Bicycle Accident Lawyers

If you’ve been hit while riding your bike, you’re likely dealing with far more than the injury itself. There’s the time off work, the medical bills stacking up, the bike you can’t afford to replace, and the worry about whether you’ll be able to ride, or work, the way you did before.

Here’s what many injured cyclists don’t realise: if a motor vehicle was involved in your accident, you can claim through the same NSW compulsory third party (CTP) scheme that covers drivers and passengers. You don’t have to have been wearing hi-vis, and you don’t have to prove the driver was 100% at fault to start receiving help. What decides how much you can claim is whether your injury is “threshold” or “non-threshold”, and missing the early deadlines can quietly cost you thousands.

This guide explains how bicycle accident compensation works in NSW: who can claim, what you’re entitled to, the time limits, what claims are worth, and how to get started.

Can cyclists claim compensation after a bicycle accident in NSW?

Yes, if a motor vehicle was involved in your bicycle accident, you can claim under the NSW CTP scheme.

Cyclists are covered road users. If you were hit by a car, truck, bus or motorbike, you claim against the CTP insurer of the at-fault vehicle, not the driver personally. The scheme treats an injured cyclist the same way it treats an injured pedestrian: a vulnerable road user hurt by a vehicle.

A single-vehicle bicycle accident with no motor vehicle involved (for example, hitting a pothole or coming off on a wet corner) is generally not covered by CTP. But if a motor vehicle contributed in any way, you may still have a claim, so it’s worth checking.

Who can make a bicycle accident compensation claim?

Any cyclist injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle on a NSW road or road-related area. This includes:

• •Riders hit by a car, truck, bus or motorcycle
• •Riders forced to crash by a vehicle (even without direct contact)
• •Riders injured by an unregistered or unidentified vehicle, including hit and run
• •Children injured while cycling, claimed on their behalf by a parent or guardian

Fault matters, but it doesn’t shut you out.

If the driver was at fault, or only partly at fault, you can claim. If you were mostly at fault, you can still access early benefits, but they cut off after a year. The bigger question is the seriousness of your injury.

What does the NSW CTP scheme cover cyclists for?

There are two layers to a bicycle accident compensation claim.

How much income support can an injured cyclist claim?

If your injuries stop you working, weekly income payments keep money coming in while you recover:

• •Weeks 1-13: up to 95% of your pre-accident earnings
• •Weeks 14-52: up to 85% if you’re partially working, 80% if you’re not working at all
• •Beyond 52 weeks: ongoing payments if your injury is non-threshold and you were not mostly at fault

What treatment and care can a cyclist claim?

The CTP insurer covers reasonable and necessary treatment: GP and specialist visits, physiotherapy, surgery, rehabilitation and ongoing care. These are generally paid regardless of fault in the early stages of your claim.

When can a cyclist claim a lump sum payout?

A lump sum (common law damages) needs two things: you were not mostly at fault, and you have at least one non-threshold injury. It can cover past and future lost income, lost superannuation, and pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is only payable where your whole person impairment is assessed at 10% or above, up to a maximum of $691,000.

What is the difference between threshold and non-threshold injuries?

This classification decides what you can claim, so it matters more than almost anything else.

• •Threshold injuries: minor soft-tissue injuries (like mild whiplash or neck strain) and minor psychological injuries. Benefits last up to 52 weeks only.
• •Non-threshold injuries: more serious injuries common in bike accidents, including fractures and broken bones, spinal injuries, head and brain injuries, shoulder tears and knee injuries, nerve damage, and diagnosed psychological injury. These attract ongoing benefits and the right to a lump sum.

The classification is a medical assessment, and insurers often dispute it. Getting it right is one of the most valuable parts of a claim.

What injuries can cyclists claim bicycle accident compensation for?

Cyclists hit by vehicles tend to suffer serious, non-threshold injuries because there’s little between the rider and the road. Cyclists can make a claim for any one of the following injuries:

• •Fractures and broken bones, often collarbone, wrist, arm or leg
• •Head and brain injuries, even with a helmet
• •Spinal and back injuries
• •Shoulder injuries from the impact or landing
• •Road rash, lacerations and nerve damage
• •Psychological injury, including a fear of riding or PTSD

How much is a bicycle accident claim worth in NSW?

There’s no single figure for a bicycle accident claim in NSW.

What drives the value:

• •Severity of your injuries. More serious and lasting injuries mean a higher payout.
• •Your income before the accident. Greater earnings mean greater economic loss.
• •Your age. Younger riders have more working years ahead, which increases the claim.
• •Fault. Clear fault against the driver strengthens your position.
• •Threshold vs non-threshold. Only non-threshold injuries qualify for a lump sum.
• •Whole person impairment. 10% or above is required to claim for pain and suffering.

At Withstand Lawyers, we will provide you with a range of how much of what your bicycle accident claim could be worth. Contact us today for a personalised assessment of your claim.

For some context, SIRA’s 2024-25 figures record $1.7 billion in total CTP claims payments across 14,789 new claims, an average of $70,106 per claim. That average includes minor claims. Serious injury claims with a lump sum component settle well above it. See our motor vehicle accident compensation payouts NSW page and our car accident payout guide for ranges by injury.

What are real bicycle accident compensation payouts in NSW?

These are outcomes from NSW bicycle accident claims, where a motor vehicle was involved. Every claim is different and these reflect the specific facts of each case, not guarantees of what you will receive.

Sarah, $220,000. A driver turning left failed to give way and struck Sarah as she rode through the intersection. She suffered a fractured collarbone and wrist requiring surgery, plus ongoing shoulder restriction. One of her injuries were non-threshold. Her claim settled at $220,000, reflecting her surgery, time off work and reduced capacity.

David, $680,000. A parked driver opened a door into David’s path. He came off and was struck by a passing vehicle, sustaining a lumbar disc injury and a shoulder injury that stopped him returning to manual work. His claim settled at $680,000, covering past and future economic loss and pain and suffering.

Maria, $310,000. A car clipped a cyclist who was forced onto the footpath, striking Maria as she walked. She suffered a fractured leg and a head injury with lasting symptoms. Because a motor vehicle was involved, she claimed under the CTP scheme. Her claim settled at $310,000.

How long do you have to make a bicycle accident claim in NSW?

Act early. The deadlines are short.

Late claims can sometimes proceed with a full and satisfactory explanation, but don’t rely on it. For more, see our guide on how long after an accident you can claim.

How do you start a bicycle accident compensation claim?

Five steps, from the day of the accident to settlement:

1. Report the accident to police within 28 days. This creates an official record and an event number.
2. Get medical attention. See a doctor even if your injuries seem minor. Head, spinal and soft-tissue injuries often worsen over days. Early records are critical evidence.
3. Get the vehicle and driver details. Registration, name and contact details, plus any witnesses. If it was a hit and run, report it and note everything you can.
4. Lodge your claim with the CTP insurer of the at-fault vehicle (or the Nominal Defendant if the vehicle was uninsured or unidentified). Lodge within 3 months.
5. Get your claim valued before you accept any offer. You can’t reopen a lump sum after you settle. Click here to see what you should know before you settle your claim.

Our motor accident guides walk through the process in more detail.

What if the driver was uninsured or didn’t stop?

You can still claim, through the Nominal Defendant.

Cyclists injured by an unregistered or unidentified vehicle, including a hit and run, are covered. You follow the same process but lodge with the Nominal Defendant. For an unidentified vehicle you must show “due search and inquiry” to try to identify it, which is another reason to report to police early.

How do fees work with a bicycle accident lawyer?

We act on a No Win, No Fee basis. Nothing is payable up front.

If your claim doesn’t succeed, you don’t pay us anything. Our fees come out of your settlement, not your pocket while the matter runs, and we explain them in full before you sign. For more on how this works, see what percentage no win no fee lawyers take.

Bicycle Accident Lawyers FAQs

Why choose Withstand Lawyers for your bicycle accident claim?

You’ve been injured doing something as ordinary as riding your bike. You shouldn’t have to deal with the insurer alone.

We’re experienced NSW CTP lawyers. Our senior lawyers handle motor vehicle accident claims across Sydney and NSW on a No Win, No Fee basis. Over $47 million recovered. 99% success rate. We tell you exactly where you stand: what you can claim, what it’s likely worth, and what to do next. Straight answers. No jargon.

Call 1800 952 898 or contact us for a free claim check.