How Much You May Be Able to Claim for a Bicycle Accident
Driving a motorbike or a bicycle can be a fun, rewarding and enjoyable experience. However, this mode of transport can also be dangerous. Cyclists are required to ride on the road, not the pavement, but their speed is significantly slower than motorists which can aggravate other road users.
There are several hazards that exist for cyclists, including reduced visibility, careless drivers and uneven surfaces. As they have less protection than motorists, cyclists are more likely to sustain serious injuries should they become involved in an accident. A straightforward knock from behind, for example, may cause a car driver whiplash, whereas the same incident will throw a cyclist off their bike. Injuries caused by a bike accident can significantly affect a person’s life in a negative way. The accident may leave them unable to work, having to pay thousands in care costs, and fearing a return to the roads. For this reason, chasing compensation is often a necessary route to aid full recovery.
In this article, we will provide some crucial information and advice that can help you if you’ve been involved in a serious bicycle accident. We will look at the factors that can affect a bicycle claim calculation and provide a rough estimation of how much compensation you may receive. We will also explain the actions you should take following an accident.
What Can Affect a Bicycle Claim Calculation?
After a bicycle accident, it’s important to proceed with a compensation claim as soon as possible. While there is often a negative stigma attached to compensation, there is no scenario more important than receiving damages if you’ve been injured due to someone else’s actions. Compensation is critical for recovering in a financial, physical and mental sense.
Solicitors value a claim based on several factors. The single most important element is your injuries. They will carefully examine the injuries you’ve sustained, often with the assistance of a medical professional. Injuries can appear immediately or take time to become apparent. The solicitors will consider your pain and suffering, along with the expected recovery times. The cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation and care will also be taken into account. Any compensation you receive should recover the costs you’ve accrued.
Other factors that influence the calculation include any lost of earnings and your ability to return to work in full capacity. Damage to your property, such as the bicycle, will also be considered. If your physical appearance has changed or your mental health has declined, then these can significantly affect the pay-out. Age and gender can affect the calculation depending on how the injuries have affected you. Someone with life-changing injuries, for example, will be owed more if they are of a young age.
The Average Compensation Amounts for an Accident
Now that we’ve touched on what can affect a compensation calculation, it’s time to look at the specifics in terms of amounts. Before we go further, it’s important to stress that ever accident is different. With this in mind, it’s not possible to provide an accurate figure for every scenario. Injuries can have varying levels of impact and severity. However, there are official guidelines available that estimate how much an injury may be worth.
You can use a cyclist accident compensation calculator to gain an understanding of the ballpark figures. It’s important to recognise that these figures only provide a ranged estimate based on individual injury types. The figures don’t take into account other specific factors in detail, such as loss of earnings, medical treatment and property damage. For reliable and accurate advice, we recommend talking to a solicitor.
Below is a selection of common injuries following a bicycle accident along with the average compensation amounts.
- Fracture of the clavicle – £4,180 to £9,900
- Severe wrist injury with loss of function – £38,500 to £48,400
- Total loss of both legs – £194,700 to £227,975
- Moderate to severe neck injury with permanent damage – £53,075 – £105,875
- Amputation of one foot – £42,000 to £55,000
- Moderate toe fractures – £1,000 to £6,750
- Back injury with crush vertebrae – £22,440 – £31,350
- Whiplash with recovery within one year – £7,370 to £3,520
What to Do Following a Cycle Accident
We hope you are never involved in a cycle accident, but just in case, it’s important to be prepared. The first thing you should do following an accident is get to a safe place. If there is currently danger to yourself or other people, ring the emergency services as soon as possible. If it is safe to do so, photograph the scene and record the contact information of any witnesses. Seek medical attention for any injuries that you have sustained and avoid acknowledging any blame on your part.
When things are under control, you can begin to explore your legal options. We recommend looking around for a solicitor firm. You should appoint a firm with strong reputation and experience in bicycle claims. When you hire a solicitor, they will collate evidence that shows who was responsible and the impact of the accident. They will make a compensation valuation and work with the other part on a settlement. If a settlement cannot be reach, the decision will rest with a judge.
