Injured cyclist
A vehicle hit you while cycling, and you sense people think you should not be on the road.
A vehicle hit you while you were cycling. Along with the pain, you may feel that people think you should not have been on that road.
That attitude has no bearing on your claim.
Does “cyclists should not be on the road” hurt my claim?
No. Fault is worked out from what the driver did, not from whether a bicycle belonged there. A driver still has to check properly before turning, overtaking or opening a door.
Is a smaller injury worth claiming for?
Many cyclists hesitate after a collision that did not feel dramatic. What matters is your actual injury and cost, not how the crash looked.
Get checked properly first. You can decide what to do once you know what you are dealing with.
Does my bicycle need insurance?
No. What matters is that the vehicle that hit you was insured. Its insurer must pay a valid claim for your injury, since you are treated as an injured third party.[1]
What if I had no lights at night?
If you rode without lights at night, this can reduce your compensation.[2] It does not end the claim.
What to do next
Save any action-camera or ride-tracking data the same day, and keep your bicycle and gear until they are photographed. Making a cyclist accident claim covers the fuller process and the evidence that decides these cases.
An independent lawyer can take on your claim. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
People keep saying cyclists shouldn't be on the road. Does that hurt my claim?
No. That attitude is not a legal standard. A court looks at whether the driver kept a proper lookout, not at whether a bicycle belonged on that stretch of road.
My injury feels small. Is it even worth claiming?
It is worth getting checked and documented before deciding that. A knock that feels minor at the scene can still mean physiotherapy, missed work, or a lingering injury worth recording properly.
Does my bicycle having no insurance change anything?
No. What matters is that the vehicle that hit you was insured. Its insurer pays a valid claim for your injury, since you are treated as a third party.[1]
I did not have lights on at night. Am I in trouble?
It can reduce your compensation if it affected how visible you were, but it does not end your claim.[2] The full facts of the crash still matter most.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.96 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Low & Partners, on s.12 Civil Law Act 1956 (contributory negligence) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.