I was cycling in my local town about a year ago when I was knocked off my bike by a passing car. The driver simply drove too close to me and clipped me at he passed. He stopped his car and apologised to me. He gave me his insurance details. I went to my GP at the time. I still have a lingering pain in my hip, and I attend a physiotherapist for physiotherapy. My friend advised me to talk to my solicitor, but I feel that it is too late to now consider looking for advice on my rights. Is it too late, please advise me.
Cyclists are recognised as vulnerable road users and such vulnerability makes it almost inevitable that a cyclist will come off the worst in any accident involving a car. Even a minor incident can result in a cyclist being thrown off their bicycle and sustaining horrendous injuries.
I note that your bicycle accident occurred about a year ago. It is not uncommon for people to bring compensation claims for injuries sustained in an accident many months after the accident. On occasion, one may not fully appreciate the true and full extent of injuries sustained until several weeks or months after an accident. The law determining the time limits in which one may claim compensation for injuries following an accident is called the Statute of Limitations. One normally has two years from the date of accident to bring a compensation claim for personal injuries. This differs in the case of an injured child in that ‘limitation period’ does not start to run until the child reaches eighteen years old i.e. a child may bring a claim for injuries sustained as a child up until their 20th birthday.
If you believe that your injuries were sustained as a result of the fault of another person contact Byrne Carolan Cunningham Litigation Department who will fully advise you of your rights in the strictest of confidence. It is imperative that you do so without delay.