What can I claim for in a personal injury claim?
What can I claim for in an injury claim if I have been hurt?
John here again to answer this question, one that I am often asked.
Put very simply, there are two types of compensation or “damages” that you can claim for if you have been hurt in an accident. The first kind of compensation relates to the pain and suffering caused and the second kind of compensation relates to financial losses suffered as a result of the accident.
Before you can even think about the value of a claim, you actually have to have a good claim in the first place. We have a fault-based legal system. The legal term for fault is liability. Unless somebody is liable for your accident and the injuries and losses caused in it, it’s unlikely that you have a claim. There are some unusual circumstances where you might still have a claim. I would suggest that you simply ring us if you have any questions or any doubts about that.
So, assuming that you have a good claim, how do we value the compensation that you ought to receive for your pain and suffering?
The damages for “pain, suffering and loss of amenity” are usually referred to as General Damages. For these General Damages to be assessed, expert medical evidence has to be obtained as a part of the claim. Put very simply, the more serious the injury or injuries that you have suffered, the higher the value for your general damages is likely to be.
The level of general damages tends to creep up over time, with inflation. However, general damages are not particularly high in this country, in comparison to some other jurisdictions. To give you a couple of examples, as at the date of this blog, you can expect to receive somewhere between £77,000 and £111,000 for the above knee amputation of one leg. For a less serious injury, such as a relatively uncomplicated fracture of the forearm, you could expect to receive somewhere between £4900 and £15,500.
The picture becomes complicated if you make a less than complete recovery. There is also the fact that no two people are the same. some people recover more quickly than others and factors such as age and fitness can come into it. Expert medical opinion is crucial to the valuation of this part of the claim.
The reference to “loss of amenity” relates to the way in which your life might have been affected by the accident and the injury suffered. For instance, you might be a very keen artist or sportsperson and the injuries might stop you from following those pursuits. The law recognises that you have suffered more than just normal pain and suffering. You have also lost the potential to enjoy something that you loved doing as well.
Turning to the financial losses suffered as a result of the accident, these tend to be more straightforward and obvious, but that is not always the case.
The basic principle is that you can claim for those losses and expenses that you’ve incurred solely and exclusively as a result of the accident. The idea is that the compensation ought to put you back in the position as if the accident had never happened. For instance, if you are unable to work for six months and you are not paid for that entire period, then you ought to be able to claim for the exact net loss of earnings suffered throughout plus a little interest for the fact that there was a delay in receiving it.
I always say to my clients that if you are in any doubt as to whether a particular financial loss might or might not be recoverable in your claim, then keep proof of it and tell me about it as soon as possible. I will be able to advise you whether or not is recoverable. It is better to assume that it is recoverable, rather than to lose the chance of ever claiming for it.
Sometimes you can end up with cases where the damages for pain and suffering and for financial losses overlap. For instance, if a professional footballer broke his leg and could never play again, it is likely that he would have a hefty claim for the pain and suffering damages, a further claim for loss of amenity because he can no longer do something he loves and a large loss of earnings claim.
I’m sure that you start to get the picture!
For now, my simple advice is that if you are in any doubt over whether you have a claim for compensation, or whether you can claim for anything in particular, give me or Lorraine a call for free, or click on the case evaluation button below. We would be happy to talk to you and give you the benefit of our advice.
That’s all for now,
John
Tour De France fever
John here again,
Good afternoon and welcome to the latest blog.
We’re all really excited here in Leeds about the start of Le Tour tomorrow.
Perhaps it’s a bit of a downer, but I thought I’d write about one of the potential down sides of cycling – accidents.
We’ve had a rash of cycling accident claims here in recent months, mostly for clients in and around Yorkshire and, specifically, around Leeds. I don’t know why there have been so many in a short space of time, but I thought I could share some common themes and tips for bringing claims.
The latest ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) figures show the casualty figures have risen in recent years and they suggest that this is mostly because of the increase in popularity of cycling. That makes sense and staging The Tour De France in Yorkshire has definitely had a big impact upon cycling numbers. I’ve got a strong suspicion that there will be a massive increase in the numbers of cyclists on the roads all summer and maybe beyond if there is a “legacy”.
I hope they all stay safe and that organisers and logistical planners have their wellbeing at heart. Roads are gradually changing and at least thinking about cyclists more, but there is a very long way to go.
ROSPA say 80% of cycling injuries are to males and the most vulnerable group age wise is 10 to 15 year olds. Most accidents are in urban areas. Roundabouts are particularly hazardous, which is predictable.
80% of accidents happen in daylight, but then that is because the vast majority of cycling takes place then.
More accidents numerically actually occur in Spring and Summer, but that is because many more miles are cycled in those milder months. This is confirmed by the fact that per mile cycled, the Winter is statistically the most dangerous time.
Injury patterns confirm that limb injuries are very common. Over 40% of hurt cyclists have arm injuries and about 25% have leg injuries.
Chest and abdominal injuries are more rare, at about 5%, but are more often serious and are often sustained with head injuries too. Again, sad, but not surprising.
Head injuries are common with over 40% of injured cyclists suffering them and they are more often serious. Over 70% of cyclist fatalities in London were due in large part to head injuries.
Injured cyclists almost always come off worst when in collision with any other vehicle and the most common cause of accidents involving them is due to one or both of the parties not looking properly. In my experience, it is much more likely to be the other vehicle driver/rider at fault and not the cyclist. This means that cyclists often have strong compensation claims.
Many cyclists now have head cameras to record other drivers’ behaviour and the footage can often be very helpful with a claim. They are a good idea.
Evidence is the key to most claims and that is just as true in cycling claims. Gathering evidence is sometimes hampered by the fact the cyclist has the more serious injuries. It’s hard to gather witness details and evidence if you are injured. Fortunately, when serious accidents occur the public usually respond well and police attend swiftly.
It always makes sense to contact a good Solicitor pretty swiftly after the accident, so that no evidence is lost. Pick someone, like us, who has a lot of experience of such claims and who will speak to you for free and explain how a claim will be pursued. Give us a call or click on the button below.
Don’t pick a claims factory type of organisation. they are unlikely to have local knowledge that can be crucial and you will probably get passed from pillar to post, rather than getting a personal service.
I wish you happy and safe cycling and hope the Tour en Yorkshire goes well!
I will be at Harewood tomorrow watching with excitement.
John
Motorcycle accident claims in Yorkshire
Good afternoon everyone, John blogging again.
There has been more sad news already this summer about road traffic accidents involving motorbikes, usually serious ones. I have blogged about this sort of accident and this summer phenomenon before. I found this article (below) that I first wrote in August 2011. I’m afraid it all still rings true.
The good weather, light evenings and dry road conditions that summer (we hope) brings all help to entice bikers back out on the roads on their motorcycles. Winding country roads are a particular favourite for bikers who want to enjoy the open road and the real feel-good benefits of challenging biking.
Unfortunately this can all be a deadly combination. As it is, motorcycles make up only 1% of all road traffic, but 10% of all accidents involve motorcyclists [Source: Department of Transport NB – probably a little out of date now bearing in mind the date of my original article, but no doubt still largely true]. Motorcyclists are not only much more likely to be involved in an accident, but they are also much more likely to be very seriously injured in one too; or worse and even killed.
In summer some extra factors cause further or different hazards. Road side verges and crops grow and on winding roads that often means that visibility of the road ahead is poor, or very limited. Speed then becomes a major risk. Some motorcyclists get carried away and simply go too fast or take risks, like cutting corners. Some only go biking in the summer and so are rusty or just plain inexperienced, perhaps with bikes that are a bit too powerful for them. There can also be a slightly reckless degree of peer pressure amongst the brother and sisterhood of some bikers’ groups.
Of course most bikers are sensible and careful riders and, as with other times of the year, the fault for accidents is very often nothing to do with the biker, but to do with other road users driving badly or just not looking for bikers hard enough. Add on to that any issues with road surfaces, particularly with the plague of pot holes we have following some cold and harsh winters, and we are seeing a lot of challenges and risks for bikers to face.
Whatever the cause, these accidents, especially those at high speed on National Speed Limit winding country roads, often have catastrophic consequences, sometimes for all concerned.
Inevitably, I’ve dealt with quite a few injury compensation claims arising out of these accidents and they can be incredibly sad and challenging.
As injury compensation Solicitors based in Leeds, we see a lot of accidents like this on rural West, and especially North Yorkshire Roads. Beautiful areas, but dangerous roads if you are not careful.
As bikers and drivers all we can do is be sensible, drive and ride diligently and bear in mind the seasonal hazards like reduced lines of sight due to crops and verges.
If you have had an accident, of any kind, give us a call or click the button below.
More soon, John
Unhappy with your Solicitors?
Morning all,
John here again.
We seem to be receiving more enquiries from clients who have been unhappy with how Solicitors have advised them. I thought I would put together a quick guide on some of the issues affecting anyone contemplating a claim against their former Solicitors where they think they got things wrong and caused them losses.
This, with the help of many sources, is what I came up with.
Claims against negligent Solicitors
Individuals (and businesses) often rely on the advice of Solicitors. Solicitors usually get things right, but sometimes there can be a loss suffered, or another unwelcome consequence, where they got it wrong. In these circumstances what rights do you have?
Are you entitled to bring a claim against the Solicitor?
You must be able to show you were owed a “duty of care” by the Solicitor. In most cases this will be obvious, because you engaged the Solicitor to advise you or to act on your behalf.
You must be able to show that a loss has actually been suffered and that the loss was caused by the breach of duty of care and not by other factors.
You must still be in time to bring a claim. Time limits have been laid down in law for different types of claims. In most professional negligence cases, the time limit is six years from the date of the negligence but sometimes, when the negligence has not come to light until later, this time limit may be extended. If a claim is brought too late the defendant will have a strong defence.
Has the Solicitor been negligent?
To succeed in a claim, you must establish a breach of professional duty by proving that the professional’s conduct fell below the standard of a reasonably competent professional in the same area of expertise and that this breach caused you loss.
In order to find this out, the facts must be looked at and considered in light of the law which has developed from court decisions.
There is a body of law governing the amount of recoverable loss. In general, there will only be compensation for those losses which could have been reasonably foreseen at the time of the advice by the Solicitor. This is often complicated.
As well as a negligence claim, you may also have other claims, such as a breach of contract.
Even if the Solicitor has been negligent, your claim’s value might be reduced if, by your own negligence, you contributed to your loss.
Your compensation award might also be reduced if you did not take reasonable steps to limit the loss suffered.
Factors to consider before claiming
In most cases, unless a claim settles quickly, pursuing it can be costly and, even if you win at court, you will not usually recover all of the costs you have spent on the case.
You should check your insurance. Some house or motor insurance policies provide legal expenses cover. You should also discuss fee arrangements with the firm of Solicitors you want to use in the claim.
Steps to be taken before to court proceedings
It is often worthwhile putting your grievance to the Solicitor directly before involving fresh Solicitors, in case the matter can be resolved between yourselves. The must have a formal complaints policy. Ask for it and follow it.
Another possible approach is to contact the Solicitor’s regulatory body. Your former Solicitors must signpost you to the regulator and complaints body if you ask them to.
If these steps do not resolve your claim, the best option is to use a firm of Solicitors with a speciality in professional negligence.
If those specialist Solicitors advise that you have a good claim worth pursuing, the court rules give a procedure, the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol, to be followed before court proceedings. This procedure is intended to encourage the early exchange of information and attempts to settle the case without the need for court proceedings.
The first step is to send the defendant Solicitor a ‘Preliminary Notice’ setting out brief details of the grievance, then followed by a detailed ‘Letter of Claim’ with copies of any supporting documents.
The Pre-Action Protocol lays out a timetable for a response by the defendant.
It can be extremely beneficial and tactically astute to make offers to settle. The court will look at these at the end of the case, when it comes to considering the reasonableness of the parties’ behaviour and whether to penalise them in costs. These offers are called ‘Part 36 Offers’.
Throughout the claim the parties should consider alternative ways of resolving the dispute such as mediation, or simple round table meetings.
If at any stage the claim is about to expire due to time limits, steps must be taken to preserve the claim either by issuing proceedings and then agreeing with the defendant to freeze the case so that work can still be undertaken, or by entering an agreement with the defendant to bring time to a standstill, preventing them from subsequently raising time limits as a defence to any claim.
Court proceedings
If settlement isn’t reached after the Pre-Action Protocol steps, then as a last resort, court proceedings can be considered.
The Solicitors you use should advise you on the likely costs consequences and timeframe of taking a case through court proceedings. Some of these elements may be uncertain as they, to an extent, depend upon the actions of the defendant and the court. Even after starting court proceedings, it can often take well over a year for a case to get to a trial.
In most cases, settlement is reached before the court case is concluded. Early settlement will mean less cost, time and upset to the parties and enable them to move on.
As you will appreciate, this information is for general knowledge only. Specific advice should be sought for individual cases. If you think you have a circumstance that you would like to discuss, give me a call or click the button below.
That’s all for now,
John Ibbotson
Solicitors who get it wrong with compensation claims
Morning all, John here again.
I am shamelessly paraphrasing an old article I wrote about what you can do if your solicitors mess up your compensation claim or do a very poor job with a poor outcome. This is because I have now been contacted by quite a few unlucky people in just this situation. If that is you – read on…..
Our average day’s work here at Ibbotson Brady Solicitors involves us acting as expert personal injury solicitors helping people who have suffered injuries and accidents and want to claim damages or compensation. Sadly, we are also sometimes contacted by new clients who come to us because they already had a good personal injury compensation claim up and running, but their existing/old solicitors made a mistake and so the claim has failed (or is failing), or it has ended up being worth much less than it should have been.
I’m not talking about cases where the solicitors had a good go, but the claim wasn’t strong enough. I’m talking about messing up strong claims.
These are sad cases because the poor client has been doubly hurt; they suffered the injuries in the accident in first place and then they suffered loss again when the solicitor who they instructed and trusted got it wrong.
In many, in fact most, of these cases there is no second chance to bring the original compensation claim against the person or company who caused the accident – in fact those opponents have often had a very lucky “windfall” escape. This can mean that the only real option available for the poor client is the pretty daunting one of bringing a professional negligence claim against their own former solicitors.
Of course, just because a claim has failed or someone is unhappy with the outcome doesn’t necessarily mean that the solicitors have been negligent, or done anything wrong at all. There are naturally strong claims, weak claims and those that are on a knife edge. The outcome of the original case is not always the dictating factor in whether there is a strong professional negligence claim and negligence claims are sometimes hard to win.
Some common themes I have seen with genuinely strong professional negligence claims against solicitors include chaotic and disorganised law firms, or situations where perhaps the solicitor or “file handler” is either very junior and out of their depth, or else the identity of the person dealing with it constantly changes all of the time, so that you barely talk to the same person twice. These are sometimes referred to as factory firms who probably bought in a lot of work, perhaps through television advertising, but were never really up to the job. The personal service needed is often entirely lacking and so important things are missed. Put simply, your solicitor ought to be talking to you, writing to you, keeping you updated, going through medical reports with you etc.
We find also that situations arise where the solicitor simply doesn’t explain things properly, or at least in simple terms that can be understood. Sometimes clients feel pushed into taking steps without really having the chance to consider and understand them properly or agree anything. Sometimes this takes the form of the solicitor sending out too much bland, standard written explanation without any actual specific case related advice in it. There is a feeling that they have just pressed a button and a document has churned out that is vaguely relevant, but doesn’t really equal advice. That is very disappointing when a 20 minute face to face meeting or telephone call with the same client would make things much, much clearer.
It doesn’t automatically follow that these specific and worrying themes lead to negligence either , but they do seem to be common indicators of problems to come.
One small crumb of comfort for disappointed clients in cases like these is that solicitors must have, as a condition of being able to call themselves solicitors, professional indemnity negligence insurance. This compulsory insurance is comprehensive so that the client is protected and to maintain public confidence in solicitors.
If something bad like this has happened to you and your claim it can be gut wrenching and it often feels like you are starting again at square one.
A few of these professional negligence claims against solicitors can be fairly simple and straightforward, such as where there has been a very basic and obvious mistake, like missing a crucial time limit. Most others are much more complicated and subtle and solicitors with their insurers can be tough opponents.
There is a written Protocol that has to be followed for these claims and it is even more important than ever that you go to a solicitor who knows what they are doing second time around!
So, if you think you might have one of these problems/situations then give me a call or send me an email for free. You can also use the case evaluation button below to make a free enquiry and we’ll call you and have a free chat. No win, no fee and other funding options might well be available.
Have a great weekend,
John
Real case story
Hello, John blogging again and this time I have a real tale to tell.
A kind client has given me his permission to tell you about his injury compensation case that has just succeeded. I won’t mention his name, but he is a gentleman from Leeds and he found out about us from an internet search. He had suffered a nasty accident (which I will tell you about in a minute) and he wanted a good local solicitor who would give him a personal service and meet him face to face. He didn’t want to be fobbed off with a call centre, or to end up talking to a different person every time he called. I told him that I am the only John in the company, so he can always call and just ask for John!
I had a long chat with him and then went to see him in his home on a no obligation basis. We got on well, I thought he had a decent chance of winning and I took on his case on a no win no fee basis.
The accident happened like this. He was delivering equipment as part of his job and came to premises that were shut for lunch. There was a door with a letterbox and so he pushed the parcel through the letterbox. The letterbox had a viciously sharp mechanism and snapped shut severing the “terminal phalanx” (or the last centimetre or so of the tip) of his ring finger. The fingertip fell inside the door.
He and the fingertip, once it had been retrieved, were rushed to hospital. He had surgery, but the tip was badly damaged and so could not be reattached. He was left with, thankfully, a fully functioning finger, but it was reduced in length a little and had some sensitivity to the tip. He lost a few days of earnings, but was soon back at work.
I directed the claim to the business at the premises with the vicious letterbox. Their insurers investigated the claim and were persuaded by my arguments that they ought to accept liability and meet the claim.
I obtained medical evidence and details of his modest financial losses and negotiated with the insurers over the value of the claim.
The claim eventually settled for £6,000.00. My client is delighted and the case went very smoothly. Not all cases do!
If you have an accident it could be just as straightforward. Don’t pick a giant company, who might well not even be solicitors and will simply sell you on, contact someone who will talk to you properly and see you – without cost or obligation. Like me and us!
No question is too small for us, so call me or Lorraine today or click on the case evaluation button below and send us a no obligation enquiry.
That’s all for now,
John
Industrial and factory accident compensation claims
Afternoon all,
I thought I’d write about a specific type of accident compensation claim in this blog piece, namely industrial and factory accident compensation claims
As you would expect, we are specialists in handling compensation claims in virtually every type of workplace and scenario. Equally we find that industrial and factory workplaces are very common places for accidents to happen, often very nasty ones.
If you suffer an accident at work in industry or in a factory, it is very likely that you will be able to make an injury claim for compensation. It is also very likely that we will be happy to run it on a “no win, no fee” basis for you, so that it won’t cost you anything if the claim doesn’t succeed.
Examples of industrial and factory accident claims we have run successfully include:
- Accidents caused by inappropriate or inadequate protective equipment “PPE”
- Injuries caused by defective or dangerous machinery or incompetent workmates
- Trips or slips in untidy workplaces or on slippery or dangerous work surfaces
- Injuries involving heavy, repeated or awkward lifting, often called “manual handling”
- Accidents suffered in the construction industry – a whole category of its own!
- Injury caused by exposure to harmful and dangerous substances
- Employees exposed to violent situations or attacks
- Falls from height
There are many, many more of these types of industrial or factory accidents where we have won claims, but this represents a fair cross section.
Just think; it is estimated that employees like you and me lose around five hundred and fifty eight million pounds a year in loss of earnings and expenses suffered due to accidents at work. Those same accident victims suffer again in the form of the pain, inconvenience and loss of amenity caused.
Remember that your employers are under very strict duties to try to ensure that you are able to carry out your work in the safest way possible, bearing in mind your type of job you do, the tools and materials you might work with and the kind of work that is involved.
Employers must also ensure that your workplace and the premises are safe and they have to carry “EL insurance”, meaning employers’ liability cover.
Some people fear that their employer might sack them or pick on them if they bring a claim, but the law affords you some employment protection as well, so ask us about that.
We can definitely help you with your industrial or factory accident compensation claims and we can assist you with advice or point you in the right direction on employment issues and with welfare benefits advice too.
If you have any queries or questions about these then give us a call or click the button below.
That’s all for now,
John
Alarming times for those needing to rely on the law
Afternoon all, John here blogging again.
I thought I’d give a bit of a wider view of the legal world than usual and comment upon the landscape as it looks from here, as a solicitor in practice doing my best for my clients.
I’m not sure many folk will be too upset, but these are very poor times for lawyers and our clients. The last couple of years have brought caustic change after caustic change to the law. What perhaps won’t be appreciated is that this is very bad news for the ordinary guy/girl in the street. The rights of individuals and their access to justice are being eroded at an alarming rate – all in favour of the rights and demands of big corporations and those close to Westminster’s ear – those with enough clout to get close enough.
For example (and to paraphrase a well-known speaker in the field, Kerry Underwood, who I must credit) consider these developments:
Civil Legal aid is abolished
Employment claims are down almost 80% due to unaffordable fees
Recoverable costs from fat cat defendants in personal injury are slashed
Court fees are about to treble in some cases making court cases unaffordable too
Judicial Review is to be slashed
Criminal lawyers are on strike
The Court of Appeal rules (in the famous Mitchell case (plebgate) and the ones that followed) that the efficiency of the State comes before Justice – that alone is a shocker, so just re-read that sentence!
This is all very alarming and a lot of senior and respected commentators, including judges on the quiet, feel that we risk losing much of what has been achieved in the 800 years since Magna Charta.
All of these changes are bad news and threat for hard pressed individuals, for whom the protection of the law has until now been a comfort and a right. Note also that several of these changes mean that the rich who can still afford the higher fees have greater access to justice. That alone is another shocking point.
We are still here fighting for the little guy and for those who have claims and have been injured through no fault of their own. The playing field has been doctored cruelly and the goal posts shifted, but with committed and talented lawyers behind you justice can still, just about, be found.
If you have had any kind of accident and want to find out if you might have a claim, give us a call or click on the case evaluation button below.
That’s all for now,
John
What to do about negligent solicitors who miss time limits or mess up claims
Afternoon all, John here again.
Most of our work here at Ibbotson Brady Solicitors involves us acting as expert personal injury solicitors helping clients who have suffered accidents and want to claim compensation. Sadly, we are sometimes presented with new clients who come to us because they already had a good injury compensation claim up and running, but their solicitors have made a mistake and so the claim has failed (or is failing), or it has ended up being worth much less than it should have been.
I say that these are sad cases because the poor client has been doubly injured; they suffered the injury in the accident in first place and then suffered again when the solicitor who they instructed and trusted got it wrong.
In many of these cases there is no second chance at bringing the original injury claim against the person or company at fault for the accident – in fact those opponents have had a very lucky escape. This can mean that the only recourse that the poor client has is the daunting one of bringing a professional negligence claim against their own former solicitor.
Of course, just because a claim has failed or you are unhappy with the outcome doesn’t necessarily mean that the solicitors have been negligent, or done anything wrong at all. There are naturally strong claims, weak claims and those that are on a knife edge. The outcome of the original case is not always the dictating factor in whether there is a strong professional negligence claim and negligence claims are sometimes hard to win.
Some common themes I have seen with genuinely strong professional negligence claims against solicitors include chaotic law firms or situations where perhaps the solicitor or “file handler” is either very junior and out of their depth, or else their identity constantly changes all of the time, so that you barely talk to the same person twice. Also, situations arise where the solicitor doesn’t explain things properly, or at least in terms that can be understood. Sometimes clients might feel pushed into taking steps without really having the chance to consider them properly or agree anything. Sometimes this takes the form of too much bland standard written explanation without any actual specific case related advice in it; disappointing when a 20 minute face to face meeting or telephone call would make things much, much clearer.
It doesn’t automatically follow that these worrying themes equal negligence either , but they do seem to be common indicators of problems to come.
One small crumb of comfort in cases like these is that solicitors must, as a condition of being able to call themselves and practice as a solicitor, have professional negligence insurance. This compulsory insurance is pretty comprehensive, specifically so that the client is protected and to maintain public confidence in the profession.
If something like this has happened to you it can be gut wrenching and it often feels like you are starting again at square one.
Some of these professional negligence claims against solicitors are pretty simple and straightforward, such as where there has been a very basic and obvious mistake, like missing a crucial time limit. Others are much more complicated and subtle.
There is a prescribed protocol that must be followed for these claims and it is even more important than ever that you go to a solicitor who knows what they are doing second time around!
If you think you might have one of these situations then give me a call or send me an email. You can also use the case evaluation button below to make a free enquiry and we’ll call you and have a free chat.
Have a great weekend,
John
Cycling accidents in Leeds
Good afternoon and welcome to the latest blog.
I thought I’d write about a rash of cycling injury claims that we have had in recent months, mostly for clients in and around Leeds. I have no idea why there has been such a number in a short space of time, but I thought I could offer some common themes and tips for bringing claims.
The latest ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) figures show that casualty figures have risen in recent years and they suggest that this is mostly because of the increase in popularity of cycling. That makes sense and it will be interesting to see what difference the forthcoming staging of The Tour De France in Yorkshire makes to cycling numbers. I’ve got a strong suspicion that there will be a massive increase in the numbers of cyclists on the roads this coming summer. Let’s hope that they stay safe and that organisers and logistical planners have their wellbeing at heart.
ROSPA say 80% of cycling injuries are to males and the most vulnerable group age wise is 10 to 15 year olds. Most accidents are in urban areas. Roundabouts are particularly hazardous.
80% of accidents happen in daylight, but then that is because the vast majority of cycling takes place then. I wonder if the recent spate of claims we have seen have in part been because the very short hours of daylight and the almost constantly wet weather and therefore wet road surfaces?
More accidents numerically actually occur in Spring and Summer, but that is because many more miles are cycled in those milder months. This is confirmed by the fact that per mile cycled, the Winter is statistically the most dangerous time.
Injury patterns confirm that limb injuries are very common. Over 40% of hurt cyclists have arm injuries and about 25% have leg injuries.
Chest and abdominal injuries are more rare, at about 5%, but are more often serious and are often sustained with head injuries too.
Head injuries are common with over 40% of injured cyclists suffering them and they are more often serious. Over 70% of cyclist fatalities in London were due in large part to head injuries.
Injured cyclists almost always come off worst when in collision with any other vehicle and the most common cause of accidents involving them is due to one or both of the parties not looking properly. In my experience, it is much more likely to be the other vehicle driver/rider at fault and not the cyclist. This means that cyclists often have strong claims.
Many cyclists now have head cameras to record other driver behaviour and the footage can often be very helpful with a claim. They are a good idea.
Evidence is the key to most claims and that is just as true in cycling claims. Gathering evidence is sometimes hampered by the fact the cyclist has the more serious injuries – it’s hard to gather witness details etc if you are in a bad way. Fortunately, when serious accidents occur the public usually respond well and police attend.
It makes sense to contact a good Solicitor pretty swiftly after the accident, so that no evidence is lost. Pick someone, like us, who has a lot of experience of such claims and who will speak to you for free and explain how a claim will be pursued. Give us a call or click on the button below.
Happy (and safe) cycling!
John
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