Around 16,000 cyclists a year are reported injured in road traffic accidents, and in many cases, through no fault of their own. The difference between suffering minor, catastrophic, and fatal injuries can come down to a matter of centimetres. This reflects just how dangerous the roads can be for cyclists, even when following the law…
In this recent case, we represented a cyclist who was knocked off his bicycle by an accelerating vehicle. He was lucky to escape any catastrophic consequences, but was left with multiple injuries, irreparable damage, and questions about who could help him achieve justice and compensation.
This is where Optimal Solicitors and our expert case handler, Ryszarda Kozikowska, came in. Utilising her excellent communication skills, legal expertise, and deep knowledge of case law, she pushed through inadequate offers and supported the client through litigation to achieve the maximum compensation of £17,500.
Read more about the case below, along with key advice on what you should do if you are ever injured in a road traffic accident.
What caused the road traffic accident?
A cyclist was lawfully moving alongside traffic on the approach to a red light. As the light turned green, a car unexpectedly and unlawfully accelerated into the bicycle, causing the cyclist to fall to the ground. The cyclist suffered a large number of injuries across his body, with significant pain, grazing, and bruising to his neck, back, and his entire left side, including his leg, knee, hip, arm, wrist, and elbow.
The cyclist attended hospital afterwards to have his extensive injuries cared for. However, his bicycle, helmet, and other clothing suffered irreparable damage. He reported the incident to the police and had to take some time off work.
Thankfully, in this case, the driver stopped immediately after the accident to communicate with the cyclist. Details were exchanged, and the cyclist took multiple pictures of the car, the bicycle, and the surrounding area to ensure he had as much visual evidence from the scene as possible. This proved significant in the smooth running and successful outcome of the claim. He also exchanged details with a witness who saw the entire accident take place.
How do I know if my road traffic accident qualifies for compensation in the UK?
Before we break down exactly how we supported this cyclist through a successful claim, let’s take a look at some key information around claiming for personal injury from road traffic accidents.
| Requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| You were involved | You were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, or other vulnerable road user at the time of the accident. |
| You were injured | Medical evidence must link a physical or psychological injury directly to the accident. |
| Someone else was at fault | A third party – usually another driver – breached their duty of care (e.g. speeding, using a phone, or failing to stop at a crossing). Even partial blame on their side can be enough. |
| You’re within the legal time limit | Most adults have three years from the accident (or from discovering an injury) to start court proceedings. • Children: Children have three years from their 18th birthday in which to start court proceedings. • Lack of capacity / serious brain injury: The limit can be paused until capacity returns. |
Obtaining trusted legal representation is crucial before making a claim. A specialist personal injury solicitor will not only simplify and handle the complexities of the claims process on your behalf, but also evaluate all medical records and damages to provide an accurate valuation. Using their legal and litigation expertise, they will help prevent any premature acceptance of inadequate settlements offered by the defendant’s insurance company and ensure you receive maximum compensation.
Building a strong case
Ryszarda started by gathering as much information from our claimant as possible. She communicated clearly and regularly with him in these early stages to ensure he understood exactly what was required to progress the claim and give it the best chance of yielding maximum compensation. This included getting his pictures and recollections for evidence, as well as his injury and medical details.
After building the foundations for a strong case, Ryszarda submitted the claim to the third-party insurer and uploaded it to the claims portal. The defendant admitted liability, so we arranged an independent medical examination for our client to gain a full prognosis from an expert. The resulting report estimated a 14- to 15-month recovery period. This thorough process not only helped us build a strong case, but revealed whether any additional treatment or rehabilitation was needed to support our client.
Supporting our client to an Optimal outcome
Ryszarda valued the claim, bringing together all the injuries, damages, and impact. Unfortunately, the defendant’s first offer fell significantly below this at £6,157.10. We informed the claimant of the considerable difference between our valuation and the offer, clearly explaining the reasons why we believed it was worth rejecting the offer and starting court proceedings to seek a compensation amount closer to the valuation.
Our client trusted our judgment and expertise, and wanted to proceed to court. Just before the official hearing, we received a second offer from the defendant, which was almost double their original offer. However, given Ryszarda’s extensive research and knowledge of case law, and having compared other successful claims with similar circumstances and injuries, she again advised our client that they would have a good chance of a considerably higher award at the hearing.
Clear, regular, and justified communication with our client led to a relationship built on trust and confidence in the case we had built for him. He gave us the go-ahead to reject the final offer and continue with the hearing. Here, the judge awarded our client £17,500 in compensation.
Ryszarda’s advice for road traffic accident claims
“If you are able, always attempt to obtain the other party’s details after a road traffic accident, including their name, address, contact information, and vehicle registration. Look around for CCTV or any potential witnesses who could have seen what happened, and obtain their details where possible too.
“Just like our client did, take pictures and videos of the scene. This is all valuable evidence to support the claim, and helps us build a strong case.
“And finally, when being medically examined and questioned by third parties on what happened, information provided should be accurate, truthful, and consistent. We always advise this to support a smooth claim and help prevent any potential disputes.”
Choose Optimal for legal representation you can trust
The smooth nature and successful outcome of this case demonstrate the value of specialist personal injury legal representation. Our experienced case handlers and solicitors pride themselves on accurate valuations and using their knowledge of case law and dedicated litigation expertise to ensure maximum compensation. At the same time, they provide a listening ear and help clients through what can be a difficult post-injury period.
If you’ve been involved in a road traffic accident or suffered an injury that wasn’t your fault, get in touch with Optimal Solicitors. We’ll assess your claim before offering professional legal advice, empathetic guidance, and unwavering dedication to help you get the compensation you deserve and the support you need for recovery.
We guarantee:
- No-win, no-fee representation
- Expert legal advice tailored to your case
- Proven success in securing maximum compensation
Take the first step towards justice. Contact us today.
