Cycling Accident Claims: Client Stories

GP Awarded £1m Settlement

Kate Milton, a Senior Associate at Osbornes Law settled a cycling accident claim for a 52-year-old GP who was involved in a serious cycling accident. The female Claimant was struck by a lorry when cycling in London on her way to work. The Defendant had failed to see the Claimant overtaking a stationary bus.

The Claimant suffered severe injuries to her left arm and underwent multiple reconstructive surgeries following the accident. The Claimant was passionate about her work, fiercely independent and hard-working and managed to return to part-time light duties approx. 4 months after the accident and a few months later, resumed full-time work at a reduced capacity. To continue working she required administrative support and struggled with tasks requiring the use of both arms. As a result of her permanent injuries, she was unable to return to her pre-accident level of patients and was unable to grow her private practice as would have been expected in the absence of her injury. As such, she suffered a loss of income.

Liability was strongly disputed by the Defendant’s solicitors and Osbornes issued high court proceedings. Damages were settled in the sum of £1 million.

IT Worker Receives £40,000 Following Cycle Accident

An IT worker was hit whilst commuting by a car turning right across his path while cycling straight ahead in a cycle lane. He suffered injuries to his shoulder, elbow and wrist. He would experience long-term problems as a result. The personal injury claim settled for £40,000.

Successful Businessman Awarded £x,000,000 Damages For Severe Brain Injury

Our client was a successful businessman when he was knocked to the ground. He suffered various fractures and internal injuries. The most serious injury was a traumatic head injury which left him with a diffuse axonal brain injury. Following rehabilitation our client did retain mental capacity, however, the changes to his behaviour meant that he could no longer continue his lucrative career. Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is the tearing of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibres that happens when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull. A DAI injury is difficult to diagnose, but we used the very latest brain scanning techniques to establish the presence of this injury. Had this not been diagnosed the settlement would not have been commensurate to the injury. We were able to achieve a seven-figure settlement plan for our client.

NHS Doctor Receives 6-figure Settlement

Laura Swaine, an Associate within the personal injury team obtained a 6-figure settlement for a client who was knocked off her bicycle. Our client was an NHS trainee doctor who was cycling home from work during Covid. She was cycling along a main road when the Defendant came out of a side street colliding with her and knocking her to the ground. She sustained a serious fracture to her knee as well as a fracture to her nose and facial lacerations. As a result of the collision, our client was off work for some period of time which pushed back her qualification as a doctor. Due to Covid, she was unable to undergo NHS rehabilitation early on. Laura was able to obtain privately funded physiotherapy and psychological treatment.

Cyclist Receives £6,000 For Neck And Back Injuries

Our client hit his bicycle brakes as he approached queuing traffic. As he was doing this he was passing a side road to his left. A vehicle travelling in the opposite direction failed to see our client as he attempted to turn right into the same side road. He drove straight into our client, knocking him to the ground. Our client suffered multiple injuries, the most serious being injuries to his neck. Medical reports were sought to corroborate this. Liability was admitted by the driver’s insurance company. A further medical report was commissioned by us to prove that the injury had not healed as quickly as was initially thought. The case settled for a lump sum of over £6000, which included compensation for the travel costs he incurred whilst recovering from his injuries.

Compensation of £335,000 For Fatal Hit and Run Accident

A newlywed Hungarian National was killed in a “hit and run” road accident. A speeding driver mowed down and killed a female cyclist who was on her way home from work in the early hours of the morning. The driver was going more than 50mph in a 20 mph zone as he attempted to overtake another car and hit the cyclist head-on following a late shift. The driver smashed into her bicycle so hard it broke in two and then left her dying by the roadside as he sped off and dumped the car. The female cyclist tragically died from multiple injuries. The driver was jailed for 6 years.

Cyclist Hit While Riding In A Cycling Lane

Our client was riding in a cycling lane when the passenger door of a stationary car suddenly opened into his path. He was knocked off his bike and suffered several injuries, the worst being a forearm fracture which required surgical plating. In this case, the surgery failed to unite the fracture and he will need to undergo more surgery including bone grafting.

Cyclist Injured on East London Road Receives £12,000

Our client was injured on an East London road when a car pulled out of a parked position into his path as the driver tried to turn her vehicle around. Our client suffered a fracture to his right shoulder blade which was functional within one year but would take two years to recover fully. Damages were settled at £11,781.98 including £2,900 for the Claimant’s bicycle damage and £400 for his loss of opportunity to enjoy his summer holiday and daughter’s birthday.

Seven-Figure Claim Against Local Authority

Our client came off his bicycle whilst on a cycle path. This was after a large stone became lodged in his front wheel. The local authority responsible for the cycle path is contesting liability and High Court proceedings have been issued Our client is undergoing intense rehabilitation to overcome the effects of his brain injury. We are pursuing a seven-figure cycle accident compensation sum for our client.

Seven-Figure Award For Spinal Cord Injury

Our client was thrown off his bicycle after being hit by a lorry. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury. Despite footage from a camera mounted at the front of the lorry which shows the collision in full, liability is denied. Collision reconstruction experts have been instructed. Our client is now wheelchair reliant and has required adapted accommodation as well as nursing care. This case is ongoing, however, we are pursuing a seven-figure cycle accident compensation settlement.

Bicycle Accident Claim Against Uber Driver

A cyclist has been awarded £7,000 following a road accident in which she was knocked off her bike by an Uber driver whose insurers admitted liability and made a very early settlement offer of just over £1,300. They put pressure on the cyclist by sending the offer directly to their home address. Andrew Middlehurst, a specialist cycling solicitor, advised the cyclist that it was likely that they could beat this offer if they obtained medical evidence. Medical reports were obtained following ultrasound investigations and physiotherapy treatment. The medical reports were then disclosed and the claim was settled for over £7000.

A Cyclist from South London Receives £25,000

A cyclist was travelling near Blackheath in London on his way to work when he was involved in a road accident. A car that failed to give way to him struck him on a roundabout. He suffered multiple dental injuries and a fractured toe. The case settled for £25,000.

Music Teacher Hit By Bus While Cycling to Work

A music teacher was cycling in traffic on his way to work. A bus changed lanes and drove into the back of his bike. The client suffered a fractured hip in the accident. Initially, the case was rejected by another law firm so he contacted the personal injury team at Osbornes Law. His case settled for £20,000.

Cyclist Awarded £30,000 Damages After Being Hit By A Van

The accident occurred when our client had been cycling along the main road when a van pulled straight out of a side road colliding with her. As a result of the accident, our client suffered a significant fracture to her ankle, fractured toes and psychological injuries. The fracture to her ankle required surgery within the same week of the accident and an extensive course of physiotherapy thereafter, the costs of which were included as part of the claim and funded by the defendant’s insurer.

Spanish Cyclist Receives Compensation for South London Bike Accident

Blanca Diego, a bicycle accident solicitor in the Osbornes Personal Injury Team, settled a claim for a 25-year-old Spanish cyclist who was involved in a road accident in South London. Our client was cycling along a main road when she was hit by a van. The defendant was travelling from the opposite direction and turned right across our client’s path knocking her off her bicycle, resulting in her being thrown over the handlebars and landing on the floor. As a result of the accident, our client sustained dental injuries, post-concussion syndrome, a sprain of the right knee and soft tissue injuries to her right wrist, leg and face, including a small laceration to the lip. The Defendant’s insurer admitted liability within three weeks and our client received £18,870.

Family of Cyclist Killed By Speeding Driver In Essex Awarded £350,000

Osbornes Law have helped the family of a cyclist who was killed on the road, bring a civil claim for damages. Our client, who lived in Essex, was cycling home after completing a night shift at work. He was tragically killed by a speeding driver. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics who attended the accident, our client was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cyclist Awarded £32,500 For Dental Injuries

We settled a cycling accident claim in which a cyclist was followed by an aggressive driver. The Defendant overtook our client in a reckless manner and immediately slammed on the brakes, coming to a complete stop. As a result, our client collided with the rear of the Defendant’s vehicle. Our client sustained dental injuries, soft tissue injuries affecting the neck, lower back, torso, left shoulder, right buttock and hip areas, post-concussional syndrome and permanent scars to the upper lip and left clavicle. In March 2019, the Defendant was convicted at Guildford Magistrates Court for failing to report an accident. The case settled for £32,500, including future dental treatment for life and surgery to improve the lip scarring.

‘Beer Bike’ Collision With Cyclist Causing Significant Dental Injuries

Our client was using a hire scheme bike and was hit and then dragged along by a ‘Beer Bike’. Our client suffered significant dental injuries and had to seek emergency treatment. The Beer Bike operators allowed riders to drink alcohol on board while pedalling on public roads touring famous London landmarks. Our client had been using a cycle path when the Beer Bike swerved in front of him. It continued to move erratically so our client overtook it. As they did so the Beer Bike occupants were said to have accelerated into our client as they turned across a road junction. Liability was dealt with by the solicitors for the Beer Bike operators after Osbornes secured CCTV footage from a nearby pub. One of our client’s front teeth was lost and others were damaged. Medical evidence was collected and significant dental treatment was recommended including a tooth implant and root canal treatment. The future costs of replacing the implant for the rest of the client’s life were factored into negotiations and the case ultimately settled for a sum in the region of £30,000.

Cycle Lane Accident Settles For £25,000

We settled a case and recovered damages for injuries sustained by a cyclist who was struck by a car while using a cycle lane. Our client had been proceeding straight ahead in a cycle lane past a minor road when a car emerged from a minor road on the opposite side of the road and crossed the cycle lane without giving way. The driver had said their vision was obscured by a large vehicle but had proceeded across the cycle lane anyway. The cyclist suffered a significant laceration to their face, exposing the bone beneath and required a large number of stitches to close the wound. The laceration scarred leaving permanent disfigurement and a loss of sensation. The case was settled without the need to issue court proceedings following negotiation with the representatives of the driver. The case settled for around £25,000.

Car Dooring Accident Settles for £12,000

We settled a car dooring accident claim for an injured cyclist in the region of £12,000. The cyclist had been cycling down a main road, with stationary traffic to his right, when suddenly the passenger side front door of a parked vehicle was opened into his path. Our client collided with the open door and sustained injuries. Our client suffered a soft tissue injury to his back, a minor head injury with concussion symptoms, two significant facial lacerations, resulting in some permanent scarring, and minor nerve injury to his lip.

Roundabout Accident Claim Settles for £11,000

The cyclist was on a roundabout when a car entered the roundabout and collided with the cyclist. The cyclist sustained soft tissue injuries, injury to her nose, concussion and a relapse of post-traumatic stress disorder. The Defendant admitted liability for the accident. Following negotiations, a settlement was achieved in the region of £11,000. Recent changes to the highway code aimed to give cyclists priority on roundabouts but accidents on roundabouts are still a frequent occurrence.

£99,000 Settlement for Injured Cyclist

Mr V was knocked off his bicycle at a junction and suffered a shoulder injury that ended his career as a pastry chef. He started a degree course to retrain as a social worker and the cost of retraining was factored into his settlement, as was the potential handicap he faced in the labour market. An out-of-court settlement was reached by Osbornes Law in which Mr V received total damages of £99,000.

Actor Receives £40,000 Compensation

Megan Lambert recently settled a claim for an injured cyclist in the region of £40,000. The cyclist had been cycling to work along the left-hand side of the road when the driver of a car suddenly pulled alongside the cyclist and turned left across his path, the cyclist had no time to react and he collided with the vehicle. The next thing the cyclist remembers was being face down in the road. A witness phoned the police and an ambulance, who shortly attended the scene.

Read our blog post explaining what to do following a bike accident.

The cyclist sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, soft tissue injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and facial lacerations resulting in permanent scarring. The cyclist was a professional actor at the time of the accident and his agent had advised that the scarring may impact on future role selection opportunities. During the course of the claim, our client sought extensive rehabilitation, some of which was arranged by Osbornes, fortunately making a very positive recovery and allowing him to return to acting on stage. He continued to have permanent facial scarring with future surgery being recommended by a medical expert, which was included in our client’s claim in order for him to seek the same in the future. Court proceedings were issued and our client’s claim proceeded to settle at £40,000, which included compensation to allow our client to seek surgery in the future.

Hit and run Accident Settled

The cyclist was cycling on a main road when a driver reversed at speed towards the cyclist, colliding with the cyclist and causing her injuries. The Defendant failed to stop and continued their journey without providing their details. A witness, also in a car, saw the accident and chased after the driver managing to get a photo of the Defendant’s vehicle, including their registration number.

A claim was submitted to the insurers linked to the registration number of the vehicle but it came to light that the number plate had been cloned and their insured was in another city at the time of the accident. In accidents such as these, where the Defendant driver cannot be located or is uninsured, a claim can still be pursued via the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), which takes on claims such as these. Osbornes submitted a claim to the MIB on the cyclist’s behalf and the MIB proceeded to investigate the matter, arrange statements and organise medical reports. Following this, negotiations began and our client’s claim settled for a 4-figure sum.

£70,000 for Fractured Pelvis & Spine

Laura Swaine, an Associate at Osbornes Law settled a claim in excess of £70,000. Our client was cycling along a main road in a cycle lane with a friend when the Defendant, who was driving in the opposite direction, swerved onto their side of the road knocking them both down.

As a result of the collision, our client sustained fractures to the spine along with a fracture to the pelvis. The Defendant initially agreed to early rehabilitation but decided instead to make an early settlement offer. At this stage, our client’s pelvis had not properly united. Laura obtained privately funded treatment to allow her to undergo physiotherapy as well as further radiology to ascertain the extent of the ongoing issues in the pelvis.

Car Dooring Claims Settled

Megan Lambert recently settled a car dooring claim for an injured cyclist in the region of £5,525. The cyclist was proceeding along a main road when suddenly the rear offside door of a parked car, to the cyclist’s left, flung wide open, colliding with her bike and causing her to fall onto the ground.

Medical reports were obtained from both an emergency medicine expert and a psychiatric expert. They advised that the cyclist sustained soft tissue injuries, extensive bruising and an adjustment disorder. Fortunately, they advised that the cyclist was expected to make a full recovery and the cyclist sought some recommended cognitive behavioural therapy during the course of her claim, the cost of which was recovered from the Defendant.

In the second claim, our client was riding along a main road and noted a stationary taxi at a traffic light. As the Claimant was cycling past the car to meet the traffic lights, the rear passenger opened their door, knocking the cyclist off of her bike and onto the road in front of a parked taxi. The driver of the parked taxi witnessed the whole accident and helpfully completed a witness statement.

The cyclist sustained soft tissue injuries to her hand and hip which the medical expert advised should fully heal within 3 years. As a result of her injuries, the cyclist was absent from work for 2 months and needed care and assistance from her friend over this period, both of which were included in the total value of her claim. Settlement negotiations subsequently took place and our client’s claim proceeded to settle at £10,500.

Hit and Run Road Traffic Accident Claim

Blanca Diego acted on behalf of a Spanish cyclist who was knocked off his bike when cycling home from a Volleyball game. As he was preparing to exit a roundabout he became aware of a car approaching with no signs of slowing or giving-way. The driver collided with the cyclist; the impact caused the Claimant to fall off his bike, hit his head, and was knocked unconscious. The driver of the car failed to stop.

The matter was referred to the Motor Insurer’s Bureau under the Untraced Agreement who admitted liability for the accident. The experts concluded that, as a result of the accident, the Claimant had sustained a soft tissue injury to the right shoulder and chest, and suffered psychological trauma.

The MIB made an offer of just over £11,000 and following the Claimant’s counterclaim, the matter was settled for over £14,000.

Spanish Cyclist Claim Settled

Blanca Diego settled a case for a Claimant who was crossing the road at a pedestrian traffic light crossing with her bike. When the light permitted, she crossed the road whilst pushing her bicycle. Before she reached the other side of the road, the Claimant was hit by a car. She was hit on the right side of the abdomen, hip and foot and fell to the ground. 

As a result of the accident, the Claimant sustained a right-sided fracture to the base of the 5th metatarsal and soft tissue injuries to the right hip, right hand and abdomen which healed within 10 months.

The case settled for £6,375.

Cycle Lane Accident Settles for £31,000

Blanca Diego settled a claim on behalf of the Claimant who was knocked off his bike whilst cycling in a cycle lane. Although the Claimant believed the Defendant had initially stopped, he shortly fell unconscious and awoke in an ambulance on his way to hospital. He was told that by the time the Police had arrived the driver had left the scene and had not been identified.

The matter was referred to the Motor Insurer’s Bureau under the Untraced Agreement. The Claimant had sustained whiplash to the neck, soft tissue injuries to the back, severe anxiety due to psychological trauma and loss of teeth (first and second incisors).

The MIB made a first offer of £23,000 (£15,000 for general damages and £8,000 to cover the future dental treatment), and after a counter offer was made, the case was settled on a sum of over £31,000 in damages.

If you have suffered an injury due to a bike accident, you may be able to claim compensation. Call our specialist cycle accident solicitors for a free consultation on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the enquiry form below.