Alex Barley, avid cyclist and experienced personal injury solicitor, talks us through what to do if you get knocked off your bike.
With a rise in pedal cycle traffic, comes a rise in bike accidents. As a regular cyclist myself, as well as being an experienced Personal Injury Solicitor, I know only too well that preparing for the worst is always the best course of action. On this page, I outline what your next steps should be if you collide with a car and how to make a bike accident claim.
1. Identify the driver who caused the bike accident
Although it is likely you will be shaken up and in pain, it is important to try get as much information as possible about the driver who caused the collision. If the driver stops and gets out of the car, ask for their name, address and car insurance details. It is also wise to write down a description of the driver, the registration number and the colour and make of their car, or take a picture of the car.
If the driver does not get out of the car, or if they won’t give any details, jot down their registration number or take a picture of the car.
If you give your details to the driver, you may be contacted by their insurance company. Do not get involved in discussing the bike accident with the insurance company. Leave this down to our Personal Injury Solicitors who are here to support you through your claim and get you the best outcome possible.
2. Get contact details of any witnesses
If there was anyone who saw the accident, such as pedestrians or other road users, make a note of their contact details. Witnesses can help establish the facts and provide a valuable source of evidence for your bike accident claim.
3. Keep a copy of any photos of the bike accident
Along with contact details of witnesses, obtain any photos, videos or dash cam footage of the bike accident. Take photos of anything that has been damaged, along with any photos of injuries you have sustained and the accident scene showing the position of the vehicles.
4. Keep any evidence of the bike accident
Keep any damaged items safe for inspection. Not all damage is visible so we would recommend that you take your bike to a reputable bike repair shop to be assessed. They can provide you with a brief report of the damage caused and the cost of fixing or replacing any damaged components. Our Personal Injury Solicitors will be able to recover these costs for you if fault can be established on the part of the driver.
Remember if you hit your head, your helmet will need replacing after it has been used for evidence, along with any other clothing and accessories that were damaged. If you do not have the original receipts, obtain details of the cost of equivalent replacement items.
5. Contact the police
Report the accident to the police as soon as you are able, or at least within 24 hours. The police will give you a reference number and this can be used as evidence in the bike accident claim.
6. Make a GP appointment for any bike accident injuries
Although you may not think your injuries require medical attention, for any collision with a vehicle, we recommend seeing a GP or nurse. Make an appointment at your local Doctors Practice, at a Walk In Centre or through A&E.
A healthcare professional will ensure there is no further damage and the appointment can again be used as evidence in the claim. If you do require treatment of any kind, keep a record of any letters or prescriptions. Our Personal Injury Solicitors may also be able to arrange treatment that you need, such as physiotherapy, so you do not have to wait for NHS appointments.
7. Contact our team of Personal Injury Solicitors
Now you have gathered all the important bits of evidence, it is time to make contact with our expert Personal Injury Solicitors. Our Solicitors have many years’ worth of experience, both as lawyers and cyclists, which proves invaluable throughout the support, advice and representation they provide.
You have 3 years from the date of the accident to make a claim but we recommend that it is done as soon as possible. If you have not been able to gather all of the evidence mentioned above, don’t worry, our Solicitors will be happy to discuss the accident with you and guide you through the claims process.
We work on a no-win, no-fee claims basis so you really have nothing to lose.
Give us a call today on 0161 969 3131 or fill in this contact form and one of the team will be in touch.