British Cycling Gold, Silver and Ride Memberships all provide access to expert legal assistance for members involved in a cycling incident which is not their fault.
Where there are reasonable prospects of succeeding with a legal action against the third party, our solicitors, Leigh Day & Co will efficiently process your case.
One British Cycling member to benefit from this legal cover was John Woodhouse, who was involved in a road traffic accident in Sheffield in October 2009. As John was cycling into a crossroads, a vehicle drove into his bicycle, despite the fact John had priority on the road.
John still remembers the incident clearly: "I was riding into a crossroads of which I had right of way, he didn't see me and I ended up going across the top of his bonnet. I landed on my shoulder and smashed my knees into the side of the vehicle as well as getting a slight cut to the head."
John immediately phoned British Cycling who engaged Leigh Day & Co's Cycling and Sports Injuries Team to work on his behalf, with his claim supported and funded by British Cycling. "I contacted British Cycling, they got in touch with the solicitors for me and then I was contacted by Leigh Day & Co," John explained.
Leigh Day & Co, a renowned firm of personal injury claims solicitors, has handled thousands of cycle accident compensation claims on behalf of cyclists in the UK, securing millions of pounds in compensation for them.
Free legal assistance is just one of the many benefits enjoyed by British Cycling Gold, Silver and Ride Members, but if you are the victim of another road user's carelessness, it suddenly becomes all-important. John believes it's a benefit which, on its own, is worth being a member for.
"It's important, it gives peace of mind that someone is there to sort thing out straight away for you and that you are not left to sort everything out for yourself. I would recommend being a British Cycling member for the legal cover alone."
If you are already a Gold, Silver or Ride Member of British Cycling, make sure you have the Incident Helpline number - 0161 274 2015 - saved to your phone or at hand. Log-in to the British Cycling website and visit your ‘member dashboard' for full details on this and all your benefits.
If you're not a member you can join British Cycling and receive a number of benefits, including legal assistance, from just £24 per year.
In addition to legal assistance, Third Party (Public) Liability Insurance is provided by British Cycling's insurers to Gold, Silver and Ride Members who are normally resident in the United Kingdom and find themselves wholly or partly responsible for an incident whilst riding or wheeling their cycle.
If you are involved in an incident that was (or is alleged to have been) your fault or partly your fault your insurance cover indemnifies you in respect of a successful third party claim made against you to a limit of £10 million and you will not be liable for the payment of any insurance ‘excess'.
To find out about the other benefits of being a British Cycling member visit our Membership Benefits page.
