Cycling Accident Claims
Common Cycling Injuries
- How Long Do I have to Make A Cycling Accident Claim
- How Long Do I have to Make A Cycling Accident Claim
- What Type of Injuries Can I Claim?
- Common Cycling Injuries
- What if The Driver Is Uninsured?
- What to Do If You Are Contacted by The Other Party’s Insurance Company
- How Can Claim Solutions Scotland Help?
- How Do I Start The Claims Process?
Cycling Accident Claims, according to Transport Scotland, are on the rise. If you have been injured because of another driver’s negligence while cycling then you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. Claim Solutions Scotland Ltd can help you to get the compensation you deserve. Our team of expert claims advisors can walk you through the claims process and increase your chances of success significantly.
Did you know that in 2014 alone 888 cyclists were injured on Scotland’s roads? This was a 0.5% increase from the previous year and this is expected to continue to rise. Since 2004, 114 pedal cyclists have been killed because of traffic accidents.
This is disturbing as cyclist make up only 0.8% of Scotland’s road traffic, yet they account for 7.9% of the total accidents reported. This dangerous trend can be attributed to a couple of key factors.
Scotland’s roads are more congested than ever before. This added congestion increases the risk to cyclists and this shows as the majority of cycling accidents occurred in urban centres during rush hours.
Smartphones can also be attributed to creating this dangerous cycling environment. Drivers are becoming more distracted because they are texting or doing other activities with their handheld devices. The blame can go both ways as cyclists using headphones are more likely to have an accident because they are unaware of vehicles approaching from their blind spot.
How Long Does it Take to Receive Compensation for my Cycling Accident Claim?
This is going to depend on the circumstances of your accident. If the insurance company is not contesting the fault or your injuries, your claim can be handled in less than 3 months. If nobody claims responsibility for the accident then a Court will examine the evidence and make a determination on who is to blame. This process can add to the time it takes for you to receive compensation.
In some cases, the Court may decide both parties share a percentage of the fault. When this occurs, your percentage of blame will be reduced from your compensation accordingly. If the insurance company thinks your injuries are bogus or pre-existing they may try to disprove your claim. This can also elongate the claims process. Each claim must be reviewed on an individual basis.
How Long Do I have to Make A Cycling Accident Claim
You have 3 years from the date of your accident to lodge a claim in Scotland. You should never wait until the last minute to lodge a claim because you are going to have a much higher success rate if you start the process sooner, rather than later. In theory, you should start the claims process immediately following you being injured. This can be done by gathering evidence to support your claim. Here are some examples of evidence that can be used in court.
- Witness Statements
- Police Reports
- Video Footage
- Additional Information
Anything that can prove you are not at fault, or the other driver is at fault, should be gathered. Be sure to get the contact information of any eyewitnesses. Witness statements and video footage can prove to be priceless in corroborating your claim.
What Type of Injuries Can I Claim?
Cycling accidents can be traumatic and due to the nature of these accidents, serious injuries are common. If you have been injured while cycling then you have a right to compensation for your suffering and losses. Below are the most common cycling Injuries encountered on Scotland’s roadways.
Common Cycling Injuries
- Whiplash
- Cuts & Scrapes
- Broken Bones
- Bruises
- Head Injuries
- Internal Organ Injuries
Besides bodily injuries you can claim for property damages, missed work, lost employment, mental anguish, and pain and suffering. You will need to prove your losses. Detailed notes, documentation, and receipts can all prove to be valuable evidence when lodging your claim. If the insurance company feels as if your injuries are being inflated they will require additional medical evidence to support your claim.
What if The Driver Is Uninsured?
Uninsured driving accidents are a plague on the Scottish roadways. Every year, hundreds of millions of pounds go towards dealing with the destructive effects these drivers produce. If an uninsured or untraceable driver injures you then your options are going to be limited. In order to lodge a complaint you will need to work with the MIB, or Motor Insurer’s Bureau. This helpful organisation was set up to provide victims of uninsured driving accidents a way to seek compensation. Prior to the existence of the MIB there was no way to lodge a complaint when the driver was uninsured.
What to Do If You Are Contacted by The Other Party’s Insurance Company
In some cases the driver’s insurance company may try to contact you and offer a settlement. It is important that you understand this insurance agent is not working in your best interests and even if the settlement seems fair now, they are really trying to limit their exposure to long-term losses such as future medical expenses. If you accept a settlement from the other parties insurance company then you will be unable to get access to additional financial assistance in the future. This can leave you covering unexpected medical bills that resulted from your accident. Don’t get bullied by insurance companies. Claim Solutions Scotland knows what your injuries are worth and we work to get you the maximum amount of compensation.
How Can Claim Solutions Scotland Help?
Claim Solutions Scotland can provide you with the expert advice you need for a successful claim. We have years of experience navigating Scotland’s claims process and we know exactly what to do to help you get the compensation you deserve. We understand how important your claim is to you and we treat each client with the unmatched professionalism needed to provide you with the smoothest claims experience possible.
How Do I Start The Claims Process?
If you have been injured while cycling because a driver failed to follow the Scottish Highway Code then you are entitled to compensation for your injuries as well as other losses you accrued during the recovery process. Starting the cycling accident claims process is easy. Contact us today to discuss the details of your accident and see how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
