Bicycle Accident Claims Solicitors, Belfast, Northern Ireland

You have three years to claim for injury compensation sustained in a bicycle accident. The time limit usually begins from the time that the bicycle accident occurs. However, it can commence on a later date if you are not immediately aware of your injuries.

Bicycle accident claims for minors

If you were injured in a cycling accident as a child, the three year time limit begins on your 18th birthday.

Issuing proceedings

Many believe they have three years to instruct a cycling accident solicitor but this is incorrect. You must issue proceedings prior to the three year time limit running out so it is important to seek legal advice well in advance. If you fail in this, your case will very likely get statute-barred, preventing you from claiming.

Learn more about cycling accident claims limitation periods

You can find out more about bicycle accident claims limitation periods by reading our blog on the topic: How long do I have to claim?

The length of time varies from case to case. We typically find that the length of time it takes to bring a case from instruction to settlement or hearing is intrinsic with the complexities of a case. In most instances, a straightforward cycling accident case will conclude quicker than a complex case.

Three months to several years

In instances where a personal injury case is relatively straightforward, we often bring it to conclusion in as little as three months. Cycling accident cases of a more complex nature can take several years to conclude. This is due to the severity of the injuries sustained and the number of medical reports required to progress the case.

Cycling accident claim delays

Whether the defendant accepts or denies liability will also factor in how long it can take. In some rare instances, the other road user’s insurer or solicitor can cause avoidable delays. For example, they may fail to respond to letters in a timely manner. We have the expertise and experience to mitigate against such delays should they occur.

The length of time required to conclude a cycling claim is also subject to court availability should the case be required to proceed to a hearing. This is particularly amplified when the courts are experiencing a backlog.

We are bicycle accident claims solicitors

Our solicitors have a reputation for progressing bicycle accident claims quickly and ensuring any unnecessary delays are avoided.

The amount of compensation is linked to the injuries sustained and the amount of time that was required for you to recover.

Brackets of cycling injury compensation

We get an idea of how much compensation our bicycle accident clients are entitled to by referring to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases in Northern Ireland from The Judicial Studies Board for Northern Ireland. This is also known as “The Green Book”. It provides brackets of compensation for all injuries ranging from soft tissue injuries to serious and lifechanging injuries such as severe brain damage.

It is important to note that The Green Book is a guide. There are lots of other factors that may be factored in that could impact the level of compensation. This depends on your unique set of circumstances and how the injury was sustained.

General damages and special damages

The guide also only refers to general damages. This is the compensation that you’re entitled to for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. You may also be entitled to special damages. These are designed to compensate you for things like your loss of earnings, damage to your bicycle and even opportunities you missed.

You may still be able to make a claim for compensation when you are partly liable for the circumstances surrounding the cycling accident. This is called contributory negligence.

Contributory negligence

If the bicycle accident claim is successful, the amount paid to you in damages would be reduced in line with how responsible you were. For example, if it could be determined that you were 50% responsible, you would receive 50% less in compensation than you would have got had the defendant been entirely responsible.

Always speak with a cycling accident specialist solicitor

It should be noted that sometimes people think they were responsible or partly responsible for a cycling accident when the facts of the matter would suggest otherwise. You should always seek independent legal advice from a bicycle accident claims solicitor before conceding liability.

It is not uncommon for car insurance companies or other organisations to contact you shortly after a bicycle accident in the hope to dissuade you from claiming or to make you an offer. This is known as third party capture and rarely has your best interest at heart. It is important that you obtain independent legal advice before accepting any offers or deciding whether you would like to claim or not.

More on third party capture

You can learn more by reading our blog post on the dangers of third party capture.