The growing availability of rental bicycles and bike sharing schemes across the UK has dramatically increased the pre-Covid number of cyclists on the road riding bikes owned by a third party. Bicycle rental companies and bike sharing scheme operators have recently been hit with a number of compensation claims involving bike accidents caused by mechanical defects, design faults, poor assembly, improper maintenance and poor repair work, many of which have resulted in cyclists being seriously injured through no fault of their own.
Bike Accidents Caused by Safety Flaws
Either the bicycle rental company or the manufacturer may be responsible for an accident caused by an unsafe bike being provided to a customer. For a claim to succeed, it will be necessary to prove that the bicycle was faulty in some way, and this was the cause of the accident. Typical examples of safety flaws include malfunctioning brakes, wheels becoming detached and falling off, incorrect tire pressure, substandard frames, defective seat posts and broken handlebars, any of which can result in a rider losing control of their bike, falling unexpectedly, sustaining injuries and potentially injuring pedestrians.
Duty of Care Owed by Bike Providers
Bicycle rental companies and share scheme operators owe their customers a duty of care, meaning that a bike should be as safe as possible for a customer to use for the duration of their rental. When a bike malfunctions due to defects or design flaws and a cyclist is injured in an accident, the provider will have breached their duty of care, which amounts to negligence for which the cyclist will be able to claim compensation. Most bike rental companies and share scheme operators have insurance that covers accidents and injuries caused by defects, while bike manufacturers will also be covered for design and assembly flaws.
Accidents Caused by Malfunctioning Bikes
When a rental bike malfunctions due to a defect of whatever type, the rider is placed at risk of serious injury if they lose control and fall, particularly in congested areas and at peak traffic times, as well as in certain specific situations like when they are crossing a junction or heading straight into the path of another vehicle. In order to prove that an accident was the bicycle’s fault, an injured cyclist should obtain the details of any witnesses, take photos of the bike’s damage and file a police report before handing it back to the provider.
If you are a cyclist and have been injured in an accident caused by a rental or share scheme bicycle’s defective condition, contact our firm for expert legal advice from solicitors who are themselves cyclists, and who have many years of experience in claiming compensation for cyclists injured through no fault of their own.
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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.