Cycling Accident Claims

Cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users in Ireland. According to the Road Safety Authority, 45 cyclists were killed and over 1,278 were seriously injured on Irish roads between 2020 and 2024. If you have been injured while cycling due to the negligence of a driver, a local authority, or another third party, you may be entitled to bring a personal injury claim.

At McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP, our specialist personal injury solicitors advise cyclists who have been injured in collisions, falls, and other incidents on roads throughout Ireland. We provide clear, practical guidance to help you understand your rights, evaluate whether a claim is viable, and decide on the most appropriate next steps. Our personal injury team is led by Liam Crowley, a partner with the firm who has extensive expertise in litigation and court work.

Common types of cycling accident claims

We regularly act for cyclists injured in incidents involving:

• Collisions with motor vehicles – including cars, vans, lorries, buses, and motorcycles, particularly at junctions and during overtaking manoeuvres
• Dooring incidents – where the door of a parked vehicle is opened into the cyclist’s path
• Left-hook collisions – where a vehicle turns left across a cyclist proceeding straight
• Unsafe overtaking – where a driver passes too closely or fails to allow sufficient space
• Defective road surfaces – including potholes, broken drain covers, and poorly executed road repairs
• Loose or stray animals – particularly on rural roads, where the owner may be liable
• Hit-and-run accidents – where the driver leaves the scene or cannot be traced

Cycling injuries can range from soft tissue damage and fractures to head injuries, spinal trauma, and psychological injuries such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or loss of confidence on the road. Each case turns on its own facts, and early legal advice can be vital in protecting your position.

What must be proven in a claim

Compensation for a cycling injury is not automatic. To bring a successful claim, it must be shown that:

• Another party owed you a duty of care
• That duty was breached through negligent conduct
• The breach caused or materially contributed to your injuries

Negligence may include driving without due care and attention, failing to give cyclists adequate space when overtaking, distracted or impaired driving, or failure to yield right of way. Where road defects are involved, the position is more nuanced. Local authorities in Ireland generally cannot be held liable for the pure failure to maintain a road, but they may be liable where they have carried out defective works, or where another party, such as a utility company, has left a hazard on the road.

Helmets, hi-vis, and contributory negligence

There is no legal requirement in Ireland to wear a helmet or high-visibility clothing while cycling, and not wearing them does not prevent you from making a claim. However, where a head injury is sustained, and the absence of a helmet is shown to have made the injury worse, the court may reduce the compensation awarded under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961. In the case of Lopes de Andrade Aquino v MIBI (2023), for example, a cyclist’s award was reduced by 20% on these grounds. The absence of high-visibility clothing alone has no statutory basis as a reduction, and any such argument by an insurer should be carefully scrutinised.

Cyclists are also not legally obliged to use cycle lanes, save in the case of contra-flow lanes on one-way streets. Failure to use a cycle lane does not, on its own, undermine a claim.

Why early legal advice is important

Cycling accident claims often involve disputed liability, complex medical evidence, and strict procedural deadlines. Acting promptly allows your solicitor to preserve key evidence such as CCTV footage, dashcam recordings, and GPS data from devices like Strava or Garmin, which can be decisive in establishing what happened. Early advice also ensures that medical assessments capture the full and long-term impact of your injuries, including any loss of confidence or inability to return to cycling.

Speak to an experienced cycling accident solicitor

If you have been injured in a cycling accident and would like advice on your options, the McCarthy + Co team is here to help. Based in Dublin and Cork, our solicitors assist clients nationwide. Contact us to arrange a confidential consultation and to discuss whether a claim may be viable in your circumstances.