A cyclist who suffered serious injuries after being hit by a turning car has secured £150,000 in compensation with the support of Switalskis serious injury team .

The case highlights why it is important to seek specialist legal advice before accepting an early compensation offer following a serious road traffic accident .

The accident

In August 2022, Daniel Nash was cycling home from work in the City of London when a car travelling in the opposite direction turned right across his path, causing a collision.

Daniel sustained serious injuries, including:

• A head injury
• Fractures to facial bones
• Fractures to two vertebrae

Because of his head injury, Daniel had no memory of how the collision happened.

Establishing liability

Although Daniel could not recall the events leading up to the collision, our specialist personal injury team gathered the evidence needed to pursue his claim.

We obtained the police collision report and presented it to the driver's insurers. Following our investigations, liability for the accident was admitted.

With responsibility established, we focused on ensuring Daniel's injuries and future needs were fully understood before valuing his claim.

Building the medical evidence

Serious injury claims require a clear understanding of how injuries affect someone's life, both now and in the future.

We obtained Daniel's medical records and instructed a number of independent experts, including specialists in:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Maxillofacial surgery
• Neurology
• Neuropsychology
• Neuropsychiatry
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) medicine

This evidence was essential to understand the full extent of Daniel's injuries, ongoing symptoms and future prognosis.

Why we advised Daniel not to accept the first offers

Before any medical expert evidence had been exchanged, and while Daniel was still undergoing treatment, the defendant's insurers made an offer of £75,000 to settle the claim.

As Daniel's recovery was ongoing, it was simply too early to accurately value the claim. Accepting an offer at that stage could have left him without the compensation needed for the long-term impact of his injuries.

We advised Daniel not to accept the offer.

The insurers later increased their offer to £100,000 before they had seen any medical expert evidence. Again, we advised Daniel that it was too early to settle because the evidence was still being gathered.

Throughout this period, we had arranged appropriate legal expenses insurance at the outset of the claim, meaning Daniel was protected from significant financial risk while we continued to build the strongest possible case.

Achieving the right outcome

Once all of the key medical evidence had been obtained, we issued High Court proceedings and formally served the experts’ reports.

Following review of the evidence, the defendant's insurers increased their offer to £150,000.

By this stage, we had a clear understanding of Daniel's injuries and future prognosis and were able to confidently advise that the offer represented a fair settlement.

Daniel accepted the offer, bringing his claim to a successful conclusion.

Why specialist legal advice matters after a serious cycling accident

It is becoming increasingly common for insurers to make early settlement offers before the medical evidence is complete, particularly in higher-value personal injury claims.

While an early offer may seem attractive, accepting compensation before the full impact of an injury is understood can result in a settlement that does not reflect a person's long-term needs.

Every case is different, but specialist legal advice can help ensure any offer is carefully assessed against the available evidence before a decision is made.

Ian Latimer comments:

Ian Latimer, Senior Associate at Switalskis, said:

"Daniel suffered significant injuries and understandably wanted to focus on his recovery. Our role was to ensure he had the information and expert evidence needed before making any decision about settlement.

Early offers can sometimes be made before the full impact of an injury is known. By taking the time to gather comprehensive medical evidence, we were able to advise Daniel with confidence and secure compensation that properly reflected his circumstances."

Injured in a cycling accident?

If you have been injured in a cycling accident that was caused by someone else's negligence, specialist legal advice can help you understand your options.

Our serious injury solicitors have extensive experience supporting cyclists who have suffered serious injuries. We will investigate what happened, obtain independent medical evidence and work to secure compensation that reflects both your current losses and your future needs.