Call for a free consultation today

police at the scene of an cycling accident

The Role of Police Reports in Cycle Accident Claims

Table of Contents

If you’ve been involved in an accident, obtaining an accurate police report can be key to making a successful bicycle crash compensation claim. Having detailed information and evidence from the scene of the crash is integral for reconstructing what happened objectively and can often make or break individual claims cases.

This blog post examines why police reports are so important in cycle accident claims, delving into how they provide valuable insight that helps calculate legal liability and understand who was at fault.

What is a police report?

A police report is a formal document that outlines the details of an incident. It is an important piece of evidence in cycle accident claims as it provides an unbiased account of the events leading up to and following the accident. The report contains information such as the date and time of the accident, the names and contact details of the parties involved, and a description of the scene.

Why are police reports important for cycle accident claims?

Having a police report can greatly assist in determining fault and liability in an accident, which is crucial for bicycle injury claims and legal proceedings.

Additionally, it can help speed up the claims process by eliminating the need for further investigation. As a result, a police report is a valuable resource for anyone involved in a cycle accident, and obtaining one should be a top priority.

What information is typically included in a police report?

A police report will include general information such as:

  • Date and time of the accident
  • Names and contact details for each party involved
  • Vehicle types, makes and models
  • Location of the incident
  • Weather conditions

In addition, police reports may include details about the scene, such as skid marks or debris. They may also feature witness statements or photographs taken at the time of the incident.

How can I obtain a police report after an accident?

If you’ve been involved in a cycle accident, it’s important to make sure that the incident has been reported to the police as soon as possible. The responding officer or officers will create a police report on scene and provide you with a copy.

It’s also important to keep in mind that police reports may take several weeks or months to process, so be sure to follow up with the relevant authorities if you haven’t received a copy after an appropriate amount of time.

Bike accident: how to claim with a police report

Once you have obtained a police report, it can be used in various ways to help support your cycle accident claim. For example, if the other party disputes responsibility for the crash, the police report may be able to provide evidence that contradicts their version of events and demonstrates their liability.

Additionally, the report can help ensure that insurance providers take into account all relevant factors when calculating bike accident compensation. This includes any injuries sustained or damage to property, as well as details about the incident that may impact a payout, such as the speed of the vehicles involved.

As a result, having an accurate and comprehensive police report is key to making a successful cycle accident claim. It can provide vital evidence that could make the difference between receiving compensation or not.

The impact of missing or inaccurate information in police reports on cycle accident claims

When submitting a police report in an insurance claim or legal proceedings, inconsistencies or missing information can cause issues. Inaccurate reporting of details such as location, speed, or the exact time of the incident can lead to disputes over liability and have significant implications for the outcome of a case. For this reason, it’s important that both parties involved in the cycling accident provide as much accurate information as possible to ensure that all facts are accurately represented in the final report.

By having an accurate police report on hand, you can rest assured that your cycling accident claim will be treated fairly and with due diligence. Make sure you follow up with the relevant authorities after filing a report to obtain a copy as soon as possible. This can help ensure that your claim is processed efficiently and that the outcome reflects the facts of the case accurately.

Conclusion

Police reports are an essential part of the bicycle injury claims process after a cycling accident, as they provide important details about the incident that can be used to support liability and cycling accident compensation claims. Obtaining a police report should be a top priority for those involved in a crash, so that accurate information is captured in the final report.

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that all facts in the report are accurate and free of any inconsistencies or omissions. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of a successful cycle accident claim.

Claim for cycle accident with Cycle SOS today

At Cycle SOS, we make the process of making a cycle accident claim as straightforward and stress-free as possible. We understand how important it is to obtain an accurate police report after a crash, so our team is on hand to provide advice and support at every step.

Get in touch with us today on 0808 100 9995 to start your claim, email us or schedule a callback.

Written By:

Emily Pheysey

Litigation Executive

Emily has over 7 years of experience in the legal sector, handling road traffic accident claims to recover compensation and support her clients. Her focus is to ensure all clients feel comfortable and at ease with the claims process so that they can focus on their recovery.

Emily considers rapport to be an essential part of the role and strives to always provide excellent client care.

Away from work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling as much possible.

Diane Holderness

Litigation Executive

Diane is a Ministry of Justice (TOJ) Team Leader within our Cycle Department. She has 11 years’ experience managing road traffic accident claims, and 6 years’ experience managing MOJ claims.

Diane enjoys a challenge and always strives for the very best results for her customers; something that is clear in the way her team continually adapts its strategies in order to secure the most desired outcome. Diane has worked her way through the legal ranks here, and is proud to now have a strong, specialist team that is committed to customer satisfaction.

Diane believes that happy clients make a happy working environment, and it is this that ensures a productive and efficient workforce.

Nina Haddock

Chartered Legal Executive

Nina has over 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. She specialises in recovering compensation for injury claimants as a result of road traffic accidents. Her focus for each and every claim is to help her clients secure the funding that they need to pay for ongoing treatment and support.

Nina became a CILEX Fellow in 2006 and now helps her clients and their families at a time when they have been through a traumatic experience, and everything they hold dear to them appears to be changing.

One case Nina is particularly proud of is supporting a client who had successfully sought asylum in the UK, following a road traffic accident. The claim was successfully pursued through the MIB and the client was left with significant injuries. Her client was able to use the compensation to aid family members with their applications to seek asylum in the UK.

Julian Fox

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Julian qualified as a Solicitor in 2005 and has worked in all areas of personal injury since 2000. Julian has a well-rounded understanding of personal injury law, having represented both claimants and defendants.

Julian always aims for maximum damages to meet his clients’ needs for injury and rehabilitation expenses, and can often secure interim payments to help meet clients’ financial needs. Julian is highly proactive in ensuring cases are progressed, ensuring a timely conclusion.

When not at the office, Julian is a keen cyclist, both on roads and virtually -he will often do an hour of ‘Zwifting’ in the mornings before starting work.

Richard Atherton

Cycling Accident Solicitor

Richard has 12 years of legal experience and qualified as a Solicitor in February 2014. He has been a Team Manager with us since 2019. Throughout his career, Richard has specialised in personal injury, handling an array of Road Traffic Accident cases, in addition to employer and public liability.

Richard prides himself on his very strong strategic and planning skills, which come into their own in complex injury cases where more technical arguments are involved. On every case, he is committed to ensuring that his clients receive full compensation for their injuries.

Away from work, Richard enjoys sport; he is a season ticket holder at St Helens Rugby Club and a Liverpool FC fan. Not only a spectator, Richard also likes going to play golf as often as he can.

Dave Gardner

Litigation Executive

Dave has over 20 years of experience in the legal sector. His specialism is personal injury and he has dealt with hundreds of cycling injury claims during his career. Excellent client care and communication is paramount to Dave. He prides himself on being accessible and available, attending court hearings where damages are in dispute to ensure the best outcome for his clients. One case Dave is particularly proud of is when he supported an elderly client who suffered serious injuries following a road traffic incident. The police had not taken any action against the defendant, so Dave had to be proactive and act within a 24-hour window. The case proceeded and the client was in receipt of £30,000 in damages, which he would not have been entitled to had the client not approached Dave. He is also an avid supporter of Glasgow Rangers and travelled abroad on many occasions to see them play in European competitions.

Gerard Horton

Partner

Gerard is a Senior Solicitor at Cycle SOS. In his 13 years of experience, Gerard has built a national reputation in the catastrophic injury sector, dealing with high value and complex cases. Alongside his legal role, Gerard supports several charities including Headway Central Lancashire, Northwest Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and spinal injury charity, Back Up.

Julia Eyton

Partner

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Cycle SOS team.

Specialising in representing those who have had life changing injuries, Julia handles some of the most serious and complex personal injury cases both within Cycle SOS and nationally.

She often works on high value claims and is skilled in winning complex liability cases.

NADIA KERR

Partner

Nadia has over 30 years of legal expertise and has represented hundreds of vulnerable road users. With a focus on ensuring timely rehabilitation, speedy repair or replacement of bikes and kit, and securing fair compensation, Nadia is committed to advocating for justice and client rights. Alongside her legal career, Nadia actively participates in national campaigns to benefit vulnerable road users and acts as a Trustee/Director for the national cycling charity, Cycling UK. Nadia was named in Cycling UK’s ‘100 women’ and was a founding member, now running a women’s cycling group, TeamGlow in South Manchester. Among her many achievements, Nadia takes pride in her spot on BBC Breakfast, where she provided expert commentary on long term government funding for pothole repairs.

Caroline Morris

DIRECTOR OF SERIOUS INJURY

Caroline has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years, recovering more than £56 million in damages during that time, to help clients rebuild their lives after injury.

Caroline is committed to achieving rehabilitation options early, meaning her clients benefits from the best care and treatment at the earliest stage possible.