Cyclist Knocked Off by a Van That Passed Too Close
Out on a bike ride, doing everything right — until a passing van didn't give enough space. The wing mirror clipped our client, they came off the bike, and what should have been a good day out left them injured.
What happened
For a while afterwards, the client was nervous about cycling at all. That knock to confidence is as real as the physical injury, and it is one of the things most easily overlooked when a claim is treated as a paperwork exercise.
It is also, in our experience, one of the reasons people delay getting in touch. A close pass can feel like a near-miss that happened to go wrong — not the sort of thing that "counts". It counts.
What we did
We listened to the whole story rather than just the medical details, because how an incident has affected someone's life is part of the picture. NJS Law supported the claim from the first call through to the result.
Every claim is different. Outcomes depend entirely on the individual circumstances, injuries and losses involved.
How much space must a driver give when overtaking a cyclist?
The Highway Code advises drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking a cyclist at speeds of up to 30mph, and more space at higher speeds. Following the 2022 update to the Code, drivers should also wait behind rather than squeeze past where there isn't room to do it safely.
A close pass that results in contact — including contact with a wing mirror — is not a grey area in the way many riders assume.
Can you claim for loss of confidence after a cycling accident?
The psychological effects of a collision are a recognised part of a personal injury claim, alongside physical injury. Anxiety about riding again, disrupted sleep or avoidance of the road where it happened are things worth mentioning to whoever is handling your claim, and to your GP, so they form part of the medical evidence rather than going unrecorded.
Been clipped by a vehicle while cycling?
However it happened, it's worth a conversation. Call 0800 820 3860 for free advice — no obligation.
Back on the Road UK is a trading name of NJS Law Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 15170704. NJS Law Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 8006550. This page describes a real claim handled by our team and is provided for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice.