What to do after a collision

An expert guide from LCC’s legal partners Osbornes Law what to do immediately after a cycling collision

Cycling in London is generally safe but collisions do occasionally happen and it’s important to know what to do if the unfortunate should occur. Here’s what to do if you witness or are directly involved in a collision to protect your health and legal rights.

Actions To Take

Call the emergency services

It’s important to call an ambulance or get someone else to do so if anyone is seriously injured. Be prepared to tell the operator where you are and explain what happened.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else who is injured, the call operator will be able to tell you what to do to keep the casualty comfortable until the emergency services arrive. If you’re not sure how serious the injuries are, call 111. That’s the non-emergency number, and the operator can give you advice.

Gather as much evidence as you can

Once everyone is safe and clear of the road, grab your phone or a pen and paper and make a note of the following information:

• Get the other road user’s name, address, vehicle registration number and insurance details
• Get the name, phone number and address of at least two witnesses if possible
• Record a message describing what happened. You can write this down if you don’t have a phone with you, but do it as soon as possible while the collision is fresh in your mind
• Take pictures of (or sketch) the road, the area around the collision, your bike, and the position of the other bike or vehicle that hit you – pay close attention to skid marks, road markings and road signs as this will help pinpoint the exact location
• Photograph any potholes or road damage if they caused your collision – try to record their length, depth and width by placing another object alongside the defect
• Look around and record the location of any CCTV cameras that may have footage of the collision.

Report the incident

If there’s any type of injury to you or damage to the bike, report the incident to the police either straightaway or within 24 hours. Note the name of any police officers attending the scene, their station and a Traffic Case Reference Number, ‘CAD’ (Computer Aided Despatch) or ‘CRIS’ (Crime Reference Information System) number.

You’ll need these numbers to trace the progress of your case if there’s a prosecution.

If a pothole or road defect brought you off your bike, report the incident to the highway authority. This will be the local authority unless it is a major road such as a red route when it will be Transport for London. If you’re not sure how to do this – our lawyers can help.

Even if another road user is involved you may still have a claim against the highway authority where there is a surface defect or negligent design of a road.

See a doctor

See a doctor, even if you feel okay. Injuries, and especially head injuries, can show up later so it’s important that you visit your nearest Accident and Emergency, Minor Injuries department or your GP to get checked out.

Either way, you have evidence that you were hurt in the collision which will help you later on.

Don’t discuss who is at fault

Now for something you should not do: Do not admit responsibility as this may count against you later. It’s human nature to want to say ‘sorry’ but if you admit fault, the court may decide that you’re not entitled to any compensation for your injuries. When reporting the incident, just stick to the facts and tell the police what happened from your perspective.

If the other road user admits fault, then make sure you record it.

When you’re ready, call the experts

Since 2014 Osbornes Law have been LCC’s legal partner – their cycle accident lawyers help cyclists who have been involved in a crash and LCC members can access a free telephone advice helpline where expert lawyers will answer your questions and provide advice.

Dealing With Longer Term Effects

It won’t be the case for everyone, but if you experience any ongoing stress or anxiety following a collision or road incident support is available. You can contact the Roadpeace Victim Support Line on 0845 4500 355, visit your GP for support and advice or contact LCC on 020 7234 9310.