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We’ve won for our clients
£80 million in compensation
If you’ve been knocked off your bike in Manchester by a driver, a dangerous pothole or a car door opened into your path, you could be entitled to compensation. Our No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors help cyclists across Greater Manchester claim for their injuries, lost earnings, bike damage and the cost of their recovery.
Cyclists are among the most vulnerable people on the road. Even a low-speed collision can cause fractures, head injuries and months off work. We handle the claim from start to finish, deal with the insurers for you, and fight for the full compensation you’re owed, so you can concentrate on getting better.
What Is A Cycling Accident Claim?
A cycling accident claim is a personal injury claim made by a cyclist who has been hurt because somebody else failed to take reasonable care. That might be a motorist, a bus or HGV driver, another cyclist, or the authority responsible for maintaining the road.
Under the Highway Code’s hierarchy of road users, introduced in January 2022, people driving vehicles that can cause the greatest harm carry the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they pose to cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers are also told to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking a cyclist at speeds of up to 30mph, and more at higher speeds.
Cyclists are also treated differently from car drivers under the 2021 whiplash reforms. The small claims limit of £5,000 for road traffic injuries and the Official Injury Claim portal apply to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, but not to cyclists, so your claim can be handled by a solicitor in the usual way.
What Types Of Accidents Lead To Cycling Accident Claims?
We regularly help Manchester cyclists after accidents such as:
- Left hooks – a vehicle overtakes and then turns left across your path at a junction
- SMIDSY collisions – a driver pulls out of a side road or roundabout and says “sorry mate, I didn’t see you”
- Dooring – a car door is opened into your path by a parked driver or passenger
- Close passes and sideswipes – a vehicle overtakes without leaving enough room
- Rear-end collisions – a vehicle fails to stop behind you in traffic
- Bus and HGV accidents – including blind-spot collisions on busy routes such as Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road
- Potholes and defective road surfaces – claims against the highway authority, such as Manchester City Council or a neighbouring council
- Tram track accidents – wheels caught in Metrolink rails where the layout or signage was unsafe
- Hit-and-run and uninsured drivers – handled through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB)
Common Cycling Injuries We Claim For
Because cyclists have little protection, the injuries in a collision are often serious. We help people claim for:
- Head injuries, concussion and brain injuries
- Broken collarbones, wrists, arms and hands from bracing a fall
- Leg, knee, ankle and pelvic fractures
- Back, neck and spinal injuries
- Road rash, deep cuts and scarring
- Dental and facial injuries
- Psychological injuries such as anxiety, PTSD and a fear of cycling again
You can read more in our guides to head injury claims, wrist injury claims and spinal injury claims.
Am I Eligible To Make A Cycling Accident Claim?
You could be eligible to claim if:
- the accident happened in the last three years (special rules apply to children and people who lack mental capacity)
- somebody else, or a highway authority, was wholly or partly responsible
- you were injured as a result
Can I claim if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
Yes. There is no legal requirement for cyclists in the UK to wear a helmet, and not wearing one does not stop you claiming. The other side may argue that your compensation should be reduced for contributory negligence, but they have to prove that a helmet would actually have prevented or reduced your specific injuries. A broken leg or wrist, for example, would not have been affected by a helmet.
Can I claim if I was partly to blame?
Often, yes. If you were partly at fault, for example riding without lights at night, you may still recover compensation, reduced to reflect your share of the blame.
How Our Manchester Cycling Accident Solicitors Can Help
Our solicitors know the roads Manchester cyclists use every day, from the Oxford Road and Wilmslow Road corridor to the Bee Network cycle routes, the city centre ring road and the busy junctions of Salford, Stockport and Trafford. When you claim with us, we will:
- give you a free, no-obligation assessment of your claim
- identify who is responsible, whether a driver, their insurer, a council or the MIB
- gather evidence such as dashcam, helmet camera and CCTV footage before it is deleted
- arrange an independent medical assessment close to home
- seek interim payments for treatment and lost income where liability is admitted
- recover the cost of repairing or replacing your bike, clothing, helmet and equipment
- negotiate with the insurers and, if necessary, take your case to court
Evidence That Helps Prove A Cycling Accident Claim
The stronger the evidence, the easier it is to prove what happened. If you can, keep or note:
- the driver’s name, registration number and insurance details
- photos of the scene, the vehicle, your bike and your injuries
- helmet camera, dashcam or phone footage, and the location of any CCTV cameras nearby (footage is often overwritten within weeks)
- names and contact details of witnesses
- the police reference number if the accident was reported
- hospital, GP and physiotherapy records
- receipts for repairs, travel, prescriptions and other costs, plus payslips showing lost earnings
If a pothole caused your fall, photograph it with an object for scale and note its exact location. Don’t worry if you couldn’t collect everything – our team can obtain much of this evidence for you.
Time Limits For Cycling Accident Claims
In most cases you have three years from the date of the accident to start a cycling accident claim. For children, the three years begins on their 18th birthday, and a parent or guardian can claim on their behalf at any time before then. There is no time limit while an injured person lacks the mental capacity to claim.
It is best to get advice as soon as possible, while the evidence is still fresh and footage is still available.
What Cycling Accident Compensation Covers
Compensation is made up of two parts:
- General damages for your pain, suffering and the effect the injury has had on your life, assessed using medical evidence and the Judicial College Guidelines
- Special damages for your financial losses, such as lost earnings, care and support from family, treatment and rehabilitation costs, travel to appointments, and the repair or replacement of your bike and kit
Every claim is valued individually. Once we have reviewed your medical evidence we can give you a realistic idea of what your claim may be worth.
How No Win No Fee Cycling Accident Claims Work
We handle cycling accident claims on a No Win No Fee basis, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. That means:
- there is nothing to pay upfront
- if your claim is unsuccessful, you do not pay our legal fees
- if your claim succeeds, our success fee is taken from your compensation, and the amount is agreed with you in writing before we start
We will explain every possible cost clearly at the outset so there are no surprises.
Start Your Cycling Accident Claim Today
If you’ve been injured while cycling in Manchester or anywhere in Greater Manchester, speak to our team for free advice. Call 0161 6969 684, open 24 hours a day, or request a callback online.
Cycling Accident Claims FAQs
Yes. If the driver cannot be traced, or was uninsured, you can usually claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Report the accident to the police as soon as possible, ideally within 14 days, as this is normally required for an MIB claim.
Yes, if the highway authority failed to maintain the road properly. In Manchester that is usually Manchester City Council, or a neighbouring council such as Salford, Trafford or Stockport, and National Highways for motorways and some major trunk roads. Photograph the defect with something for scale and note its exact location.
No. The Official Injury Claim portal and the £5,000 small claims limit for road traffic injuries apply to drivers and passengers in motor vehicles. Cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists are excluded, so a solicitor can handle your claim in the normal way.
A straightforward claim where the driver accepts responsibility can settle within around 6 to 12 months. Claims involving serious injuries, disputed liability or court proceedings usually take longer.