Collision
This latest accident took place on the roads of High Barnett when a 66 year old woman was hit by a lorry on the afternoon of 16 October. The woman was struck on her bicycle by a skip lorry at the junction of Wood Street and High Street next to St John the Baptist Church. A priest from the church, Rev Charlotte Ballinger, hurried out of the church to minister to the woman. It is believed that the woman died instantly and she was pronounced dead at the scene at 3pm.
The driver of the skip lorry, a 45 year old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of death by dangerous driving. He was bailed until December pending further enquiries by the police.
Cycling Deaths
The overall number of cycling deaths in Britain has now risen to 95 this year with 82 confirmed as being the result of a collision with another vehicle. According to The Times, cars were involved in 46 of the fatalities while lorries and HGVs were involved in 19 deaths, vans were involved in 8 deaths, coaches and buses were involved in 5 deaths and motorbikes were involved in 2 deaths.
The statistics make for grim reading and this latest death reflects a notable trend in London. In 2011 around 20 per cent of cyclists who were admitted to Hospital over the year were involved in a collision with an HGV. This is despite the fact that HGVs only account for around five per cent of London's traffic. It has been pointed out by safety campaigners that left-turning HGVs present a particular danger on London’s frequently narrow streets.
Awareness
Experienced cyclists are likely to be all too aware of the dangers they might encounter on Britain’s highways. However, cycling has seen something of a renaissance recently, particularly in London where its popularity has risen by around 63 per cent in the last 10 years. The election of the pro-cycling Boris Johnson as Mayor in 2008 saw a huge surge in the numbers of cyclists which means the numbers of inexperienced cyclists has inevitably risen too.
It is very important that all cyclists, particularly the inexperienced or those unfamiliar with cycling on roads, make themselves aware of the dangers and take proper precautions.
At Rollingsons our personal injury solicitors have experienced first-hand the suffering of road accident victims and their families. If you would like further information or wish to discuss a potential or current claim following a cycling accident, we have experienced lawyers who can help you. Please contact Sarah Vincent by email svincent@rollingsons.co.uk or by telephone 020 7611 4848.
