We advise commuters, leisure riders and delivery riders on cycling accident claims. We will look at the road layout, the driver's observations and any footage available, and we will explain the funding routes open to you, including whether a no win no fee agreement may be suitable.
Can I Make a Claim?
- You were riding a pedal cycle or e-bike and were injured by another road user's carelessness.
- Alternatively, a defective road surface or poorly managed roadworks caused you to fall.
- You are within the limitation period, generally three years from the accident.
- Claims are possible even where you were not wearing a helmet, although this may be raised in relation to head injuries.
Situations We Are Instructed On
- Left-hook collisions where a vehicle turns across a cycle lane
- Car dooring incidents in traffic and outside parked vehicles
- Close-pass collisions and side-swipes by larger vehicles
- Falls caused by potholes, sunken ironwork or loose gravel at roadworks
- Collisions at junctions where a driver failed to look for cyclists
- Damage to the bicycle, wheels, frame, helmet and cycling equipment
What Compensation Could I Claim?
- Damages for fractures, road rash, dental injury and any psychological effects
- Loss of earnings, including for self-employed and gig-economy riders
- Replacement or repair of the bicycle, helmet, clothing, lights and computer
- Private physiotherapy and rehabilitation where clinically justified
- Travel costs and care provided during recovery
What can be recovered in any individual case depends on the medical evidence and on the losses that can be proved. We do not estimate figures before that evidence is available.
Evidence That Helps
- Front and rear camera footage — cyclists' own footage is often decisive
- Police reference number and details of any driver prosecution
- Photographs of the defect, including a measurement of depth against a familiar object
- Bicycle repair assessment or written-off valuation
- Medical notes from the emergency department, dentist and GP
How Long Could the Claim Take?
Where a driver's insurer accepts fault and the injury is uncomplicated, a cycling claim may resolve in under a year. Highway authority claims tend to take longer because of the statutory maintenance defence and the need to obtain inspection records. Serious orthopaedic or head injuries take longer still.
No Win No Fee Funding for This Type of Claim
A No Win No Fee agreement — known in law as a conditional fee agreement — is a written contract between you and your solicitor. Under it, our fee for the legal work becomes payable only if your claim is successful. It is a way of funding a claim without paying our costs up front. It is not a promise about the outcome of your case, and it is not available in every matter.
How a No Win No Fee agreement works
- Assessment first. We review the facts, the likely evidence and your prospects before deciding whether we can offer this type of funding.
- If the claim succeeds. The opponent is usually ordered or agrees to pay a substantial part of your legal costs. A success fee — a percentage uplift on our charges, capped by law in personal injury work — is deducted from your compensation. The percentage will be stated in your agreement before you sign it.
- If the claim does not succeed. You would not pay our fee for the legal work covered by the agreement. You may still be responsible for certain disbursements and, in some circumstances, the opponent’s costs, which is why insurance arrangements are discussed with you at the outset.
- Deductions and other costs. Expenses such as medical reports, court fees, expert evidence and any insurance premium are dealt with separately. We will explain which of these may be deducted from your damages and how they are calculated.
- Alternatives. You may already have legal expenses cover through a household, motor or credit card policy, or through a trade union. We will ask about this because it may be a better option for you.
Who may be eligible
Eligibility depends on the individual case, including whether another party appears to be legally responsible, whether the injury and losses can be evidenced, and whether the claim is brought in time. Some claims are not suitable for this form of funding. We will tell you honestly if we cannot act on this basis, and explain the alternatives that may be open to you.
The exact terms — including the success fee percentage, the disbursements involved and what would happen if the claim were unsuccessful — are set out in writing and explained to you before you decide whether to proceed. Nothing on this page is a guarantee about the outcome of a claim or a statement that any particular funding arrangement will be available. Please take advice about your own circumstances.
Speaking to a No Win No Fee Solicitor
The first conversation is an assessment, not a commitment. A solicitor will listen to what happened, identify who may be legally responsible and consider what evidence is likely to be available. In the context of cycling accident claims, that usually means looking closely at how the incident occurred, what records exist and how your injury has affected your work and daily life.
Once we understand the case, we can discuss funding. Where a conditional fee arrangement is appropriate, we will explain the terms, the deductions and the risks in writing so that you can make an informed decision. Where it is not appropriate, we will say so and set out any alternative route available to you, including existing insurance cover or union support. Either way, you will know where you stand before any work begins.
Cycling Accident Claims FAQs
- I was not wearing a helmet. Does that end my claim?
- No. There is no legal requirement to wear a helmet. It may be argued in relation to head injuries specifically, and the effect depends on the medical evidence.
- Can I claim for my bike as well as my injuries?
- Yes. Damage to the bicycle and equipment forms part of your financial losses, supported by receipts, valuations or a repair assessment.
- Who do I claim against for a pothole?
- Usually the highway authority responsible for that road. They can defend the claim by showing a reasonable system of inspection and repair, so early evidence of the defect is important.
- I was riding for a delivery platform. Does that change things?
- It can affect who owes you duties and how loss of earnings is calculated. Bring your contract and earnings records to the first discussion.
Speak to our team
Tell us what happened and we will assess the claim and explain the funding options that may be available to you, in writing, before you decide how to proceed.