The Importance Of Claiming After A Bicycle Accident

Cycling is a healthy and active means of getting around. Compared to driving a car, it is less expensive and even cycling at low speeds over relatively short distances can greatly increase fitness and improve health. It gets the heart beating, the blood flowing, and the oxygen pumping, helping to improve everything from weight to pulse and can even give your skin a more attractive look and healthy glow. There are many reasons to take up cycling, but safety is one factor that puts a lot of people off.

More than 100 do die on the roads following a bicycle accident every year, but more than 1,700 drivers or car pedestrians are killed during the same period. It can be dangerous, but there are measures that can be taken to reduce this danger. Wearing a helmet, although not a legal requirement, is a safe and sensible option, because it can help to prevent serious and potentially life threatening damage from being done to the head and brain.

However, no matter the levels of precaution that you take, and the amount of safety gear and equipment that you wear, it is possible that you will be involved in an accident, and this can cause major problems. First of all, you will almost certainly need to get your bike repaired or, if the damage is substantial, then you may need to have your bike replaced. It is important that the bike is put back to the condition it was in before the accident, which includes the replacement of any aftermarket parts.

You should also replace your helmet and any other personal belongings and equipment that was damaged or broken. A hairline crack in your helmet may be invisible to the eye, but it could be enough to weaken the structural integrity of the helmet and therefore leave you without any protection for some of your most sensitive areas while you are out cycling. Any belongings you were carrying, including personal audio equipment and your mobile phone, may have become damaged and also need repairing too.

In terms of your injuries, if you need to take time off work, pay for rehabilitation or, worse still, pay for ongoing care because of the severity of your injuries and the impact that they will have on your daily life, then these costs can quickly add up. If your injuries were severe, then you may even need to pay to have your home, your car, and your other belongings modified so that you can still use them. Prescription costs, private healthcare, and other treatments may also have associated costs.

Fortunately, if it can be proven that somebody else was responsible for the accident that you were involved in, then you should be able to claim compensation and this should cover any and all expenses that you are faced with. This can include everything from the cost of prescriptions to the cost of having your home modified and paying for somebody to come in and care for you on a daily basis. It should also include any loss of earnings that you suffer as a result of your injuries.

To determine whether another road user, local council, or anybody else can be held accountable for your accident, or to discuss any other details of your case, call specialist cycling accident solicitors Carry On Cycling on 0333 777 3280 or visit CarryOnCycling.co.uk for more information on bike accidents and how to claim if you have had such an accident.