demonstrate that this negligence caused your injuries. The accident may not have been caused by another road user. It may have been the fault of a local authority or the bike manufacturer.  

We offer a free initial discussion to chat about your potential claim, what happened, what evidence you might have, and to talk about the options that are available to you. There is absolutely no obligation here – it’s simply a free chat to establish whether there is a potential compensation claim, or not. All you need to do is call the team on 01752 827085 or email us at teampersonalinjury@nash.co.uk

How much compensation can I get for a cycling accident?

Because every cycling accident claim is assessed individually, any compensation that you’re awarded depends on your specific circumstances. Payouts for cycling accidents depend on how severely injured you are. 

There are a number of losses that can arise from a cycling accident claim, including, but not limited to, ‘general damages’, additional travel expenses and loss of earnings.

  • General damages is an award designed to compensate you for the actual injuries suffered, and the effect those have had on your quality of life.

  • Special damages are compensation for any financial losses such as loss of earnings, medical expenses, and also any costs relating to the repair or replacement of your bike, bike equipment or clothing.

call Call us on 01752 827085 for a chat and to arrange your free consultation

Here are some examples of our experience in recovering compensation following cycling accidents

£250,000 for a cyclist knocked off his bike, and suffering a nasal fracture, head injury, soft tissue damage to shoulder, neck and back. Cyclist needed surgery, dental work, and counselling for PTSD. We were also able to claim for damage to his bike and equipment.

£50,000 compensation after a lady was knocked off her bike on her way to work, suffering concussion (blurred vision, sickness, tiredness, headaches), soft tissue injuries to the neck and shoulders, a torn rotator cuff of the left shoulder, soft tissue injuries to the lower back and bruising to her hip, elbow and wrist.

£8,000 compensation for 55 year old keen amateur cyclist who fortunately avoided serious injury after a head on collision with a car.

£13,000 compensation for a 63 year old cyclist who suffered a broken wrist and soft tissue injuries as a result of being thrown over the bonnet of a car after the driver pulled out from a parked position immediately in front of the cyclist.

Mike Shiers

How long do I have to make a cycling accident compensation claim?

Following an accident, most people will have three years to make a cycling accident compensation claim. However, the length of time the compensation claim takes, depends upon the individual circumstances of each case. One particular aspect that can slow down or speed up a claim is whether the defendant you believe was at fault, admits responsibility or not.

If the defendant you believe was at fault does not admit to being liable, your claim can take longer as there will be a negotiation process, and further evidence may be required. In some cases, it may lead to the case having to go to court for a judge to decide the outcome.

It’s therefore essential that if you have suffered an injury from a cycling accident, you speak to us as soon as possible.

Marie Oxland

How much will your cycling accident claim cost?

Our team of specialist lawyers work on a No Win, No Fee basis. This means that there’s absolutely no financial risk to you or your family. There will be no upfront costs at all. We may even be able to get you some interim payments to help pay for medical treatments and rehab.

In our free initial consultation, we can explain in more detail how your claim could be funded.  We’ll also be able to answer any other questions that you may still have.

To find out whether you’re able to make a cycling accident claim, please call us on 01752 827085. You’ll get to speak to one of our lawyers right away, and we can answer some of your questions there and then. We can also talk about booking you in for your free consultation. 


Interim payments

Interim Payments

In some cases, we can request an interim payment for you which can help to reduce financial worries caused by the accident. It can also be used to pay for private treatment.  An interim payment is made before the conclusion of your claim. This can be particularly helpful if you have suffered from serious injuries as these cases can take many years before they reach a final conclusion.

Nash & Co Solicitors

Why choose Nash & Co Solicitors for your cycling compensation claim

Our specialist lawyers here at Nash & Co Solicitors in Plymouth are here to help you through a really rough time. Our team will take great care when handling your cycling accident compensation claim, and as well as being extremely good lawyers, they’re really good people too. They’re sensitive to your situation, and they will do all they can to help you. 

The team also recognises that no two situations are the same. We’ll always put clients first, and ensure that you’re comfortable with everything that’s happening. We’ll never use complicated legal jargon that leaves you wondering what we mean or what’s happening. And we’ll ensure that you’re always kept fully up to date with everything that’s going on. You’ll be involved at every stage of the process.


call Call us on 01752 827085 for a chat and to arrange your free consultation

Cycling accident frequently asked questions

We address the most commonly asked questions about personal injury claims and compensation. Whether you've been injured in a car accident, workplace incident, or any other unfortunate situation, this video playlist is here to provide you with the essential information you need.

If you’ve had a cycling accident we also have a cycling accident report form to help you record information.

  • Technically, there aren’t any hard and fast rules as to what evidence you will need in order to make a claim. However, there is certain evidence that you should keep or try to secure if you wish to pursue a compensation claim for a cycling accident. This evidence can help to strengthen your case, and it will also help us to get you the compensation you deserve.

    For a damaged bicycle, you should provide:

    • Photographs of the damage to the bicycle

    • Detailed information about what parts of your bike have been damaged

    • An estimate from a cycling shop on how much repairs will cost

    • Any decent bicycle repair shop should be able to give you a comprehensive assessment and quote for making the repairs to your bike. This will be vitally important when making the claim.

    • If any cycling accessories (for example helmets, clothing, equipment) have been damaged in the accident, we’ll need cost estimates for these as well together with photographic evidence of the damage.

    We’d also encourage you to keep any receipts for other ‘out-of-pocket’ expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

    Additionally, for every claim, we would need to obtain a medical report to detail the injuries that have been sustained and the long term prognosis This report will also form part of the evidence in order to make a compensation claim.

  • Wearing a helmet is not a legal requirement in the UK but The Highway Code suggests that all cyclists should wear a safe and well-fitting helmet regardless of the law. If you are involved in a cycling accident whilst not wearing a helmet, you can still claim for compensation. However, it could be taken into account when looking at how much compensation you may be entitled to. This very much depends on whether wearing a helmet would have prevented or reduced the severity of the injury that you suffered. For instance, if you suffer a broken leg, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet would not be relevant to the injury.

  • It is a legal requirement to have lights and reflectors on your bike. You must have front white and rear red lights which are switched on when it’s dark. You also need a red rear reflector and if the bike was made after the 1 October 1985, it must also have amber pedal reflectors.

    If you do not have the correct lights and reflectors it can reduce the visibility of your bike in the dark or in poor weather. If your accident occurs at night or in low visibility conditions and you did not have your lights on, then this might reduce the amount of compensation that you receive, it depends on the facts in your particular case. In these circumstances, it’s always worth speaking to an expert in cycling accident claims.

  • Lights and reflectors are the legal requirement that you need on your bicycle to ensure that you are visible at night or in low light conditions. Hi-visibility clothing is not a legal requirement but is it certainly very useful in making you more visible to other road users. If you have the required lighting on your bike, the fact that you are not wearing hi-visibility should not typically affect your compensation as your lights/reflectors should make you visible to a motorist who is driving with reasonable care. However, the more you do to make yourself seen by other road users the better as this might help to prevent you being injured.

  • Helmet camera footage and dash cam footage can be very valuable in proving how your accident happened. When responsibility for an accident is disputed, having clear recorded footage of the actual accident is invaluable. Camera footage is also helpful when no one else is involved in your accident. If you come off your bike and are injured due to defects in the road surface, such as potholes, you might be the only witness to your own accident. Helmet camera footage in this case could mean the difference between responsibility being admitted for your injuries or denied.

    The National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDSP) was set up in July 2018 in response to the increasing use of footage by members of the public. The aim is to reduce road accidents and make UK roads safer. You can submit any type of footage, if it relates to the case that you are submitting it for. It enables you to upload your footage directly to the local police service where your accident happened. You can find out more about this service and submit your footage here: https://www.nextbase.com/dashcamportal

  • In these circumstances, if the driver was at fault, you may be able to seek compensation under a specialist insurance scheme operated by the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB).

  • To claim compensation from the council you need to prove your accident happened due to the council’s negligence.

    A pothole on a road is considered unsafe when it has a depth of more than 40mm. In areas where there are more vulnerable road users (like near schools and care homes) there should be a higher standard of maintenance. This means you may be able to claim regardless of the measurement.

    In cases involving potholes, it’s particularly important to make your claim as soon as possible after your accident as repair work is often undertaken on the pothole after an accident is reported.

    It is very helpful to take photographs of the pothole showing its size and depth and take a photograph showing the exact location of where the injury took place. Take measurements of the pothole (if it’s safe to do so) and ideally get the details of any witnesses of your accident. It can also be helpful to get the details of local residents who are aware of the pothole. It helps if they can say how long it had been there before the accident and if anyone reported it or if any other accidents had be caused by it.

  • Our aim is to get you back to the position that you were in before your accident or as close to it as we can. In the early stages of your claim, we’ll identify any rehabilitation needs that you may have. We recognise, and so do many insurers, that early intervention with good quality rehabilitation can dramatically improve your long-term recovery.

    We can arrange for private physiotherapy, counselling, surgery, occupational therapy and even adaptations to your home or vehicle to make life easier. Many insurers are now keen to work with injury lawyers and fund rehabilitation early on to help you get life as back to normal as possible as soon as possible.

Learn more with our Cycling Accidents Guide

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