Our aim is to ensure that Claimants proceeding through Cycle Aid and the solicitors Turner Pearson recover all of their damages without deduction.
Most times we are able to succeed. The only exception is if claims are made against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Agency. This might be where a cyclist is injured as the result of a crime of violence. This organisation does not pay separate legal costs; the award is intended to incorporate such an element.
That exception aside, most road accidents are not the cyclist's fault. The claims do tend to be sound, which helps.
However,
in our legal system, the person who "wins" also gets paid the costs of preparing the case - Police report fee, medical records fee, Court fees, doctor's fees for writing a medical report and lawyer's fees.
So if the case results in a win, there is not a problem.
If the case is lost, there is potentially quite a big problem because the successful defendant - motorist, Highway Authority or whoever - will be looking to claim their legal fees from the unsuccessful claimant.
(Non-accident examples that are widely known which illustrate this are the defamation actions where a politician or some other person in the public eye attempts to sue a newspaper or even the owner of a London department store. It is often the costs run up by the lawyers which are the most newsworthy item).
The solutions to the risk of losing are these:-
 Invoke an "after the event" insurance policy. For a one off premium, if a claim is lost, this covers the successful Defendant's costs, the expenses incurred by the Claimant; even the premium is refunded. The only item that is not paid are the legal costs of the Claimant's representative but, Cycle Aid's solicitors, Turner Pearson, run on a no win, no fee basis and will fund the claim, including the insurance, on the claimant's behalf.
When the case is won, the cost of the policy comes back from the compensating Defendant's insurers as part of the costs of the action so there are no deductions from the Claimant's damages.
Cycle Aid's solicitors, Turner Pearson, have enhanced membership of the Law Society's Accident Line scheme, so are able to arrange insurance with deferred premiums meaning that the premium is only payable once the claim is concluded.
The alternative is to look at any household insurance policy there may be. If this includes legal expenses insurance then that may be the answer.
Remember: your household insurers cannot impose their choice of lawyer upon you. You have the right to choose.
Legal costs are the most difficult concept to grasp. There always seem to be exceptions. However, our appraisal letter will sort the situation out for you and that is written free, and without obligation.
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