Bicycle riders should claim after an accident that wasn't their fault

It's important to raise the awareness of this very serious issue â€" many bicycle riders don't know that they can claim after an accident on the road. Many think that they'll be blamed for the accident or just aren't aware that they can claim after an incident on the road.Know your rights * You should always report an accident â€" no matter how trivial to the police.  Whether it's an accident in a pothole or slick of oil on the road or if you hit a car, or a car hits you, always report it.  Get an incident number. * If it's in the car park of certain commercial premises, such as department stores or supermarkets you should go in and have it recorded in their accident books.  If it was a serious accident, be sure to make sure that you have it recorded with the documentation from the hospital or your GP * Serious accidents should be well documented by your doctor â€" when you're well enough, or if your immediate family wish to, they can contact a no win-no fee lawyer and ask them to look at your case. * Did you know that you can use your home insurance in some cases (if you have optional legal cover) to help fund your case against the third party that caused the accident. * Ensure that any out of pocket expenses are recorded â€" if you keep your receipts or quotes you can usually reclaim them. * If you've been in a catastrophic accident, you may wish to ask your lawyer or team looking after you to do an ‘immediate needs assessment'.  These work out what you need in the short and mid term to help you recover.  In the case of accidents that require you to be wheelchair or crutch bound, you'll possibly be able to get advance support such as thing to help you with house conversions. * You should sue if someone was negligent â€" it's not your fault that you were in an accident.With a bit of forethought, and information about the best team to hire, you should be able to recover some recompense for your accident â€" remember to always use a reputable legal team or no win no fee company.  If you can't find one, your home insurance may be able to recommend one for you (and if you have legal cover through them, they will give you a short list of whom to work with).Once you've sorted out the legalities of the claim remember to give yourself time to settle the case â€" some are easily settled in a few months, while some take a year, or years.