Cyclists Cause Accidents Crashing Into Pedestrians
Hundreds of pedestrians are injured by cyclists in the UK every year, many of them seriously, and occasionally fatally. While the government continues to encourage cycling as an environmentally friendly means of reducing congestion, the anger felt by many at the number of injuries sustained by pedestrians in collisions with bicycles continues to drive efforts to introduce a private members’ bill in Parliament to create a crime of causing death or serious injury through dangerous or reckless cycling.
Recent Blog: Crackdown on Dangerous Cyclists?
If I Was Injured by a Cyclist Riding on the Pavement Can I Claim Compensation?
Yes. Cyclists may pose a danger when they are riding along pavements, through parks, cycling the wrong way on a one-way street, jumping red lights, failing to stop at pedestrian crossings and overlooking the basics of the Highway Code. Often cyclists will be hurrying on their way to work, using excessive speed and not paying sufficient attention to what is in front of them. Messengers using bicycles in cities may be under time pressure to make a delivery, causing them to take unnecessary risks which endanger pedestrians, particularly office workers near the point of delivery. The exact circumstances of each accident involving cyclists and pedestrians are normally unique, as they may occur in so many different scenarios.
Case Study: Pedestrian Hit by Cyclist on Pavement
Can I Sue a Cyclist Who is Not Insured?
If investigations reveal that a cyclist is not insured, we may still take on the case depending on the exact circumstances. Campaigners for pedestrian safety would like to see public liability insurance made compulsory for cyclists, as well as the introduction of compulsory proficiency tests for those cycling in public areas. In fact, many more cyclists are opting to take out public liability insurance, in the same way that drivers have third party cover to protect them in the event of a claim being made against them for causing an accident, injuring pedestrians (or fellow cyclists), or damaging another person’s property. Our solicitors have many years of combined experience in successfully representing pedestrians injured by dangerous and reckless cyclists. Contact our team of specialist lawyers today for free, confidential advice.
Highway Code Changes Increase Cyclists’ Responsibility for Road Safety
Department for Transport (DfT) data shows that 19,039 pedestrians were reported injured on Britain’s roads in the year ending June 2022, and while very few deaths on the roads are caused by cyclists, hundreds of pedestrians suffer moderate to serious injuries every year after being involved in collisions with bicycles.
Introduced in January 2022, the new Highway Code rules recognise the danger that cyclists can pose to pedestrians by placing the latter at the top of a risk-based ‘hierarchy of road users’, meaning that pedestrians now have priority over cyclists in many different road scenarios. Cyclists are now obliged to be more aware of the safety of pedestrians and take better care on the road to reduce the risk of collisions.
The new Highway Code regime gives pedestrians priority at junctions and intersections over all other road users, including cyclists, who must now give way not only when a pedestrian is already crossing the road, but also when they are waiting to cross. When a cyclist is turning into a road, therefore, they are now expected to check that there are no pedestrians waiting to cross, and give way if there are.
Some of the new rules have come in for criticism, including because a cyclist suddenly slowing down at a junction in fast-moving traffic risks getting hit from behind by another vehicle. Their practical application varying road conditions across the country is also a concern, as is lack of awareness of the new rules (or unwillingness to learn them), which will inevitably cause confusion and lead to accidents, at least in the short term, as both pedestrians and cyclists become familiar with their new rights and responsibilities on the road.
Make a free compensation enquiry today
For specialist advice on your personal injury claim, call us now on Liverpool 0151 227 3391 or Chester 01244 645830 or Wrexham 01978 360056 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.
