Bike Week UK is happening between the 9th and the 17th June 2018 with cycling events taking place nationwide. The initiative, run by Cycling UK, takes place annually and promotes cycling as a positive part of everyday life highlighting the social, health and environmental benefits. The very first Bike Week took place in 1923!

As we all know, cycling is a great way to keep fit and save the environment.  It is also important for you, as a cyclist, to remain vigilant of the risks associated with being out on the road and do as much as you can to avoid getting into an accident. Just this week, an accident involving a cyclist in our local area was reported where the cyclist was sadly killed.

The statistics speak for themselves – in 2016, 18,477 cyclists were reportedly injured in road accidents. Of those, 3,499 were killed or seriously injured. According to statistics, almost two thirds of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction. More accidents occur in the daytime (80%) but accidents that occur at night are more likely to be fatal. HGV’s present a significant hazard to cyclists and pose a higher risk of serious injury.

Over the past few decades, a lot has been done to provide safe lanes and spaces for cyclists, especially in cities such as London and Manchester. There is currently a Cycle Safety Action Plan in operation in London where the Transport for London is striving to reduce the number of cyclists seriously injured or fatally killed on their roads with an action plan containing 52 separate actions to increase the safety of cyclists. Hopefully, we will start to see the benefits of this in future statistics.

Injuries suffered from cycling accidents range from limb injuries and chest/abdomen injuries to serious head injuries. Not surprisingly, the severity of the injury increases with an increase in speed. Here at Farleys, our team have a wealth of experience in dealing with claims brought by cyclists with injuries ranging from the minor to the major and catastrophic.

If you have been involved in a cycling accident due to the negligence of someone else on the road, Farleys Solicitors can help you claim compensation for loss of earnings or rehabilitation. Call 0845 287 0939 or contact the team by email to have your claim assessed.