Blame but no claim - Survey results debunk myth
Around two-thirds of aggrieved cyclists with a potential claim for compensation don’t undertake legal action, according to a survey commissioned by Nottingham Law firm Rothera Dowson.
Of almost 300 riders sampled, over 35% of respondents stated that they were the victim of ‘driver error’ or a ‘pothole’ forced them to lose control of their bike, but only 11% took legal recourse to address their grievance, with the remainder opting not to take action.
“These findings clearly contradict a common belief that the UK is quickly adopting a claim culture. This survey demonstrates that people aren’t quick to demand financial compensation the minute they are the victims of other’s negligence,” said Rothera Dowson personal injury specialist Wayne Vickers.
“The vast majority of cyclists who undertook our survey chose not to pursue those who they viewed as being responsible for a collision or loss of control, despite many of them suffering injury,” added Wayne.
Cyclists who shared their views named motorists as the biggest danger to their safety on the roads. Three-quarters of those polled were most fearful of vehicles, while just under 20% were more concerned with poorly maintained roads.
Worryingly, just under 63% of survey respondents suggested they had been subjected to physical or verbal abuse while riding their bikes. And 27% of those questioned attributed the road accident they had endured to ‘driver error’.
A separate survey commissioned by Rothera Dowson looked at the attitudes of almost 300 motorists. Almost 10% had experienced a collision with a cyclist, with 4% accepting that they were guilty of making an error, while the other 6% put the mishap down to the cyclist.
Around 80% of drivers believed fellow motorists were the biggest danger on the roads, but 9% suggested that cycles offer a more serious threat, with the same number highlighting poorly maintained roads as the biggest danger to their wellbeing.
For further details on Rothera Dowson visit rotheradowson.co.uk.