Bicycle Courier Injury Claims – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?

The role of bicycle couriers has changed somewhat over the years. In the past, they’d simply move parcels between businesses in big cities like London. Nowadays, though, cyclists are paid to deliver fast-food, restaurant meals and even grocery items from the local supermarket. However, cyclists are quite vulnerable to injuries if they’re involved in any type of accident. As such, we’ve written this article to explain when bicycle courier injury claims might be possible if you’ve suffered following an accident that wasn’t your fault. We’ll explain the types of injuries bicycle couriers could claim for and what any compensation could cover.

To help you start the ball rolling, we offer an initial consultation on a no-obligation basis. During the call, a specialist will assess your claim with you and explain the likelihood of you being compensated. If there’s a fair chance of success, we’ll connect you with one of our personal injury solicitors. Importantly, they won’t ask for legal fees to be paid in advance because all accepted claims are managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.

To find out whether you’ve got a valid claim, please call us on 0800 652 1345 today. Alternatively, please continue reading to learn more about bicycle courier compensation claims.

Cycling accident statistics

While there isn’t any specific data relating to bicycle courier accidents, the government does supply statistics about general pedal cycle accidents each year. The figures for 2020 show that:

• 141 cyclists died in a Road Traffic Accident (RTA).
• 4,215 suffered serious injuries.
• 11,938 cyclists sustained slight injuries.

One of the main reasons cyclists are injured in RTAs is that, even if a helmet is worn, their bodies are not very well protected. In many cycling accidents, the rider will be thrown from their bike and collide with the road, a wall or another vehicle which can lead to multiple or serious injuries being sustained.

Can I claim compensation for a bicycle courier accident?

All road users have a duty of care to try and keep each other as safe as possible. The legislation that creates that duty is the Highways Act 1988. Additionally, the Highway Code sets out the rules of the road that all road users should follow. In 2022, the Highway Code was updated to elevate cyclists up the hierarchy of road users to try and offer them better protection.

However, despite the changes, bicycle courier accidents still happen. If you’ve been injured whilst working as a bicycle courier, you could be compensated if:

• Another road user’s negligence meant they breached their duty of care towards you; and
• An accident happened as a result; and
• You sustained injuries during the accident.

To prove that you should be compensated, you’ll need to supply proof to show how your accident occurred and who was to blame. As such, we’ll look at what to do after a cycling accident a little later.

If you believe that you have a valid bicycle courier accident claim, please do get in touch.

Common accidents involving bicycle couriers

There are several ways that a cycle courier could be injured through no fault of their own. Some examples of when compensation claims for those injuries might be possible include:

• Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs). While many more roads have dedicated cycle lanes these days, bicycle couriers are still vulnerable RTAs involving other vehicles. Unfortunately, reports of HGV accidents involving cyclists are still fairly common and are often fatal. Any RTA caused by careless, dangerous or reckless driving could all lead to a bicycle courier injury claim.
• Hazardous road surfaces. Local authorities and business owners have a duty of care to inspect and maintain roads properly. As such, if a bike courier is injured after hitting a pothole or a damaged manhole cover, they could be entitled to seek damages. Similarly, accidents caused by slippery substances on the road could also lead to a claim.
• Lifting injuries. Bicycle couriers who are employed by a company should be trained on how to lift heavy or awkward loads safely. They should also not be asked to carry loads which are too heavy for their bicycle. If you’ve been injured due to an unsafe load or sustained a lifting injury because of inadequate training, please call to see if you could be entitled to compensation for a manual handling injury.
• Slips, trips and falls. While many cycle courier injuries are sustained while riding, they can also occur when picking up or dropping off a parcel. If you’ve slipped on a wet floor where no warning signs were used, tripped on a cable trailed across a reception area or fallen down stairs at work because of a raised carpet, you may also be entitled to compensation.
• Faulty equipment. Couriers who are employed may have their bikes supplied by their employer. If that’s the case, it should be fit for purpose and well maintained. As such, if you’ve been injured because of a faulty bike that wasn’t maintained properly, you could be compensated for any injuries.

Our solicitors can help with any type of bicycle courier accident claim so please get in touch even if we’ve not listed a scenario that matches your own here.

Common injuries to bicycle couriers

As per the criteria set out above, bicycle courier injury claims are possible for any injury caused by another road user’s negligence. Some of the most common claims our personal injury lawyers can help with are based on:

• Minor head injuries.
• Broken bones.
• Muscle, tendons or ligament damage.
• Back injury.
• Scar injuries.
• Leg injuries.
• Arm injuries.
• Crush and abdomen injuries.
• Foot injuries.

Many factors will determine the extent of any injury such as the speed the accident occurred at and the type of road surface.

Even if your injury is not listed here, please let us know how you were injured and we’ll review your claim for free.

Providing proof for a bicycle courier injury claim

Although you might not be thinking about claiming compensation in the immediate aftermath of a cycling courier accident, there are several steps that you should take that may help if you decide to take action later on. They include:

• Swap details. If anybody else was involved in your accident, swap details with them. Also make a note of their vehicle’s details (number plate, model, colour etc).
• Seek medical treatment. You should have your injuries checked by a doctor at a hospital or minor injuries unit. This should lead to a proper diagnosis and treatment and you could use your medical records to prove the extent of your injuries.
• Speak to witnesses. Ask anybody else who saw your accident for their contact details. If a claim proceeds, your solicitor may contact them to ask for a witness statement. Also, request copies of any dashcam footage if available.
• Take photographs. Try to capture the scene of your bicycle courier accident on a phone or camera before any vehicles are moved.
• Report the accident. If there are serious injuries or somebody leaves the scene of the accident without providing their details, call the police to report the accident.

In addition to the above, it’s a good idea to write down everything that you can remember as soon as possible. Also, if you are left out of pocket following a bike courier accident, you should keep any receipts, wage slips or bank statements to prove your losses.

When you call for a free consultation about your courier accident claim, we’ll review any evidence you’ve already secured.

How much compensation for a bicycle courier accident?

Our solicitors aim to secure a fair amount of compensation in all bicycle courier injury claims they take on. If you make a claim, it could provide compensation to cover:

• Physical pain and suffering.
• Psychiatric harm (distress, anxiety, depression etc).
• Loss of amenity (the impact on your usual activities and hobbies).
• The cost of replacing items damaged during the accident.
• Medical costs (prescriptions, physiotherapy etc).
• Loss of earnings and future reductions in income.
• Travel expenses.
• The cost of a carer.
• Mobility aids or home adaptations if you’re left disabled.

As part of the claims process, you’ll need to prove the severity of your injuries. For that reason, you’ll need an independent medical examination of your injuries. This is nothing to worry about and your appointment can usually be arranged locally.

As well as examining you, a specialist will discuss how your injuries have affected you before producing a report to set out your prognosis. This report will help your solicitor to calculate the amount of compensation you might claim.

Fatal bicycle courier accidents

While relatively rare, bicycle couriers are sometimes fatally injured in road traffic accidents. While we realise no amount of compensation will ease the suffering caused by your loss, our solicitors could help make it easier for you to cope with any financial implications. For example, compensation might be awarded if you were financially dependent on the deceased’s income or if you’ve incurred costs such as funeral expenses.

Please get in touch when you’re ready and we’ll try to help in a compassionate and friendly manner.

Bicycle courier injury claim time limits

It’s important to note that a 3-year time limit is in place for personal injury claims in the UK. When making a bicycle courier injury claim, this will usually start from the date of your accident. However, this may be extended if your injuries meant you didn’t have the capacity to deal with a claim i.e. if you were left in a coma following the accident.

In our experience, the sooner you start your claim, the sooner you’ll be compensated. Furthermore, beginning the claims process early will usually make it easier to gather the proof to support your claim.

Interim payments are sometimes requested by solicitors during bicycle courier claims if the claimant is struggling financially as a result of their injuries. These could lead to payments before the claim is finalised to cover medical expenses, care costs and loss of earnings.

No Win, No Fee claims

Our solicitors work on a No Win, No Fee basis for any bicycle courier injury claim they take on. As a result, you don’t need to pay their fees upfront which allows them to begin acting on your behalf right away.

That meant that they can:

• Find out how you’ve suffered by discussing your claim in detail.
• Gather proof to show how you’ve suffered and how the accident occurred.
• File the bicycle courier injury claim with the defendant.
• Shield you from technical or legal questions by handling all communication.
• Fight your corner to try and secure the maximum level of compensation possible.

If your claim fails, you won’t need to pay for any of the work carried out by your solicitor.

Start a bicycle courier injury claim today

Please speak with one of our specialists on 0800 652 1345 today if you’d like free advice on claiming for your injuries. They’ll explain your options and assess whether you could be represented by one of our personal injury solicitors.

If your claim does proceed, your solicitor will act on a No Win, No Fee basis which should help to reduce your stress levels during the claims process.

If you have any extra questions about bicycle courier injury claims, please feel free to connect to our live chat service or you can arrange a free consultation here.