IMD Solicitors acted for a cyclist who regularly travelled by bike and suffered a serious brain injury, as well as other bone and joint injuries, after being hit by a car coming out of a side road at a junction. The case shows some of the common issues in cycling accident claims, including a driver’s duty to take care at junctions, claims that the cyclist “came out of nowhere”, and the importance of collecting evidence early and arranging rehabilitation as soon as possible after a head injury.
Background and accident circumstances
The client was an experienced cyclist who used her bike to travel to and from work six days a week. She followed the same route every day and was very familiar with the road and junction. This was part of her normal daily routine, not an occasional ride.
On the day of the accident, she reached a junction where traffic ahead had stopped. She moved forward through the line of cars, which is a normal and lawful way for cyclists to position themselves when done carefully. She was moving slowly and with care as she approached the junction.
At that moment, a car pulled out from a side road and hit her. The impact was serious. Her head struck the windscreen, and she was thrown off the bike onto the other side of the car. She lost consciousness and only came round a few minutes later, feeling confused and shocked.
After the accident, she behaved unusually due to shock. She picked up her bike and walked away, even though others tried to stop her. She then walked home for around two miles. It was only when her husband arrived later that an ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital.
Serious brain injury claim
At hospital, she was found to have a serious brain injury. Doctors said it could have been fatal without quick treatment. She was treated to stop the bleeding and stabilise her condition, and she later began to recover. She also suffered injuries to her arm and other injuries from the fall.
In cases involving head injuries, the claim is not just about the initial injury. The focus is also on how the injury affects the person over time. This includes memory, concentration, tiredness, mood, and their ability to work and manage daily life.
In this case, there was a real risk that, without proper rehabilitation, she could have suffered long-term problems with her mental ability. Because of this, early treatment and rehabilitation were a key part of how the claim was handled.
Early legal difficulties: identifying the defendant and proving the collision
When the client approached IMD Solicitors, she wished to bring a claim, but the immediate question was: who should be sued? Because she had walked away in shock and lost consciousness, she had limited recollection of the vehicle and driver details.
IMD Solicitors acted quickly whilst the incident was still recent. We obtained information with the police help, who had attended afterwards. Police records confirmed that a collision had occurred and that the vehicle was damaged. Importantly, the police had taken witness statements at the scene, which enabled identification of the driver and provided a foundation for the civil claim. Once the defendant was identified, our personal injury team progressed the claim against the driver through his insurer.
This stage is often overlooked in cycling claims. If a cyclist is unconscious, confused or leaves the scene, insurers may later say that it is not clear how the accident happened. Police records and independent witness evidence can help stop that argument.
Liability and driver responsibility at a junction
At junctions, drivers coming out of side roads must look properly and must not pull onto the road unless it is safe. A cyclist passing stationary traffic is exactly the kind of road user a driver should expect to see near a junction. The evidence showed that visibility was good: it was daylight and the client was wearing high-visibility clothing.
To strengthen the liability position, our solicitors took further witness statements. Once those statements were provided to the insurer, the defence position became unsustainable. The message was clear: the driver had no realistic basis to deny responsibility considering the witness evidence and visibility factors.
Rehabilitation: treatment as part of the legal solution
After responsibility for the accident was accepted, the focus was on the client’s recovery and financial losses. The claim helped pay for rehabilitation, which was described as wide-ranging and intensive. In serious brain injury claims, rehabilitation can make a major difference. Early specialist treatment, psychological support, occupational therapy and a planned return to work can greatly improve a person’s recovery and independence.
Conclusion
The claim settled for about £70,000. Brain injury claims need to be valued carefully because the full effects are not always clear at the start, and symptoms can appear later or continue for many months. IMD personal injury team moved the claim forward by securing early evidence on who was at fault, obtaining helpful witness statements, and making sure rehabilitation formed part of the overall outcome. This led to compensation that properly reflected both the injury itself and its longer-term effect on the client’s life.
This article guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. This article was created on 22/04/2026. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
