Cyclist secures compensation following accident

A cyclist from Pontefract who was run off the road by a passing car has received an out of Court settlement of £13,500.

The man was cycling on the A628 Pontefract Road in January 2018 when he was hit by a car and forced off the road. The accident left him with numerous injuries which included a broken collar bone. He needed surgery to fit a metal plate and was left facing several months of physiotherapy.

Following the accident, the man instructed a specialist personal injury solicitor to pursue a claim for compensation. His solicitors were able to pursue his claim and secure compensation which included reimbursement for the loss of his bicycle in addition to his physical injuries.

The man said that the accident could have been worse if he had not been wearing his helmet “I was riding my bicycle towards Ackworth when a passing car hit me side-on and into the kerb.

“I was flipped in the air and landed on my shoulder and the back of my head. I suffered a broken clavicle, badly bruised my hip and leg. If I had not been wearing a helmet things could have been far worse.”

The man advised that the implications of the accident lasted for many months. “I had an operation to have a plate fitted, followed by many months of physiotherapy before the plate was removed in August last year”.

“Throughout this time my wife had to care for me and I also had to rely on other family members to help with day to day things.”

According to the most recent figures available from the Department for Transport, an estimated 2.4 million people cycle regularly each year, and there are almost 3,700 serious accidents involving cyclists. The number of serious accidents has grown over the past decade, whilst it’s thought many more “near misses” and less serious incidents are never reported.

The man’s solicitor said “more and more people are choosing to cycle as our roads become increasingly congested with vehicles”.

“Cyclists are vulnerable road users and accidents can cause serious and sometimes life changing injuries.”

“[the man] was unfortunate to join thousands of seriously injured cyclists on our road each year but we were happy to be able to support him in successfully bringing a case for the injuries he sustained.”

Johnathan Steventon-Kiy, specialist personal injury lawyer, says:

“As can be seen in this case, this man was fortunate that he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Had he not been wearing a helmet, this seriousness of his injuries could have been much worse. It is also important that an experienced specialist solicitor assists the Claimant to ensure that the correct amount of compensation is received. The specialist solicitors in Biscoes Personal Injury team have many years of experience pursuing these sorts of cases where complex issues regarding pre-existing conditions have arisen.”

Contact our specialist personal injury, medical negligence and industrial disease solicitors on 0800 413 463 or visit www.biscoes-law.co.uk for more information. You can also follow us on twitter using the handle @biscoesmedneg