A cyclist has died after being hit by a HGV lorry in South-East London. The female cyclist, unnamed and in her thirties, suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene of the accident in Dulwich last week.

The man driving the white Mercedes truck was arrested and later let out on bail. London Ambulance Service also attended the scene.

HGV Accidents With Bikes

News of the cycling accident comes at a time when there have been public debates about making owners of lorry companies responsible for fitting safety features in their fleets.

The discussions follow growing calls for action to be taken regarding the disproportionate amount of accidents involving HGVs compared to the total amount of trucks in London.

Protestors gathered this week outside parliament to emphasise the growing concern about the high number of cyclist deaths caused by trucks in the city centre.

Statistics Show High Number Of Cyclists’ Deaths Caused By HGVs

Statistics have revealed that during the period between 2008 and 2012, 50 % of fatal cyclist accidents in London involved HGVs, despite the low number of vehicles on the road (4%).

London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has been spearheading a campaign specifically targeted to prevent road traffic accidents involving cyclists and lorries.

The Safer Lorry Charge hopes to ensure all HGVs are fitted with safety features such as sidebars and low skirts which would prevent cyclists from getting dragged underneath. It is hoped that safety devices such as these will reduce the number of cyclist deaths.

The proposed legislation has been recommended by Mr Johnson and it is thought it will become effective in 2014. The scheme involves fining lorry drivers £200 if they enter the city without the specified safety features on their vehicles.

There will be a HGV taskforce run by police and government inspectors who will oversee and ensure compliancy.

Paris and Dublin do not allow any HGVs into their city centres but Mr Johnson believes that the new rules will have the same effect in that they will deter lorry drivers from entering the city.

Mr Johnson said: “I have long been worried that a large number of cyclist deaths involve a relatively small number of lorries which are not fitted with safety equipment.”

Making Your Road Traffic Claim With First Personal Injury

If you are cyclist and have been involved in a road traffic accident that was not your fault then you could be able to claim compensation for your injuries.

Claiming compensation for a road traffic accident is straightforward with Motor Injury Lawyers. Please get in touch with our experienced and friendly team today on 0800 808 7733. In many cases we can offer to work with you on a no win no fee* basis