Cyclists that are on the road are in a lot of danger simply because they do not have the same protection offered by a car. When a cyclist is involved in an accident the injuries sustained can be life changing and therefore making a claim can seem like the only option. When pursuing a claim we look to claim for general damages for your initial pain and suffering and also something called special damages- these are any losses that you have incurred because of the accident which can also include care and assistance from friends and family.
Roundabouts are often considered one of the most dangerous places because they are designed to keep traffic flowing without the need of traffic lights to give a dedicated and more secure right of way. Sometimes they are a bit of a free for all when drivers ignore the rules of the road! The main thing to remember on roundabouts is that if you are already on the roundabout proceeding correctly and someone pulls onto the roundabout and hits you, it is likely that if an accident occurs they will be at fault as you are already established on the roundabout. New users entering a roundabout have the duty to give precedence to those already on the roundabout.
Another common incident on roundabouts involving cyclists is that when exiting. Many drivers will simply pull off the roundabout without a second glance at whether there is a bike pulling off at the same time, and this can also lead to accidents.
However, in some occasions the driver may not be 100% at fault if the cyclist had, for example, chosen not to wear a helmet and sustained a head injury. There could be an aspect of contributory negligence on the cyclist’s part which will then be deducted from the amount of compensation they are entitled to receive. This is designed to reflect any contribution a person has to their own accidents or injuries, so it could also arise due to the cyclist riding erratically.
If you are able to gather the details of the car which collides with you, the claim can proceed through the road traffic accident protocol – but if for some reason you do not have the details your claim may need to proceed through the Motor Insurers Bureau Untraced Drivers Agreement scheme.
It is always advisable to speak with a personal injury specialist prior to deciding whether you wish to pursue a claim as they can provide you with all the details you need. So contact us today.
