Most people take up cycling because it is such a healthy and environmentally friendly habit. Many think of it as their preferred means of transport for everyday activities. But let’s face it, every sport has it’s injuries and cycling is no exception. Whereas accidents between cycles and cars or other vehicles are significantly less than solo accidents where cycles crashed on their own, it is worth considering that various types of accidents are possible.
If you’ve been in a cycle accident, the recovery process can pose challenges, but rest assured many people have recovered remarkably well from this and there is a lot of advise out there on minimizing the potential impact.
First things first – Your own health:
Indeed most people just want to focus on recovering. They want to be fit and healthy again to enjoy life and continue as if nothing happened. It is therefor normal to think of physio rehab and other things that can speed up your recovery. Yet after seeing a doctor and/or physio, it can be beneficial to speak to a legal professional.
Obtaining advice from a good lawyer:
With more than 18 000 cycling accidents per year in the UK alone, it is not hard to imagine why there are law firms who specialize in cases that involve cyclists. There are many areas in which a law firm can be valuable:
Compensation: There are various cases where a victim of a cycling accident may be awarded compensation. The accident may have been caused by a negligent driver or even a defect in the cycling pathway and other public facilities: in both cases, other parties, whether drivers, their employers or the public authorities – may be liable to compensate you.
Insurance payouts: Your own cycling insurance may need to pay out. Even if no other parties were involved but you had cycling insurance, in this case, compensation has to be negotiated with insurers.
Valuations: Whether it is to establish the value of a permanent disability that prevents someone from cycling – or indeed the replacement value of a specialized cycle, a lawyer knowledgeable with these matters can come in rather handy.
Recovering from actual injuries:
Going to hospital is a first line of defense – a very necessary one too, as far as serious accidents are concerned. But many people leave hospital, not quite knowing what comes next. You may be in hospital for several days, or as much as a month, especially in cases of head, bone and spinal injuries. The thought of leaving the hospital and getting back with your family is off course one that prevails – but what next?
Rehab: Not all accidents are serious, but a good percentage of injured folks require extensive rehab to get back to normal and to deal with the longer term effects of an injury. You may not be able to take up cycling immediately after being hospitalized. There are steps to take to get back to normal – or as close to normal as is reasonably possible. You may be surprised to learn that the way back to your cycle is via the swimming pool or gym – as directed by a physiotherapist.
Surgery: Depending on the severity of your accident, several months after initial first-aid procedures, things like reconstructive surgery, skin transplants etc. may also be required.
Counseling: Whether it is to overcome the fear of getting back onto your cycle after a bad experience, or coping with the fact that you will be out of action – and an active lifestyle for some time, obtaining counseling can be very helpful.
Conclusion:
Cycling is an amazing sport and one of the best cardiovascular exercises you can take up without spending hours in a gym each week. It is popular around the world and is fast becoming a preferred mode of transport in many metropolitan areas – even in rainy London and Oxford! Yes, cycling is relatively safe, but if you are ever involved in an accident, rest assured the road back to recovery is not one you have to take on your own! It is argued that cycling safety improved significantly in the last 25 years, so the outlook is indeed positive.
