Articles by ‘Mark Hambleton’

Mark Hambleton gives you an update on the exemptions relating to the impending Civil Liability Bill. It’s better news for cyclists than when the Bill was first announced.

You won’t have to read too many cycling case law reports before you come across the term ‘contributory negligence’. If you have been involved in a cycling accident, you may already be familiar with your legal team talking to you about ‘contrib’ – the shorthand for contributory negligence.

It’s sportive season and each year there are more and more events to choose from, with organisers stretching the boundaries by devising longer / more challenging routes and broadening their offering to appeal to a wider audience.

Mark Hambleton, partner and cycling advocate from our Personal Injury team, argues that plans for new laws on cycling aren’t tackling the real dangers on our roads.

As the news broke of a 49-year-old lady being struck and killed by an Uber driverless car in Arizona, it dawned on the world that this is the first fatality involving a pedestrian and a driverless car. But whilst this moment is a tragic landmark in both technology and the law, the reaction to Ms Herzberg’s death is sadly familiar.

Mark Hambleton, our specialist cycling advocate, helps you understand your rights as a cyclist on the road. Here, he takes a look at ‘causative potency’.

I was very surprised to read that a number of politicians hold the view that the laws relevant to cyclists who cause death or injury to other road users should be reviewed.

There has been a lot of bad press about cyclists in the media recently. I have seen some reporters describe cyclists as being “reckless” and a “menace” on our roads. This paints a totally inaccurate picture, and it’s one that is generating skewed policies from our Government.

Between the 4th and 8th October I had the privilege of cycling in France to raise funds for the Bath Rugby Foundation. It was a great ride that showed team spirit, commitment and also how riders should be treated on the road!

I am on my bike every day; commuting to work, visiting friends or riding in sportives. I have seen my fair share of close calls with dangerous drivers and pot-holed, congested roads.

It probably won’t have escaped your attention recently that the press is focusing on driving standards and the gap that should be left by motorists overtaking cyclists. It’s great news that this issue is now in the public eye. Ultimately, I hope drivers will leave more space for cyclists as a result of this publicity.

What is your attitude to cycling? I’m a strong advocate of it, but I appreciate how views differ and I know people often take a ‘them and us’ attitude on the road. However, I believe that this attitude is completely unnecessary, and even potentially dangerous.