2 February 2012
Leigh Day & Co's
cycle claims team offers its full support of the Times Newspaper's
public campaign and eight point manifesto to make cycling on the UK roads safer. The campaign reports on the shocking statistic that since 2001 over 27,000 cyclists have died or been seriously injured on the nation’s roads. The Times is calling on law-makers to do more to ensure both cyclists and motorists can co-exist safely on the road.
Penny Knight, head of the cycling claims team, in a personal blog highlights why she will be supporting the campaign. She said:
“My job as a
personal injury claims solicitor gives me a unique insight into many things, being a specialist in
cycling claims, and a Londoner who cycles to work every day, gives me a particular perspective on how cycling has not only grown, but also of the dangers that growth poses to all road users in the capital.
"The cycling revolution has been much flaunted by the Mayor, but has enough thought gone into making London’s roads safer?. You can’t play at this; you cannot encourage people onto roads which are fundamentally unsafe. Even the most experienced cyclist cannot save himself or herself from the actions of a careless left turning lorry-driver, or from being struck from behind by a speeding motorist.
"A cycling strategy for London isn’t just about bikes for hire and blue paint on the road, it requires a wholesale review of London’s road system for two basic reasons: London roads are too busy, and when cyclists are hit by vehicles they are very often seriously injured or killed.
"The cycle superhighways are not safe and work needs to be done on these and at major junctions to make it safer to cycle in London. It is also essential that the attitudes of the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, and Borough road engineers change to embrace a new way for us all to move around the City, ensuring more Londoners survive their journeys.
"But what of cyclists and their behaviour? It’s true, idiocy has no preferred means of transport. A minority of cyclists, and a minority of motorists (and often they are same people), do silly things. However, when car hits cyclist it is the cyclist that are killed and maimed, idiocy should not be punishable by death.
"As the greatest cycling nation in the world – we currently dominate in almost every discipline of the sport – we should welcome the sight of cyclists on our roads. Watching future champions on their racing bikes emulating their heroes and fitter, healthier commuting makes it both easier to sustain the planet and cut health costs, and should fill us with joy.”
Cycling injury claims lawyers
Leigh Day & Co is a firm of
personal injury claims solicitors who have handled thousands of
cycle accident compensation claims on behalf of cyclists in the UK, securing millions of pounds in compensation for injured cyclists. Leigh Day is retained by
British Cycling and the
British Triathlon Federation to act on behalf of its members who are injured in road traffic accidents, collisions and crashes, and also acts for many other cyclists, pedestrians, athletes, and sportsmen and women who are injured on UK roads. The firm is accredited by the Spinal Injuries Association and Headway as being specialist solicitors recommended for handling serious
brain injury claims and
spinal injury claims. We also have extensive experience in handling
amputation compensation claims.
Our team of cycling claims lawyers has extensive experience in successfully securing compensation for injured cyclists so that they can return to training and competing as quickly as possible.
Please contact
Penny Knight, head of the cycling and sports injury team, on
020 7650 1200 if you would like to talk about a possible claims for compensation after being involved in a cycle crash.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.