Penningtons welcomes London Mayor’s proposal to protect cyclists

Posted: 09/10/2013

The personal injury team at Penningtons is seeing an increasing number of new cases involving cyclists who have sustained injury on the roads through no fault of their own. The number of cyclists seriously injured has increased in recent years. In 2011, 92% of cyclist KSIs (killed and seriously injured casualties) occurred in accidents involving another vehicle.

Most recently, the team has settled a claim involving an experienced cyclist who was cycling in a designated cycle lane when, without warning, a car overtook him and proceeded to turn directly across his path, causing him to collide with the vehicle sustaining numerous injuries.

We were able to secure an admission of liability quite quickly from the driver of the vehicle who acknowledged that he had crossed into our client’s path causing him to collide with his vehicle.

Following the recent death of a female cyclist in Greater London who collided with an HGV lorry, the Mayor of London has proposed to create a London Lorry Safety Charge zone in Greater London in which vehicles not fitted with cycle safety equipment would be subject to large fines.

Amy Milner, a personal injury solicitor who acts for clients injured in road traffic accidents, welcomes the Mayor of London’s proposals to make roads safer for users other than motor vehicles. She says: “We are now part of a culture where cycling is encouraged and a lot of employers offer a cycle to work scheme. But with the increasing number of cyclists on our road and the frequent incidence of fatal accidents involving cyclists, more still needs to be done. While we welcome the Mayor’s new proposals - which are definitely a step in the right direction - only time will tell if the measures can have a significant effect on protecting cyclists.”

Return to news headlines