Just had my first hit'n'run

Jamey

Coming home from work, Silver VW Beetle on the other side of the road turned right without seeing me (had flashers on) and hit the rear of my bike on the drivetrain side. I got off and started wheeling it over to the pavement to exchange details and she tore off down the road.

Two women came over and checked I was ok. Both saw the accident and got the registration number and gave me their details as witnesses.

Bike doesn't look like anything's broken but it felt a little weird to ride. The right pedal felt kinda wonky but I dunno what would cause that as nothing looks bent. I was gonna get it fully serviced this weekend anyway so will ask them to check it over then.

I've got bike cover on my house insurance but I dunno what the excess is.

I guess the best thing to do is keep all receipts and train tickets related to it.

I really, really hate it when nothing looks broken but it just "feels" wrong. I've had that with the car before after an accident. Everything seems fine but it just feels funny, but there's nothing the insurance can latch onto and so it gets left and then six months later things start breaking but it's too late to prove it's not normal wear and tear.

redddraggon

I hope you've reported the b!tch to the police?

Jamey

Went to the station and got the form so will fill that out.

Was a muslim woman in full headscarf garb so not sure how good my description will be.

cee

Did you make a Road Traffic Accident report at the station? Or is that what the form is for?

When I got hit and then run off on (!) earlier this year, I went to the police station and they took my statement there and then.

Agree about the not feeling right thing. Years ago (whilst on my morning paperround) I got hit by a woman pulling out of a T-Junction into direct sunlight (she was awfully apologetic!), and she payed for all repairs on the bike straight up. We (she even picked me up later and gave me a lift with the bike!) took the bike to the LBS and they checked it all out etc, gave her the quote (can't remember what it was) and she gave them a credit card and said crack on.

Sounds perfect right? Nup,wobbly peddla syndrome, the bike was never the same
after that

Jamey

Damn, that's not good news... I was already going to get them to replace the chainwheels during the service, I'm now wondering if I should go the whole hog and get the cranks done as well, or just a full chainset.

It'll be a full service so hopefully they'll check the frame and true the wheels and anything else that might have got bent.

I'm starting to wonder if the fact that she was wearing full Muslim clothing will mean that my description won't be good enough even if they do find her.

What if person the car's registered to says they can't remember who was driving and tries to pull that old trick? Is it now an offence if you can't supply information of that nature to the police?

cee

hmmmmm...........

Honestly I have no idea how that would work. I had heard of a similar loophole for some speed cameras (could easily be untrue, i don't know that either!)

Remember to give the Police the details of the witnesses as well. They should contact them themselves (Hit and Run is an offence after all!)

Yeah, I should have got my bike serviced first to check everything out, on reflection, the bike shop didn't take all that thorough a look at the bike, but I was young (15 or so) and the lady was being too cool to be true, so I just went along with it all :oops:

Good Luck!

Jamey

Have got a couple of mates in the police so just sent them a message to ask their opinion. I expect I'll report it whatever happens.

Will call Direct Line tomorrow and see whether I can claim anything, although I'm taking the bike to the repair place first thing in the morning so Direct Line would have to agree to letting me use my own shop instead of whoever they recommend.

attica

It was your first, I just hope it's your last!

Belv

With a registration number and 2 independent witnesses, you seem in a pretty good position even if the registered owner denies all knowledge.

Definitely report it regardless of damage in case this driver has done it before/does it again.

mrchrispy

report it as soon as possible.
it was a hit and run, next time it might be more difficult to report as you'll be dead in the road

il_principe

Should she be allowed to drive in full garb? I have no issue whatsoever with Islam (aside from the fact that it's a religion and therefore utterly pointless) but I do wonder if the hijab may restrict ones view slightly?

Mut

He shouldn't be allowed to cycle in a Hijab

Jamey

As a slight aside, It's a burqa.

Hijab is the passage in the Qu'ran that talks about Muslim dress, although nowhere in the Qu'ran does it say that women have to wear burqas.

Mut

saying that the govt of Iran has designed the "Islamic bicycle" - I tried to paste but...

saveswalking

Mut wrote:

saying that the govt of Iran has designed the "Islamic bicycle" - I tried to paste but...

Is it sort of covered up with just a ATC2000 peeping out ?

sw

Mut

yes