Cycling too Fast [closed]

Question

Update: I'm not really looking for any legal advice here, more looking for pointers to articles or whatever covering these topics.

Last year I was involved in a road crash whilst riding to work (linky). I'm mostly OK now. I am, however, hitting a brick wall when it comes to the insurance company. They are trying to avoid liability and are now seeking some form of contributory neligence on my part on the grounds I was cycling too fast. So my questions are:-

1. Could they really succeed with that argument?
2. Is there any previous case where this was used?
3. Does it mean anything to other cyclists in a similar situation?
4. If they succeed, would that imply a "safe speed" for cyclists?

I can't imagine how they could prove I was going too fast. The car I hit had just overtaken me and wasn't that far ahead of me. Needless to say I have no memory of the crash but I am familar with that stretch of road and there isn't much distance in which to overtake and pull away any significant distance.

I do understand that as I'm in the UK it does make this country specific but it would be interesting to hear how this is dealt with in other countries (just remember to mention this).

Answer 1

Bikes were the first rubber wheeled vehicles on the road, they're even the reason why paved roads were first layed. I've been pulled over by police while riding my bike here in Canada. They straight up told me that the same rules apply for bikes as they do for cars. Those include speed limits and traffic laws.

I don't know UK laws, but I wouldn't expect to get anything out of rear ending a vehicle on my bike, because they would have had the right of way, if the same situation had happened here, I would be considered to be the party at fault, and therefore would be liable for the damages.

As far as the speed claim, as long as you were doing the posted speed limit, then they shouldn't be able to touch you with that one, unless there's a different limit for cyclists in the UK. In response to their claim that you may have been exceeding whatever limit they claim you were, all you have to say is, "Prove it." They will then be required to launch an investigation to determine how fast your were going based on impact forces, which is determined by examining the damage sustained by the vehicle, and you.

In your situation though, I'd consider myself extremely luck if I got anything out of this, because like I said, when you get into an accident on your bike on the road, they treat you like another vehicle, so you need to think about the whole situation as if you had been in a car. Had you been going the same speed and been in the same situation while driving a car, then what would you expect the outcome to be?

Edit: After reading the comments and learning more about the pileup being caused by an oncoming vehicle, the only thing I think you could possibly be found guilty of is not maintaining a safe following distance. Obviously the oncoming vehicle is at fault, you should feel lucky that the car overtaking you softened the blow, had you been the one that hit the other car head on, chances are you wouldn't have woken up in the hospital at all.

Answer 2

You might find some useful advice here ETA Cycle Insurance however, as mentioned by some commentators this is no substitute for expert legal advice.

Can cyclists be booked for speeding?

Cyclists can’t be booked for speeding, but might be fined for ‘cycling furiously’ or ‘riding furiously’ which is an offence under the 1847 Town Police Clauses Act. However, cyclists can be convicted for ‘wanton and furious driving’ under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1948 (c. 58), s. 1(2)) if they cause bodily harm to any person. They are then guilty of a misdemeanour and could, at the discretion of the court, be imprisoned for up to two years.

I'd like to see somebody prove you were "riding furiously"! What a strange concept.

Remember, too, that insurance companies make profits by trying to avoid paying out claims, so this is often just standard procedure by them. Stick to your guns, and good luck.