Injured cyclist
A vehicle hit you while cycling, and you sense people think you should not be on the road.
A vehicle hit you while you were cycling. Along with the pain, there is often a second feeling: that people quietly think you should not have been on that road in the first place.
That attitude is common. It has no real bearing on your claim.
The bias you are probably feeling
Fault is worked out by looking at what the driver actually did, not by judging whether a bicycle had any business being there. A driver still has to check properly before turning, overtaking, or opening a door.
Is a smaller injury even worth pursuing?
Many cyclists hesitate here, especially after a collision that did not feel dramatic at the time. What matters is your actual injury and cost, not how the crash looked in the moment.
Get checked properly first. A decision about whether to pursue anything is easier once you know what you are actually dealing with.
Your bicycle having no insurance does not matter
Some cyclists assume that because a bicycle carries no motor insurance, there is nothing to claim against. What matters is the vehicle that hit you, not yours.
Its insurer must pay a valid claim for your injury, since you are treated as an injured third party.[1]
The honest limits
If you were riding without lights at night, this can be weighed against you and may reduce your compensation.[2] It does not end the claim, but it is worth knowing honestly rather than assuming it makes no difference.
What to do next
Save any action-camera or ride-tracking data the same day, and keep your bicycle and gear until photographed. Making a cyclist accident claim covers the fuller process, including the evidence that tends to decide these cases.
Common questions
People keep saying cyclists shouldn't be on the road. Does that hurt my claim?
No. That attitude is not a legal standard. A court looks at whether the driver kept a proper lookout, not at whether a bicycle belonged on that stretch of road.
My injury feels small. Is it even worth claiming?
It is worth getting checked and documented before deciding that. A knock that feels minor at the scene can still mean physiotherapy, missed work, or a lingering injury worth recording properly.
Does my bicycle having no insurance change anything?
No. What matters is that the vehicle that hit you was insured. Its insurer pays a valid claim for your injury, since you are treated as a third party.[1]
I did not have lights on at night. Am I in trouble?
It can reduce your compensation if it affected how visible you were, but it does not end your claim.[2] The full facts of the crash still matter most.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.96 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Low & Partners, on s.12 Civil Law Act 1956 (contributory negligence) (accessed 2026-09-22)