Hello and welcome to my first blog  on our new website!  My name is Lorraine and alongside John I am a partner in Ibbotson Brady Solicitors who specialise in dealing with claims for people who are injured in accidents. If you have looked in on our website you will know that we deal with all types of accident claims and over the coming months John and I will post articles that we hope you find interesting and informative.

As the weather is getting warmer I have noticed that the number of cyclists out on the roads is increasing.  Some people (and I am one of them) enjoy  cycling for the  enjoyment and health benefits whilst other  people choose to cycle as a practical (and often quicker) means of transport.  Whatever the reason for being a cyclist one of the main issues each one of us has to address is our safety  whilst out on the roads.

I was listening to a debate on the radio one morning last week when the advanatages and disadvantages of wearing a cycling helmet were under discussion again.  This is a topic that comes up with some regularity, and in particular whether the wearing of a helmet should be made compulsory in Britain.  The current position is that there is no legislation which requires cyclists to wear helmets and the decision is one which is left to personal choice.  This contrasts with the position in Australia (for example) where helmets have been compulsory since 1992.  Whatever your views on this it seems that this is a topic which will undoubtedly be revisited.

The article made me think about the steps we can all take to stay safe on the roads.  One obvious thing we can all do is to make ourselves visible.  Just by wearing a bright coloured top or  a safety vest other road users are more likely to see us sooner and respect or position on the road.  And a good set of lights on your cycle is always a good and sensible investment.

If you are buying a helmet make sure you visit  a good cycle shop who can advise you on the size of helmet you need and the best one for you.

Sometimes, even with all the safety measures you take,accidents happen and this can be costly.  In addition to the damage to your cycle and clothing, if you are also injured and have to take time off work then you may lose income.  If the accident was somebody else’s fault then you may be able to make a claim to recover your losses.  At this stage you will almost certainly need a solicitor.  Even if you just want some advice on what to do next you can always call me and I will be happy to help.

Happy Cycling!