We often get questions about what information you need to provide when you start a cycle accident claim. Typically, we just need to know what happened that resulted in a cycle accident.
Below we run through some of the most important information we’ll need to gather from you. Once we have this information, we can move forward with your claim.
How did the cycle accident occur?
We’ll need to know exactly what happened which led to you being involved in a cycle accident. For example, if you were knocked off your bike, we need to know how this happened, what the third-party did, etc.
Also, we will need to know what happened before and after the incident as well as during. This helps us build a picture of the scene and better understand the situation.
Date and time: When did the accident happen?
When collecting information about your case we will need to know exactly when it happened. This includes both the date and the time of the accident. If you’re unsure of the time, make sure to give a close enough estimate.
If there’s any photos or videos from the scene these will be timestamped so you can look back and see when they were taken.
Most people contact us shortly after their accident. However, if your accident happened a few months ago, you may also want to reach out now to start a claim. For us to start a case, the accident must have occurred within the past 3 years.
We’ll need to know the location of the accident
A big part in your case will be the location of the accident. We need to know exactly where it happened so we can determine what the scene was like.
For example, if the accident happened on a narrow road, or on a crossroad etc., this information can be really useful to build the case. Please note that we can only take on claims from England and Wales.
Who was at fault?
Usually, it’ll be clear who was at fault, and most of the time our clients come to us when they know they weren’t at fault. However, we have had some cases where the client is unsure who is at fault.
If you’re unsure, make sure to get in contact with us as it may be that you weren’t at fault, and we can make a successful cycle accident claim for you.
You’ll need to provide the third-party details
Similarly, to if you were to have a car accident, we need the details of the third party to start the case.
We’re going to need to know the full name, car registration and home address from the third party. These are essential for a successful case.
You can also get the third parties’ insurance details; however, this isn’t essential as we will be able to recover these from the above information.
If you’ve got some witness details: these are really helpful
If there were witnesses to your cycle accident, make sure you have their contact details. It may be that they have video or photographic evidence of the accident or scene.
They might also be able to help if they had a dashcam. This can help prove who’s at fault and give a more accurate representation of the scene.
What photographic evidence do you have?
Sometimes people take photos of the scene when they have had a cycle accident. These are great as we can see the scene, the weather conditions, any vehicles or obstacle in the area, and more.
We advise that if you can, you should take as many photos of the scene as possible. This can help build up a case as we have more information as to what the scene was like.
Seeing if the accident was caught on CCTV
Depending on where your cycle accident occurred, it may be in view of a CCTV camera. This can be crucial evidence when it comes to your case. The majority of city roads have CCTV in a lot of places, so it just depends on where exactly the accident took place.
You’ll be surprised how many CCTV cameras there are nowadays so hopefully there will be one which caught at least some of the accident.
What happens next?
If you fill in our online form:
Once you submit an online form, we will follow up with you within the hour (slightly longer if it’s out of hours). Depending on your preferences, this is usually by phone call. This way we can find out some more information and gather more details if we need.
After the phone call, we will get this onto our system straight away and then start working on the case. On average a case will take around 6-8 months to complete, but this does depend on the circumstances and severity of the case.
If you call us to start your cycle accident claim:
If you call us, a member of our friendly team will speak with you and ask the relevant questions. This is so that we have enough information to be able to build and put forward a case. Once we have everything that we initially need from you, we will upload all the information onto our system.
Similarly to if you filled in a form online, we then get to work straight away and will contact you if we need any further information. Again, on average the case will take about 6-8 months to complete, though this is dependent on the case.
Ready to make a cycle accident claim?
If you’ve had a cycle accident within the last 3 years, you could be entitled to compensation. Simply start a claim on our website, and we’ll take it from there. We’ll just need to gather all of the information to be able to start your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
We know it can be scary after having a cycle accident, but we’re here for you every step of the way. If you’re anxious to get back on your bike, it might be worth giving our How to Overcome Your Cycling Fears blog.
