What if You Are Knocked Over as a Cyclist

With our move towards a greener, healthier environment there are an increasing number of cyclists being injured on the road. Road accidents and cyclists can be a dangerous mix with cyclists being extremely vulnerable on the road due to having little or no protection.

If you cycle regularly, it’s extremely important to educate yourself on what to do should you be knocked over on your bike and suffer an injury.

Driver Error and Cyclists

In many cases where a road accident has occurred involving a cyclist, often driver error comes into play. Many drivers simply fail to see the cyclist or give them enough space to manoeuvre and this causes problems. Many drivers view cyclists as an irritant on the road and therefore they’re anxious to get past them and be on their way.

In some cases, a relatively straight forward manoeuvre can lead to accidents and even tipping a cyclists slightly with your car can lead to them taking a tumble. This is by no means to say that drivers are the only culprits in accidents involving bike riders. Some of the most common cyclist offences are trying to get ahead of the traffic by jumping the lights or even riding onto the pavement in order to avoid slowing down.

Also, many cyclists are known for ‘weaving’ – riding in and out of the traffic to avoid jams. This kind of driving can make it more difficult for drivers to spot you and of course this heightens the chances of an accident occurring. Even if you use cycle paths and are a considerate, safe cyclist, there are always going to be risks involved in cycling, so always be aware of your surroundings.

What to do if You’re Knocked Over and Suffer an Injury

If you’re knocked off your bike by a vehicle, the most important thing to do is to try to stay calm. The vehicle driver may genuinely not have seen you or could have encountered problems with their car. Stay calm, try to check yourself over to see how badly you’re injured and if you do feel you’ve been seriously injured, stay in the one spot.

If you’re suffered a serious injury then someone will hopefully call an ambulance immediately and in most cases the driver will stop to check on you. Try not to move around too much and try to convey to someone in the vicinity what you feel your injuries may be.

You should always report the incident to the police within 24 hours if you are injured. You are legally bound to do so and failing to do so could lead to problems further down the line. Also, try to get as much information about the other individual involved as possible. You may need this should there be a claim at a later date.

Claims You Can Make as a Cyclist

If you are involved in an accident with another driver who is at fault, you may be able to make a claim against them. You can often claim for your bike or any repairs needed to it. You can also claim for replacement of any belongings that were damaged at the scene of the accident – bike helmet, clothing, jewellery.

Many specialist claims solicitors will be able to get you a claim for loss of use of your cycle also, especially if it’s your main mode of transport to and from work. If you’ve been injured in the accident, you can claim for personal injury compensation also, so it’s worthwhile speaking to an expert to see if they’re able to help you.