A recent compensation claim from a cyclist highlighted that it is not just motorists who are able make accident claims due to poor repair work leading to a road accident.

When a cyclist, 49 year old Kath Percival, recently took her specialist Roubaix cycle in for a maintenance check to a well known UK business that completes cycle repairs and was given the all clear to ride it she assumed that the bike would have been in good working order.

Servicing for bikes is as much a necessity as for motorbikes and cars. If a cyclist is riding on a busy road and one of the mechanisms fail it can often result in a serious accident in the same way as it can for users of motorised transport.

The trip that Mrs Percival was undertaking which prompted the service was from Preston to York and as an experienced cyclist she wanted to make sure her bike was up to the task. However en-route from Preston to York the cycles gearing system proved problematic. Mrs Percival took the wise precaution of visiting the cycle shop in York before the return journey to let the staff check over the bike again and rectify any problems that were not picked up in the original service.

The staff made some adjustments to the bike and Mrs Percival headed off back to Preston confident the bike was finally safe to ride.

However, on the way to Preston, approaching a roundabout the bikes gearing failed and dropped suddenly in gears. This failure unbalanced Mrs Percival and she collided with a car suffering cuts and bruises. Since the accident the victim’s confidence has been affected and she has suffered pain for a number of months.

An independent engineering expert has found several worn parts and incorrect adjustments and Mrs Percival now intends to pursue an accident compensation claim.