Collision with cyclist: what can I do?

Questioner

My daughter was hit in front of our front door on the morning of December 15 by a cyclist who was cycling on the sidewalk. I have a photo of his ID. I also gave him the chance to come back with his parents. He didn't come. What can I do about this? Can I hold him liable and how should I do that?

Lawyer

It is of course very annoying that your daughter has experienced this situation. It is indeed possible to hold him liable for the damage, because it is forbidden by law to cycle on the pavement. You can do the following: 1. Collect all the evidence: This can be photos of the accident, but also witness statements. You already have a copy of his ID, which is very important. 2. Damage assessment: Make a list of all the damage your daughter has suffered. This can be material damage, but also injuries. It may be advisable to consult a medical specialist in the event of physical injuries. 3. Send a notice of liability: In this letter you should explain the damage and you can hold the person in question liable for the damage suffered. State your demands in this, such as the costs incurred. It is important to be clear and to document everything well. If the cyclist does not respond, or denies liability, you may consider hiring a lawyer or legal expert, or possibly calling in the help of your legal expenses insurance (if you have one). They can help you with the legal steps. Finally, it can also help to report the accident to the police within 14 days of the accident. If the police have fined the cyclist for cycling on the sidewalk, this can serve as additional evidence for the liability claim. You may have already done this, but if you have not, you can still consider doing so. This advice is of course general and it may be that other steps are necessary in your specific situation. It is advisable to engage a lawyer or attorney to help you with this. -------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.

Lawyer

Hopefully your daughter did not sustain any serious injuries when she was knocked over by the cyclist. It is important that the cyclist or the parents are held liable in order to write to the insurance company. If you send me a message via this platform or via email address: groenewegenjuristen@gmail.com I can provide you with free legal assistance. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Greetings, Mr. Groenewegen, J.