Experts in cycle accident claims. Follow us on Freephone

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1 Experts in cycle accident claims Follow us on Freephone

2 Experts in cycle claims Our specialist cycling accident claim team regularly act for cyclists who have been involved in road traffic accidents. The effects of any cycle accident can be devastating and in some cases, life altering. We will do everything to ensure that you receive compensation to cover your treatment, rehabilitation, care and to compensate for your injuries and any income you have lost because of your accident. We understand firsthand the difficulties that can be faced by a cyclist on the road and are used to dealing with arguments over signalling and the wearing of helmets. We have recovered substantial damages in a number of claims where other solicitors have advised the client that there was no claim to be made. We have also taken over conduct of various cases where clients have not been happy with the solicitors they have initially instructed. We act on a no win, no fee basis. What next? If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an injury as a result of a cycle accident and would like some free advice, call us and we will give you all the help you need. If we can t take on your case, we will explain why and we always endeavour to help where we can. If you would like to find out more, please contact our Cycle Accident Team on or visit our website personalinjury. Contents 2 Introduction 3 Case study 4 Making a claim 5 Case study 6 Cycle Incident Top tips Meet a couple Case study Map of our cyclists meet the team

3 Mark Mark Bowman recovered a substantial sum for Mark Corliss, following his cycling accident. Mr Corliss was knocked down by a post office van and suffered a number of injuries. Mark secured the damages within one year of being instructed, despite constant delays by the defendants. Mr Corliss, a keen cyclist and time trialist, was taking part in a time trial event in East Sussex. Mr Corliss was cycling more than 20mph when a Post Office van came out of a driveway without warning and crashed into him throwing him against the van s windscreen before flinging him across the bonnet of the van. Mr Corliss was initially unable to move, and required a neck and head brace prior to emergency transportation by ambulance to Eastbourne District General Hospital. He suffered a fracture to his C6 vertebrae, a shattered right elbow, a torn right triceps muscle and cuts and bruises to the head, right shoulder, right hip and both knees. He had surgery on his elbow to reduce and wire the fracture. He also had to wear a Miami neck brace for 11 weeks and a plaster cast for his arm for 9 weeks. Mr Corliss needed extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy as well as treatment with an osteopath. He also needed a second surgical procedure to remove the wires from his elbow. At the end of the case Mr Corliss said: After my accident I was recommended to contact Mark Bowman and he came to visit me at home within a couple of days. His knowledge of cycling and cycling related incidents was immediately obvious and very reassuring, especially so as that time I was unsure about my future. Mark has worked diligently on my behalf to secure compensation from the Post Office and, despite a lack of communication from them, has secured me a very satisfactory compensation deal. During the last 12 months Mark has kept in regular contact, updating me about the case and has used his considerable experience to get the other party to finally agree a settlement. I cannot praise him highly enough and would have no hesitation in recommending his services.

4 Making a claim Our commitment We understand that bringing a claim can be daunting. We pride ourselves on being able to guide people carefully keeping you informed at all times with regards to your claim. We would hope the process is as pain free as possible. Compensation Once liability is admitted, you are entitled to be reimbursed for all of the expenses you have had to incur for medical treatment, repairs to your bike and clothes, travel and care. You will also be compensated for any loss of earnings as a result of not being able to go to work. There will also be a small award for the actual injuries incurred. We will always push for an early admission of liability in your claim and request interim payments to cover your outgoings before your claim is brought to a close. Timescale The time your case would run would depend on the nature of your case. In so far as possible, we will pursue claims very quickly and without fuss. Under English Law legal proceedings must generally be started within 3 years from the accident. The Hercules 100

5 Nathan Nathan was a keen cyclist when he was hit whilst on his bike on a dual carriageway. He was turning right and a car hit him from behind. He suffered devastating injuries including a spinal cord injury and a serious head injury. Nathan was an American student in the UK at the time of the accident but his home was in Philadelphia. Once medically stabilised he returned home in order to rehabilitate. His family instructed one solicitor but were unhappy with their advice. A number of witnesses were either unhelpful or simply refused to get involved. Jill Greenfield was then recommended by an American lawyer who knew of her expertise in serious injury cases. Jill was able to reinvestigate the police evidence and saw that there was one key piece of important evidence that had been overlooked. A further witness (albeit not a witness to the actual accident) stated that the Defence vehicle has passed his vehicle at speed just moments (around a corner and out of sight) before the accident. That enabled an assessment to be made of the Defendants vehicle speed at the point of impact and it was our assessment that the Defendant was speeding. Whilst the Defence denied responsibility, Jill was able to reach a settlement in respect of liability and after that a seven figure lump sum settlement was agreed. Although I survived my accident it seemed that my injuries had stripped most of my life away. This was until Jill Greenfield from Fieldfisher helped us reach a settlement that has helped me to put my life back on track. I now know that I will be taken care of. I can try new forms of leisure and hobbies that are catered for my disability such as hand cycling or kayaking. The litigation has opened up many doorways that were closed upon my accident and it has helped me to rebuild a life that is once again very valuable.

6 Fieldfisher s Cycle Incident Map If you would like to find out more details about the circumstances of these incidents, please visit us at

7 Follow us on Freephone Jill Greenfield, Partner comments The statistics outlined in this brochure are worrying. More needs to be done to make London s roads safer. The fact that 9 cyclists were killed by turning lorries is of particular concern. With more people being encouraged to travel to work by bicycle, and with numbers of cyclists likely to continue to rise, it is of paramount importance that the government tackle this issue immediately. Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise

8 Nichola Roberts Nichola rides competitively for the Dulwich Paragons. She is also a cycling specific physiotherapist and has set up her own business, VeloPhysio. - Nichola was knocked off her bike whilst passing a T-junction on her way to work. She had the right of way and an oncoming car failed to stop at the junction, pulled out and actually sped up into her path. The car collided with Nichola, resulting in nasty spinal injuries. Nichola said: I was hit by a car when cycling to work last year sustaining injuries to my back and neck. It was a very traumatic time. My initial solicitor did not handle the case particularly well. I was recommended Fieldfisher (Jill Greenfield) through a friend. As soon as they took the case on, everything was dealt with swiftly and professionally, I was promptly seen by top medical experts, all my concerns were dealt with immediately and empathetically, and the case was resolved promptly. This significantly eased the emotional stress during a very difficult time. I could not recommend them enough.

9 Follow us on Freephone Meet a couple of our cyclists Mark Bowman When he s not at work, you will generally find Mark training for an Ironman. At the weekend he goes out riding in and around Kent and from time to time can be found taking part in the odd sportive. Jennifer Bradley Jenny is a keen cyclist and cycles for Elite Cycling RT. You will find her generally in the Surrey Hills, down at the velodrome road racing. This year after suffering a nasty accident she is starting the year with a bang competing in the Girosardegna 592km stage race in April. Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise

10 Did You know? In other countries, such as Denmark, when the number of cyclists increased (as it has in Britain in recent years), the absolute number of injuries fell. Case Study - Ryan Cummings Ryan was involved in a very nasty accident whilst cycling to work. He was travelling along a main road in Croydon when a car turned right in front of him causing a collision. As a result of the impact Ryan suffered a broken clavicle requiring surgery. Soon after taking the claim on, Fieldfisher managed to get an early admission of liability and engaged with the insurers to negotiate a good settlement. Reimbursing Ryan for his medical expenses, loss of earnings, his broken bike and the pain and injury caused Fieldfisher LLP supported me after I was hit by a car on my commute to work. Through their skills and expertise I was successful in my compensation claim against the driver responsible for the accident. The whole process went very smoothly with Fieldfisher being there every step of the way advising as to the best course of action. I would not hesitate in recommending Fieldfisher to anyone who found themselves in a similar position to myself.

11 Follow us on Freephone Some of the Fieldfisher Cycle achievements this Bike Show 2014 Fieldfisher successfully held an Alpe d Huez Challenge at The London Bike Show held at London s Excel Centre, The winning times were: Male Best time - Dylan Eames (2:35) Female Best Time - Faye Menzies (3:35) We hope to see you there next year! Ride 100 We entered two teams in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 Business Relay. Our men s team came in 7th out of approximately 200 teams in the men s event and our mixed team came a very impressive second in the mixed event. Separately, Paul McNeil completed the whole 100 miles. Hercules 2013 Fieldfisher Team took place in the 4th Hercules 100km bike challenge in the summer organised by Corporate Ascents. This year the course was a gruelling ride based in the Surrey Hills. We did nt manage to pick up the trophy, but have high hopes for next year Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise

12 EliteCycling Fieldfisher has a unique relationship with EliteCycling. EliteCycling is a London based cycle coaching company, founded by and built on the considerable experience of Paul Mill, a former elite road cyclist and international triathlete. Paul works with many clients from every background and professionals in all fields to draw on the most up to date training methods in sport s science, physiology and psychology. Paul coaches cyclists of all levels and abilities with their very own unique targets; from winning serious races, improving basic fitness, coming back from injury or becoming safer on your bike. His enthusiasm, knowledge and patience is unparalleled. EliteCycling, like Fieldfisher, has a very strong passion to make London s roads a safer place for all cyclists; we are seeing all too many people being injured at no fault of their own. If a cyclist has had the unfortunate misfortune of being in an accident EliteCycling will work with them refitting them on their bikes and providing both the support and motivation to help them get riding again. Visit Elite Cycling s website at

13 Follow us on Freephone Case Study - Veronika Pete Cyclist Veronika Pete, a 31 year old marketing professional from central London, was left with life changing injuries after she was run over by a lorry crossing lanes to turn left on the Marble Arch gyratory on 7th December Acting on behalf of the defendant, insurance company RSA alleged that Veronika was partially responsible for the accident despite the driver being found guilty of careless driving as well as the vehicle not being fitted with adequate mirrors or safety equipment. Veronika was cycling along her regular route to work, travelling around the Marble Arch gyratory and heading towards Oxford Street past the exit to Edgware Road. The driver of the heavy bullion vehicle, Mr John Taylor, stated that he had seen the cyclist but then lost sight of her. He assumed she had turned left, taking the exit to Edgware Road. In fact Veronika was at the front of the bullion vehicle below the cab s line of sight. The vehicle was not fitted with mirrors designed to increase visibility that are now recommended for all new HGVs. The driver turned left across the lane, dragging Veronika under the lorry s wheels. Jill Greenfield was instructed by Veronika to act for her. Once the case was expertly handled, the RSA having initially suggested 20% liability to be accepted by Veronika, gave in and acknowledged full liability just weeks before trial. Actual Images Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise

14 INVOLVED I N REMEMBER AN ACCIDENT THESE 6 STEPS Note the exact location of the collision and be as descriptive as possible. Take down the details and any witnesses Take photos of the collision and area, or ask someone else to as soon as possible and check to see if there is CCTV in the area and take note Report your collision to the police and provide as much information as possible Note any damage to your bike, equipment or personal belongings. Remember to note details of your injuries too - Arrange to be assesed by your GP Keep any cost your incur because of your accident including repair costs, travel charges, medical care or prescription costs should you wish to make a claim later

15 Follow us on Freephone Meet the team Paul McNeil Partner Paul heads the personal injury and medical negligence department and has specialised in serious injury claims for over 25 years. He specialises in road traffic accidents involving catastrophic injuries and is a keen cyclist. Exceptionally talented, his team provides a first class service Jill Greenfield Partner jill.greenfield@fieldfisher.com Jill has 18 years experience acting for claimants and is head of our brain injury and spinal injury unit. Jill is recognised by Headway (the brain injury association), SIA (Spinal Injuries Association) and various legal directories as a leading lawyer and specialist in dealing with such claims. Jill heads up the Catastrophic Injury Team within the department. She regularly deals with serious cycling, motorbike & pedestrian cases. Has few equals in getting results Mark Bowman Partner mark.bowman@fieldfisher.com Mark pursues cases on behalf of the victims of serious injury. Mark is a senior litigator at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). Mark is a keen cyclist himself, regularly competing in triathalons. He has a particular interest in cases involving cyclists and his cycling practice was featured in the Times Law Supplement. Richard Earle Senior Associate richard.earle@fieldfisher.com Richard specialises in serious injury claims and has dealt with a number of high profile road traffic accident cases. displays a good mix of experience and common sense. professional, with an excellent skill set Jennifer Bradley Solicitor jennifer.bradley@fieldfisher.com Jenny qualified into our personal injury and medical negligence department after training at the firm. Jenny has a varied caseload and also assists Jill Greenfield with complex and high value cases. Jenny is a keen cyclist both on the road and track and, as such, has a keen interest in cycling claims and campaigning to make London s roads a safer place. Follow us on or visit our website for more information Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise

16 Freephone Fieldfisher River Bank House 2 Swan Lane London EC4R 3TT personalinjury@fieldfisher.com We are recommended to victims of traffic accidents by special interest groups, charities and other organisations, including: Headway The Spinal Injuries Association Roadpeace The Motorcycle Action Group Saving Faces Caring for our clients Commitment to our cases Cutting edge expertise Photos courtesy of Joe Exon