As the Tour de France gets underway in Europe this summer many of you will also be out enjoying cycle rides on roads and trails.
Cycling holidays are also becoming increasingly popular and the travel industry has reported that in some countries ‘bike breaks’ are on par with golf ones.
A cycling abroad experience might range from your own club tour, or it may simply involve hiring a bike in a European capital as an alternative way to see the sights.
Cycling in the EU
While cycling is a relatively safe way to get around in Europe, and the EU is spending an increasing amount funding cycle tracks and lanes, those countries with the highest numbers of people regularly using bikes do have the highest number of accidents.
Copenhagen and Amsterdam are rated as the most ‘bike friendly’ cities in the world but accidents are not uncommon.
- There were 2,035 cyclist fatalities in the EU in 2019
- The highest numbers were in Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Germany
- 47% of fatalities were aged 65 or older
- 82% were men.
- Most cyclist crashes occurred on urban roads
If you are involved in a cycling incident abroad and you are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to claim compensation and your holiday accident claim may be undertaken here in the UK.
Most popular European cycling holiday destinations
I visited Mallorca on a cycling holiday in April with my husband and I saw first-hand just how popular cycling is. Everywhere you turned there was someone on a bike.
Mallorca attracts around 150,000 cyclo-tourists a year and they visit because of the warm climate and the wide variety of routes available.
The Mallorca 312 which takes place in April attracts 8,000 cyclists each year and the market is worth in the region of €150 million. Here are some of the most popular European destinations:
- Girona, Spain.
- The Dolomites, Italy.
- Algarve, Portugal.
- Northern Scotland
- Mallorca, Spain
- Haute Alpes, France
- Tuscany, Italy
- Julian Alps, Slovenia
What to do if you’re involved in a cycling accident abroad
In most EU countries, the police will attend the scene of a road traffic accident to assess who was at fault for the accident.
To do this, they use a pro forma “agreed statement of facts” document (called a ‘Constat Amiable’ or European Accident Statement).
The aim of the form is to help holidaymakers involved in road accidents abroad exchange information about what happened.
This is completed immediately so that the accident circumstances remain fresh in everyone’s mind and can be agreed by those involved.
You should complete and sign this form if you understand the information given by you and the other party. But, if you don’t understand what is on the form, or you’re not happy with what has been said, do not agree to sign it.
Checklist for cycling accidents abroad:
- Call the emergency services and the police if anyone is injured.
- Contact your insurance company immediately to report the accident.
- Make detailed notes about the accident circumstances.
- If possible, take photographs of the accident scene – including the positions of any other vehicles involved and their number plates.
- Take the names, addresses and vehicle and insurance details of the driver and of as many witnesses as possible.
- When the police arrive, co-operate fully with their requests.
- If you do not understand what the police are saying, ask for an interpreter.
- Complete a ‘Constat Amiable’ or European Accident Statement, but only sign it if you are happy and fully understand what is written on it.
- Keep any documents the police give you as you may need to refer to them in the event of a holiday injury claim for compensation.
Our ethos at Hudgell Solicitors, is to always deliver the best possible outcome for the people involved. We do this by ensuring that every rehabilitation need is met and securing compensation for the pain and suffering that’s been caused.
As with any type of accident on holiday claim, it is important to make it as soon as possible because there are different time limits in which you can do so, depending on the country where the incident happened.
Read more: Accident & Injury Abroad Compensation Claims
