Legal assistance for Ride members not at fault

Legal & Insurance Home

Liability Insurance | Incident Helpline | Incident Checklist

Ride membership provides you with access to solicitors who will assess whether or not there are reasonable prospects of succeeding with a legal action against a third party. If our appointed solicitors are satisfied that there are reasonable prospects of success and you are resident in the UK a claim can be pursued on your behalf.

All decisions on a claim's prospects of success and the pursuit and support of a legal action against a third party rest with British Cycling and its appointed solicitors and that their decisions will be final. It is important to note, however, that British Cycling has an absolute discretion to provide or withdraw legal assistance in any particular case and shall be entitled to do so where, for example, our appointed solicitors advise that the case no longer has a better prospect of success than failure.

Where legal support is provided it is also important to note that British Cycling reserves the right to withdraw funding in circumstances where a member does not adhere to the advice given by our solicitors or co-operate with them in progressing a claim.

Upon registering your claim you will receive full details of British Cycling's undertaking to meet your potential legal costs liabilities. British Cycling are approved as a prescribed Membership Organisation for the purposes of Section 30 of the Access to Justice Act 1999. Full details of British Cycling's undertaking to members in respect of legal costs are available in writing upon request.

Please note that British Cycling reserves the right to withdraw funding at any time in circumstances to include, but are not limited to, where in the opinion of British Cycling and its Solicitors:

• There are no longer reasonable prospects of succeeding in your claim.
• You have failed to instruct, co-operate or agree to prosecute your claim for compensation.
• You have not adhered to advice given by our solicitors.
• You have sought to deliberately mislead either British Cycling or its solicitors in any material particular to your claim.
• You have given information or evidence which you know to be incorrect or misleading or that.
• You have acted in any way or manner which, in our or our Solicitor's view, could be regarded as fraudulent or dishonest.

Unfortunately, the Cycling Incident Helpline and British Cycling's solicitors will not support a legal action:

• Against another rider whilst training.
• Against an official of an event insured by British Cycling.
• Against another member of British Cycling.
• Against a member of one's immediate family.
• Where a claim involves product liability issues.
• Where there is a conflict of interest between a member and British Cycling.

Members will be indemnified in relation to the cost of legal advice and assistance subject to the above-mentioned exclusions. Cases will be referred to our panel of Solicitors and no payment is made by our Solicitors in respect of the referral of any case. Under the Compensation (Exemptions) Order 2006 British Cycling is exempt from authorisation by the Regulator under Section 4(1) of the Compensation Act 2006.

Time limits for making a claim against a third party

Cycling accidents are usually reported to the Incident Helpline immediately, and it is important that this step is not delayed. As a general point, the statutory time limit for bringing a claim for damages for personal injuries is 3 years from the date of the incident. For cases involving property damage only, the limit is 6 years. It will be appreciated that the sooner the matter is reported, the sooner it can be dealt with, particularly if witnesses need to be traced and interviewed.

All too often a case can be prejudiced because of the failure to obtain at the outset, basic information regarding the incident, the location and the witnesses. If you are under the age of 18 then the time limit is extended to 3 years from the date of your 18th birthday. However it is very important that you progress your claim through your parent or legal guardian as quickly as possible so get them to report the matter to the Incident Helpline for you immediately.