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Over 19,000 cyclists a year suffer injury in road traffic accidents

According to ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) every year in this country around 19,000 cyclists are injured sometimes fatally in reported road accidents, including around 3,000 who are killed or seriously injured.

Cyclist Casualties, 2013

These figures only include cyclists killed or injured in road accidents that were reported to the police. Many cyclists accidents are not reported to the Police, even when the cyclist is injured badly enough to have to go to hospital. The figures also do not include cycling accidents that occur away from the road. Although the number of deaths is accurate, there could be two or three times as many seriously injured cyclists and double the number of slightly injured.

Cyclist casualties have risen in recent years as the amount of cycling has increased.

The majority of cyclist casualties are adults, with less than one fifth being children. Cycling accidents increase as children grow older, with 10 to 15 year old riders being more at risk than other age groups, including adults until about the age of 60 years. To some extent, this reflects increased cycling as children grow older followed by a switch to motorised transport from the late teens onwards. It also coincides with the age when children attend Secondary school, and may indicate riskier behaviour by this age group.

Males are far more likely to be involved in cycling accidents than females; four out of five cyclist casualties are male.

Most cycling accidents happen in built up areas where most cycling takes place. Almost 66% of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction, with T junctions being the most commonly involved. Roundabouts are particularly dangerous junctions for cyclists. Not surprisingly, the severity of injuries suffered by cyclists increases with the speed limit, meaning that riders are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries on higher speed roads. Almost half of cyclist deaths occur on rural roads.

Around 80% of cycling accidents occur in daylight which is when most cycling takes place. For child cyclists, 90% of their accidents occur during the day. The most dangerous hours for cyclists are 3.00 to 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 to 9.00 a.m. on weekdays. However, cycling accidents in the dark are more likely to be fatal.

More cycle accidents occur during the Spring and Summer months than the Autumn and Winter months. The casualty rate in terms of miles travelled is higher over the Autumn and Winter period.

If you have had a cycling accident and suffered injury as a result then contact Yorkshire’s Injury Lawyers to use our no win no fee service. The majority of our Lawyers have in excess of 25 years experience in dealing with injury claims involving cyclists.

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