Road to ruin
ONE moment he was earning a good living as an electrician. The next, Simon Richardson was lying broken and battered in a hospital bed. Simon was riding his bicycle when he was hit from behind by a car travelling at about 60mph. Only his helmet saved his life.
But more problems lay ahead. Simon, 35, claimed compensation from the driver, but she denied liability, claiming she had been dazzled by sunlight.
Simon, of Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, who was in a wheelchair for months after the accident in January last year, says: 'I've gone from earning a good wage to surviving on £80-a-week income support and £150 monthly disability allowance.'
His wife, Amanda, 32, has had to give up her job as a shop assistant to care for Simon and their sons, Ashley, 12, and Benjamin, 9.
Brussels wants to make drivers liable for the cost of accidents involving cycles, even if the rider is to blame.
Fortunately, Simon, who suffered a broken leg, shattered ankle and a chipped and compressed vertebra, had insurance with the British Cycling Organisation. This covered the costs of what turned into a long-running claim and is helping him sue for loss of earnings.
His insurance cover comes as part of the BCO's annual £27.50 membership, which includes hospital, disability and death benefits for members aged five to 75. It gives up to £5m cover for cycling accidents in the UK and the Continent, covering legal liability, legal costs and expenses in the event of negligence.
The London Cycling Campaign provides members with cover of up to £1m as well as theft insurance and legal advice for an annual fee of £23.50.
But while membership of these organisations is growing, thousands of riders risk ruin by cycling without insurance cover. Among the most vulnerable are the 140,000 Londoners who risk life and limb by cycling to work through heavy traffic. Though Brussels wants to change the law, drivers in Britain are presumed innocent and not liable to pay compensation unless the cyclist can prove negligence. Fighting any form of legal battle can be expensive and time-consuming.
Simon says: 'It took five months for the driver's insurer to admit liability, and I was on a knife-edge fearing a counter-claim. At least I can now look forward to a financial settlement. But without cycling insurance I could never have afforded a costly legal battle for compensation.'
Cyclists who do not have specialist cover can turn to their home contents insurer for advice and financial help.
Adrian Webb of e-sure, part of the Halifax group, says: 'If you have legal expenses cover and you are injured, the policy could pay your legal bills if you seek damages.'
Typical home insurance policies offer legal helplines for initial assistance after an accident, as well as legal expenses cover as an optional extra. They also include several million pounds of public liability cover. But benefits and eligibility varies.
Webb says: 'A cyclist whose negligence caused injury to a third party and who was sued for damages should be covered under a home policy.'
E-sure's liability cover is a fairly standard £2m, though some insurers have only £1m cover.
Cyclists should also check whether their accident cover extends to family members - some cheaper policies may have restrictions. And cyclists, especially the self-employed, should also consider loss-of-income insurance that will pay out if they are injured and unable to work.
• British Cycling Organisation, call 0161 274 2010, www.british cycling.org.uk; London Cycling Campaign, call 020 7928 7220, website at www.lcc.org.uk.
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