Accident to report

redddraggon

In the last mile to work - supposedly quiet country roads - I'm in primary position about to go under a bridge - only enough space for one car.

Sports Car shoots past me, gets in front of me, breaks heavily as there is a car coming from the other side of the bridge, I brake but alas I don't have enough room and my front wheel hits the back of his car and I go over the handlebars and hit his boot.

He proceeds to get out of the car and aggressively approaches me. Apparantly according to him I shouldn't be in the primary position because it stops people getting past. There was a dint on the boot of his car which he accuses me of doing by punching his car, when in fact in was my helmeted head.

I stand my ground and tell him to call the police - I believe I was in the right. He starts getting aggressive and threatening to punch me and grabs hold of my collar and pushes me into the grass verge.

He was a young lad, though probably a couple of years older than me, taller than me, but probably a lot lighter. I've got a witness of him "attacking" me, and I've already reported it to the police, unfortunately didn't get his number plate. There's no damage to me (they build front row forwards strong) or the bike, so there's no need to take it any further as far I'm concerned.

I've got CTC insurance, will that cover me if I'm found to be in the wrong? (I don't think I am though). He got my details, but I doubt he remembered them.

RufusA

Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad you are okay and the bike reasonably intact!

As to faults IMHO it isn't clear cut, and probably depends on how far away from the bridge the driver over took.

If they overtook metres away from the bridge, tucked in at the last second then applied brakes hard, there wasn't a lot you could have done and it was his fault for driving without due care and attention. However similarly for you, if he wasn't there would you have appoached the bridge at speed, and been able to stop in time for the approaching car coming under the bridge?

If he had overtaken you before the bridge then there is the argument that you should have dropped back so that you had sufficient distance to stop? If you were approaching a known hazard where there is a likelihood of needing to be aware of oncoming vehicles, should you have been travelling slower or further back from the vehicle in front, regardless of his actions / behaviour?

I've been nearly caught out in the past where I've chased down a car that has overtaken me badly, only to nearly go in to the back of them when they braked hard for a speed bump. My fault entirely but felt angry with the driver at the time as they had unecessarily impeded my progress. I now tend to take a number of deep breaths when cycling as I recognise that anger prevents me from cycling defensively!

The subsequent actions of the other driver however are inexcusable and IMHO the police should be informed as there is no excuse for manhandling another road user!

Rufus.

John the Monkey

Sorry to hear about this. It sounds to me as though you were doing everything right. If the guy zooms ahead and brakes, I don't see how you could be expected to anticipate that action in time.

Nearly killing you then saying it's your fault seems to be a common trope among motorists these days.

FWIW, I have similar pinch points on my way home (caused by traffic islands) one thing suggested to me is to hold one hand out with palm facing the traffic behind once you reach a point where a car couldn't safely overtake. Not tried it yet, but plan to, as I'm getting sick of nearly being sent flying by idiots looking to shave half a second from their journey time.

Gussio

It is very, very disappointing that you were not able to furnish the police with this idiot's registration number. Regardless of the rights and the wrongs of the driving (sounds to me like you were in the right), you could have had the guy charged with assault. Threatening to punch you is enough to make this stick, let alone him pushing you into the verge. Your experience is completely unacceptable in every sense and I hope the guy gets tracked down by the police. I also kind of hope that the next person he tries to bully teaches him a lesson.

Flycatcher

As Gussio said that's assault, as soon as he grabbed you never mind pushing you into trhe ditch. What a shame you didn't get his number.

I've had this happen to me at a purpose bulit pinch point which allows one car at a time each way. A learner followed me for about half a mile then decided at the chicane to overtake and promptly braked causing me to slam on and go up the inside at which point I suggested he got a new instructor. My defence would be that a car and cycle can easily get through but not two cars.

Main thing, as ever, is that you're unharmed.

redddraggon

Flycatcher wrote:

My defence would be that a car and cycle can easily get through but not two cars.

I was about to say that, I approach the bridge from the primary position and hold my line as I approach the bridge meaning I get closer to the curb and have better visibility of anything oncoming, and as you said there is enough space for a car and a bike safely.

I'm glad I had a cheap and heavy road bike, a more expensive aluminium or carbon frame would have been seriously damaged.

Since having a shower I've noticed a horizontal bruise on my right thigh - I guess that was where I went over the bars. But no injury - how many people can say that in a collision the car came off worse than themselves and their bike?

Clever Pun

glad to read you're ok, I'm very impressed the bike's not been damaged at all either, nothing like finishing your journey with a wheel that's buckled to buggery.

sounds like the driver was just an all round class a pri<k

secretsam

Regardless of blame, he's assaulted you in the eyes of the law.

Oddballcp

CTC membership comes with £5 million personal liability insurance in the event someone makes a claim against you on account of your riding. So this ain't going to ruin you financially whatever happens.
Car brakes are better than bike brakes so if he cut in front of you and braked hard then it was his fault. He was also wrong to pass you when the road ahead wasn't clear; I doubt that he'll be taking you to Court.

BentMikey

Helmet camera!!

Glad you're OK mate. What a prize knob jockey that driver was.

Oddballcp

A helmet camera would have been damaged when he pile-drived the car boot. But what about those of us who don't always wear lids?

BentMikey

It could be on the handlebars, doh!

graeme_s-2

Oddballcp wrote:

CTC membership comes with £5 million personal liability insurance in the event someone makes a claim against you on account of your riding. So this ain't going to ruin you financially whatever happens.

I think it's just been increased to £10 million, there was a note about this in the latest Cycle magazine.

hamboman

redddraggon wrote:

There was a dint on the boot of his car which he accuses me of doing by punching his car, when in fact in was my helmeted head.

Harsh man, that sucks.

Make sure you buy a new helmet though, it might be damaged.

Gambatte

BRUISE = injury.

as he didn't check you were ok, just tried to assault you, this'll be hit and run?

therefore something that legally HAS to be reported to plod?

redddraggon

Gambatte wrote:

BRUISE = injury.

as he didn't check you were ok, just tried to assault you, this'll be hit and run?

therefore something that legally HAS to be reported to plod?

I reported it 20mins after it happened, As I was less than 1miles from where I work. It's a pain having to worry about this, especially when I've done nothing wrong.

I got the incident number off the police, so I if do hear anything off him wanting money, I'll update the cops with the details. I'll keep an eye out for him now in the mornings, see if I can get his plate.

Aidocp

Report it, whatever happens you're covered by the CTC and regardless of who was at fault for the accident, it still assualt. He sounds like a right nutter, so the chances are he has committed similar offences before or will do it again.

Oops just read Gambatte post below, you did report it.

Gambatte

redddraggon wrote:

I reported it 20mins after it happened, As I was less than 1miles from where I work. It's a pain having to worry about this, especially when I've done nothing wrong.

I got the incident number off the police, so I if do hear anything off him wanting money, I'll update the cops with the details. I'll keep an eye out for him now in the mornings, see if I can get his plate.

Just reread your original post, you did say you'd reported it - sorry.

Occasionally they do catch up with them

simon_adams_uk

If he's a regular along that route you could always spend half hour or so near the bridge (being subtle of course!) and see if he drives by and get his reg number?

Have you had the bike checked properly though? Impacts like the one you had can leave nasty little surprises that aren't immediately apparent...

S

redddraggon

simon_adams_uk wrote:

If he's a regular along that route you could always spend half hour or so near the bridge (being subtle of course!) and see if he drives by and get his reg number?

Have you had the bike checked properly though? Impacts like the one you had can leave nasty little surprises that aren't immediately apparent...

S

I had one of the blokes I work with check it out, I'd given it a going over myself. Compared to most other Aluminium bike the tubes on this are rather thick and the welds rather beefy, and It was a rather slow accident 12-15mph

Medals

Let it go.
He's a tw*t and he's got a nice dent on his boot to prove it.
He won't take any action, 'cos he knows he assaulted you.
He's a t*sser and probably always will be.

redddraggon

Medals wrote:

Let it go.
He's a tw*t and he's got a nice dent on his boot to prove it.
He won't take any action, 'cos he knows he assaulted you.
He's a t*sser and probably always will be.

I wasn't planning on taking it anywhere unless he tries to get me to pay for the damage, as I said I wasn't hurt and bike wasn't damaged.

If however I'd get hurt (to the point of broken bones or concussion) or my frame had been knackered, I probably would take it all the way.

I don't mean to make a deal of what happened to me, and I've been rather lucky compared to some of the people who've told their stories on here.