How can a cyclist be affected by a defective road?
Defective surfaces are among some of the most dangerous road situations that a cyclist may face. Cyclists don’t have the luxury of a motor to get them out of a tricky situation quickly and their wheels aren’t as sturdy as motor vehicles. When a cyclist hits a defective surface, they are at risk of losing control of their bike and thus colliding with a vehicle or other object.
Cyclists don’t have as much protection as other road users. There is no airbag to cushion their impact or seatbelts to help restrain them during impact. In fact, a lot of cyclists fail to see the need to wear basic safety accessories such as helmets and knee pads. As a result, there is a high chance of serious injuries and even death when a pedal bike unexpectedly collides with a defective surface.
The types of defective surfaces that can affect cause a cycle accident are as follows:
- Oil spills
- Potholes, sunken drains and loose gravel
- Debris such as tree branches, mud and leaves
- Icy conditions
- Fallen loads from trucks and lorries
How to claim for your defective road accident
When you are the victim of a defective road accident, as soon as it is safe to do so, you should gather evidence to help with your claim. Waiting may affect your claim as the defective surface in question could be fixed before you have collected evidence. The defending party is likely to argue that it was the speed or careless driving of a cyclist that caused the collision. Your claim will be based on the strength of your evidence and the seriousness of your injuries which will vary.
If you have been involved in this type of accident, call our experienced solicitors on 0800 011 2757 / 0151 724 7121 or complete our online form. We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis and should you win your case, you will keep 100% off the compensation.