Accident with a child

Last September I was riding to work in Bristol. Two children were riding self-propelled scooters on the pavement up ahead, when one of them lost control and veered into my path on the road. I tried my best to take evasive action, but hit the scooter and came off my bike. I was injured and taken to hospital in an ambulance. I would like to make a claim. Is there someone to claim against like the Motor Insurance Bureau which I have seen you write about before?
Shane, by e-mail

Answer

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) only compensates victims of negligent untraced or uninsured drivers of motor vehicles, so unfortunately you won’t succeed with a claim against them. Another Government compensating body, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), is unlikely to compensate you because you need to show a crime of violence has taken place to get compensation.

One option would be to investigate a claim against the child’s parents’ household contents insurer if they have this insurance. Such policies often cover negligent acts of members of the household away from the home. You should write to the parents and ask if they have this insurance – the police will have the contact details.