Cycling accidents involving children

Cycling is an ideal activity for children – it boosts their fitness and gets them outside in the fresh air. But cycling comes with risks, and children are especially vulnerable when travelling by bike on the roads.

The odd scrape from a fall is to be expected as children learn to ride a bike, but unfortunately, cycling accidents involving children can sometimes be more serious than that. In a small number of cases, they can even be fatal.

According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), nearly 17,000 cyclists were injured in road accidents in 2019 and 4,433 were killed or seriously injured. In total, 100 cyclists died in accidents and sadly, 10% were children.

Statistics also show that cycling accidents increase as children grow older, with 10- to 15-year-old riders being more at risk than other age groups.

The benefits of cycling with children

With the huge selection of children’s bike seats, trailers, and bikes now available, it is never too young to start children travelling by bike.

Getting children cycling is a good idea for a number of reasons:

• It improves fitness levels
• It boosts mental wellbeing
• It is sociable and fun
• It relieves stress
• It is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than travelling by car
• Cycling to school makes children more alert and ready to learn that going by car
• It introduces good travel habits at a young age

Top 10 safety tips for cycling with children

Whether you’re taking your toddler out in a bike seat or getting your older child road-ready, it’s important to follow some simple safety rules.

1. When buying a child bike seat, make sure it conforms to British Standard number BS EN 14344:2004.
2. Check that your child matches the weight range of the bike seat you choose.
3. Practise cycling with your baby or toddler ‘on board’ somewhere with no traffic before hitting the roads to get you both used to it.
4. Ensure that both you and your child always wear hi-visibility clothing and a cycle helmet.
5. Children under the age of 10 should not cycle in traffic, even with an adult. At this age, build their cycling confidence by exploring off-road cycle routes and paths.
6. From the age of 11, children who have had cycle training can cycle on the road. Contact Bikeability, Cycle Training Wales or Cycling Scotland to find out what training is available in your local area.
7. Talk to your child about the dangers of cycling too fast and of playing or doing tricks on their bikes while on the road. These are two of the main causes of cycling accidents involving children.
8. If your child is cycling to school or taking a new route, do a practise run with them beforehand to help familiarise them with the roads.
9. Show your child the most common traffic signs and explain what they mean.
10. Make sure your child understands the dangers of using mobile phones or wearing headphones while cycling.

How Novum Law can help with cycling accidents involving children

If your child has been injured in a cycling accident that wasn’t their fault, it is vital you speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor with expertise in cycling accident compensation claims. This ensures you receive the best medical treatment, rehabilitation and support available, and secure maximum compensation.

We have many years of experience helping cyclists and their families secure cycling accident compensation. Our team has the knowledge and expertise to give you the specialist cycling injury claim support you need.

We provide specialist cycling legal support nationwide across England and Wales. To book a free, no obligation chat with us, call 0800 884 0777, email info@novumlaw.com or complete our online enquiry form.