Cycling Accident Compensation Claims

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Nadia Kerr

Updated: December 8, 2025

Reviewed by: Nadia Kerr

Cycle Accident Solicitor

Nadia is a Cycle Accident Solicitor from one of our panel firms, bringing over 30 years of legal expertise to her role.

Bicycle Accident Claim Solicitors 

There are many people who choose to cycle on our roads, either by way of commuting, running errands, keeping fit or enjoying as a hobby.  

Unfortunately though, cyclists are significantly more vulnerable to personal injury than other types of road users. According to figures from the Department for Transport, 91 cyclists were killed in 2022 in Great Britain. Over 4000 were seriously injured and a reported 11,546 cyclists received less serious injuries.   

Cyclists lack the same level of protection as car drivers if there’s a road traffic accident and are susceptible to injury if a pothole throws them off their bike. 

Injuries resulting from a bicycle accident can range from sprains and soft tissue injuries, to more serious injuries such as broken bones and head injuries. In particularly serious cases, people may even suffer life-changing injuries. 

We deal with thousands of bike accident compensation claims every year and will aim to make your bicycle accident claim as stress-free as possible.  

Who is eligible to make a bike accident claim? 

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident and someone else was at fault, you could be eligible to make a bike accident claim.  

Even if you were partly responsible for your injuries, you could still pursue a claim. To find out if you have a valid claim, contact our friendly team on 0800 182 2185.  

How do you make a bicycle accident claim? 

Step 1: If you think you have a claim, contact our friendly team by calling our freephone number, request a callback via a contact form, or use our live chat function. 

Step 2: One of our trained experts will assess the details of your case and determine if you could have a valid claim. We can then connect you to an independent cycling accident solicitor, who will discuss the facts of your case and how it has affected you. 

Step 3: Your solicitor will gather all evidence and will notify the negligent party that you wish to begin claim proceedings. With your solicitor negotiating on your behalf, you will either win the compensation you deserve, or lose and pay nothing as per our No Win No Fee* guarantee. 

How much bike accident compensation am I likely to receive? 

Bike accident compensation has two components: general and special damages.  

General damages for bicycle accident claims  

General damages compensate you for the pain and suffering you experience as a result of the injury. The calculation considers the following factors, among others:  

• The type and seriousness of your injuries  

• The degree of pain.  

• Your prognosis, age, life expectancy.  

The courts take the view that you have a right to cycling accident compensation for both:  

• Your injuries.  

• Any medical complications that may arise in the future.  

The medical report will provide this information, and we use the report as a starting point in settlement negotiations.  

At this stage, it is impossible to say with certainty how much in general damages you will receive. 

When we know the full extent of your injuries, then we examine the judicial guidelines. Past cases provide us with a good idea of what your cycle accident claim should be worth.  

Special damages for cycling injury claims  

As well as bike accident compensation for your pain and suffering, it may also be possible to recover the costs and expenses you incur when you’re involved in a bicycle accident. These might include:  

• Medical treatment costs  

• Physiotherapy  

• Train and bus fares  

• Loss of earnings and bonuses  

• Repair or replacement of your bicycle and other personal property  

• Help with household chores  

• Personal care and assistance  

It is important that you keep receipts for any expenses so this can be included in your cycle accident claim.  

To discuss the details of your case with one of our experts, get in touch on 0800 182 2186 or you can visit our Compensation Calculator. 

What is the time limit to make a bike accident compensation claim? 

Court proceedings must begin within three years from the date of your bike accident. If you miss the deadline, you may lose your right to claim damages from the other side.  

The reality is that most cycle accident claims enter negotiation or settle long before the three-year deadline approaches. The majority of claims avoid court well within the legal time frame, and often before issuance of court proceedings.  

Your cycle accident solicitor will need to gather the evidence before lodging an official court action. Therefore, it is important that you do not leave your claim until the last minute.  

A solicitor might avoid your case if you are close to the three-year cut-off point, or if the solicitor believes that there is insufficient time to prepare your claim.  

If you are making the cycle accident claim on behalf of a child, then the claim must be issued within three years of the child’s 18th birthday.  

How long do bike accident compensation claims take? 

A straightforward claim often reaches settlement within six months. However, when the party at fault denies liability or your injuries worsen, the claim can take longer to settle.  

You can help speed up your bicycle accident claim by returning any outstanding paperwork to your legal team as soon as possible. It can also help speed up the process if you provide any information requested in full. 

It may also help your claim if you keep a full written record of important information regarding the case. For example, write down:  

• The date, time and place of the bike accident.  

• Contact details of witnesses to the cycle accident.  

• Police reference numbers.  

• The at-fault driver’s insurance details (if the accident involves another vehicle).  

• The date and location of any medical treatment you receive following your bike accident.  

Common causes of cycling accident compensation claims 

A bike accident can happen for all sorts of reasons. However, in our experience, the most common cycle accident claims are those set out below.  

• Hit and run road cycle accident claims  

• A collision with a car, vehicle or even another cyclist or a pedestrian.  

• Vehicle doors opening into the path of an oncoming cyclist.  

• Potholes, worn tarmac, raised manhole covers and other defects in the road.  

• Any slippery road conditions due to oil spills, ice and snow.  

• Injuries relating to faulty bicycle parts or repairs.  

• A criminal assault incident whilst on your bike.  

Moreover, we’ll help you make a bicycle accident claim for any injuries you sustain on a bike you rent.  

Many cyclists don’t realise that, if they have a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, they can claim cycling accident compensation. 

Whatever the cause of your injuries, our cycle accident solicitors can quickly figure out if you have a case. If you do, they’ll then help you recover the compensation you deserve.  

Who do you claim against in cycling accident claims? 

Who you can claim against depends on the circumstances of your bike accident. If a car driver injures you, for example, then you’d bring your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.  

If your bicycle accident claim is related to a road pothole, you’d claim against the party responsible for maintaining the road. This is usually the local authority.  

Your solicitor will identify the “Defendant” at the outset of your case and help you make the right cycle accident claim against the right people.  

We work with expert cycle accident solicitors who provide years of experience and are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).  

How much do cycle accident claims cost? 

The majority of the solicitors in our network will take on your claim on a “No Win, No Fee” basis* (a Conditional Fee Agreement)? 

In essence, a CFA case revolves around the basis that your solicitor won’t charge you if your cycling accident claim is unsuccessful. If you win your claim, then your bike accident lawyer retains a percentage of your compensation as their “success fee”. Standard fees for successful claims are 25% of the compensation you receive. 

This arrangement passes all the risk of proving your cyclist accident claim onto the legal team. Effectively, a solicitor will take your case only if they believe you have a very good chance of winning. 

However, you should also know that if you terminate the agreement before your bicycle accident claim ends, you may also be liable to pay basic charges including (but not exclusively) disbursements and barrister’s fees.

Frequently asked questions 

Are cycling accident compensation claims easy to prove? 

For any claims process regarding a bicycle accident, the complexity of the case depends on the evidence. 

If the Defendant does not admit liability, then your claim may be won or lost based on the witness evidence. Appointing a cycle accident solicitor is important, since it will help to gather witness statements before the memories of witnesses fade.  

Whether the accident happened on a major road or in an urban centre, we can frequently call on CCTV footage to prove how the bicycle accident occurred. If you were wearing a helmet camera, then your own footage can serve as evidence in your cycling accident claim.  

But what if video footage of your bike accident is not available, and the Defendant disputes liability? In this case, your legal team could look to appoint a road traffic reconstruction expert to examine the accident scene. It may also help to keep your bike and clothing damages available for examination to support your story.  

Can I make a bike accident claim if I hit a pedestrian? 

If the pedestrian negligently caused the incident, for example, by stepping out into the road without looking, then, in theory, you could look to pursue a cycling accident claim against them. The law treats claims against pedestrians in exactly the same way as it treats cycling injury claims against drivers.  

The problems lie in the fact that few, if any, pedestrians will carry insurance to protect them against the possibility of being sued. Even if you win your cycle accident claim, the pedestrian may not be in a financial position to pay your damages. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do about that.  

What about bicycle accident claims if a negligent driver doesn’t have insurance? 

Many cyclists assume if a driver without insurance hits you, or flees the scene without leaving details, you can’t make a claim. In fact, this is not the case. 

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) compensates the victims of uninsured or untraced drivers, as long as there is evidence that the driver was at fault.  

You should report a bike accident to the police as soon as reasonably possible (preferably within five days), or MIB can refuse to deal with your claim. 

If our partner law firms discover that the driver has no insurance, they’ll let you know as soon as possible. With your permission, they’ll redirect your cycling accident claim to the MIB.  

Will I need a medical examination to make a bicycle accident claim? 

When taking on cycling accident compensation claims, your legal team will look to negotiate the best possible settlement.  

To help with this, your cycling accident claims solicitor may need to obtain a medical report from a doctor who specialises in the type of injuries you have sustained. The purpose of the medical examination is to provide evidence of your injuries and their impact on your quality of life. 

These are important factors when calculating your cycling accident compensation and what final settlement you should receive.  

If you have recovered from your injuries, or it is clear that your injuries will heal on their own over time, you may only need to undergo one medical examination in order to reach a bike accident settlement figure. 

However, if your injuries are much more severe or require further treatment, you may need a medical examination from different specialists as you progress towards recovery.  

Many people worry that they will have to travel long distances to attend a medical assessment after a cycling injury. 

At The Compensation Experts, our panel of cycle accident solicitors has access to medical centres all over the country. This means there’s a much better chance that you can have an assessment close to where you live.  

Do cycling accident compensation claims have to go to court? 

It is very rare for cycle accident claims to end up in court. Instead, the overwhelming majority of bicycle accident claims conclude before the hearing, when the Defendant admits liability and makes an offer of settlement.  

If the Defendant does not admit liability, or if there is a serious dispute about the amount of cycling claims compensation, then we will issue legal proceedings on your behalf. 

 Your cycling accident claims lawyer will explain the court procedures to you and give you all the support you need.  

What is “contributory negligence” in cycling accident claims? 

Sometimes, the court will decide that you, the cyclist, were partly at fault for your injuries. This might happen where, for example: 

• You were riding without a helmet or high visibility clothing 

• You were riding under the influence of alcohol 

• You failed to follow the special rules for cyclists contained within sections 59 to 82 of the Highway Code 

If someone is only partly to blame for your bike accident and injuries, they have “contributory negligence.”  

Contributory negligence generally leads to a partial reduction in your compensation. For example, if you’re 30% responsible for the bike accident, then your compensation reduces by 30%.  

 

Have questions about cycling accident compensation claims?

We understand that making a cycling accident compensation claim might feel confusing. Moreover, there’s a lot of information to take in as a result of the accident itself. That’s why we offer a free initial consultation. Our dedicated personal injury advisors can answer any questions that you might have. 

Additionally, they can put you in touch with a legal specialist, who can advise you if are eligible to make a bicycle accident claim. 

We can support you in your cycle accident claim today; simply fill out our contact form and an advisor will call you back at your convenience. 

*Conditions apply