What Are The Common Causes Of Cycling Accidents In The UK?

Health and safety remain a key consideration in any sporting discipline or physical activity, particularly those that are enjoyed outside of the home and on the open road.

Take cycling, for example, which is both a competitive sport and a popular fitness discipline. Between 2004 and 2020, cycling fatalities on UK roads rose by 5% from 134 to 141, while serious injuries increased by 26% during the same period.

Of course, the number of cyclists on the road increased by 96% during this time, but there’s no doubt that people on bikes are at risk of being injured in an accident caused by a third party. But what are the common causes of cycling accidents and the most likely injuries? Let’s find out!

Common Causes of Accidents Involving Cyclists

Interestingly, road junctions are responsible for 75% of incidents involving cyclists, particularly in instances where vehicles turn into the path of cyclists as they enter the road from the pavements.

In approximately 20% of all accidents, cyclists are affected immediately after pulling into the road from the pavement, with a further 17% of cases following the completion of a poor turn or maneuver.

Just like motorists, cyclists can also suffer in instances where they ride carelessly or in a hurried and reckless manner. This was noted as a contributing factor in 17% of cycling accidents, creating a scenario where riders were primarily at fault for the incident or collision.

In terms of location, some 75% of serious cycling accidents occur in urban areas, although 50% of fatalities take place on rural roads. The latter is arguably due to the presence of higher speed limits in rural areas, which also cover tight and winding roads.

Finally, cycling accidents are undoubtedly male-dominated, with 80% of incidents involving riders who were men.

What Are The Most Common Cycling Injuries?

When appraising the most common injury types incurred while cycling, we see that head and brain injuries account for around 75% of all major injuries and hospitalizations.

This can include a broad range of injuries, from cuts and contusions to instances of concussion. Then there are incidences of permanent brain damage and skull fractures, which can both prove deadly in some circumstances.

Data suggests that 40% of cyclists suffer at least some form of minor or major head injury following a collision, while 70% of fatalities in London and rural areas have moderate or serious head injuries.

Among less serious incidents, limb injuries are perhaps the most common complaints. From collated records in the UK, approximately 40% of cyclists suffer from injuries to their arms and 25% to their legs, while torso injuries are considerably less common but do present a greater risk of death or serious injury.

The Last Word

If you do experience an accident while cycling that was at least partially the fault of a third party on the road, you may be able to make a personal injury claim and pursue compensation.

Your potential payout can be particularly sizable when making brain injury claims, so long as you’re able to demonstrate that a third party was at fault and draw a direct link between the incident and your injuries.

You’ll also need to make a formal claim within three years of the accident or your injuries becoming apparent, and a specialized legal firm can help in this regard.