I was knocked off last night

Gazzaputt

Surely this is driving without due care and attention at the very least? Cars have sun visors or aren't the police aware of this. Surely it is the car driver's responsibility to ensure that it is safe to proceed not just hope all is ok?

Complain to Kent police I would not accept their decision either.

Rich158

duncedunce wrote:

I seem to recall you mentioning it was Station Road in Southfleet? I don't know which junction you are talking about along there, but presumably you were coming from the Bean direction? Most of that road has high hedges and is undulating enough for the sun to be behind a hill usually before it gets so low as to be in your eyes. I can't see how the sun would be in her eyes? Even if that were an acceptable excuse in the first place!

If it is not too traumatic, it might be worth going back there at a similar time over the next couple of days. The sun will not be in exactly the same position, but it may give an idea.

+1 to the idea that it is OK to proceed when you know you can't see properly (or when you are blinded) being crazy. Would the Police/CPS decide not to prosecute if she had had a blindfold on?

You may not want to be hassled by the following; you've been through a no doubt harrowing experience, not helped by this decision. But might it be worth contacting the CTC on the campaigning side? Was it them who were taking up a similar refusal to prosecute following a death where the driver said they didn't see the cyclist? They might be building up a dossier of similar cases?

Edit: typo I was too anal to leave be

Yep, the car was turning into the junction for the council tip, just before the roundabout. I've been back and the sun definately comes from the right direction and isn't blocked by trees or hedges. What makes things worse is that there's an unhindered view of the road for at least a couple of hundred yards, so there was no excuse for not seeing me.

My theory is that they exited the A2, took the wrong turning at the roundabout, and did a U turn at the first available junction without checking to see what was coming. Doesn't excuse the police though and I will be taking this up with the PCC. What makes things worse is that the police didn't even tell my family what had happened, where I'd been taken etc, they were left to find that out by phoning the ambulance driver. What beggars belief is that I'm a single parent and my kids were left to their own devices to get to the hospital, Ok they're not young at 16&20, but it's a highly traumatic experience for them. They weren't even told where the accident happened or which hospital I'd been taken to :shock:

Am I still angry......................you'd better believe it :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Thanks for the good wishes Christophe, I managed to escape without any road rash at all, everything was impact damage :shock:

Thanks for the advice on the CTC, the poor sods will be getting a phone call rfom me in the near future

Gazzaputt

Rich I had the same with the Met police when I was knocked off. All they were interested in was getting away as quickly as possible. Paramedic had to call the wife to tell her what had happened and where I was. I was told the police should have gone to the hospital to find out how severe my injuries were. Did they hell not even a follow up call I had to chase.

After the accident the police were not interested in investigating although it was a hit and run. I chased to get CCTV footage from a bus and council camera although the police told me this was 'inconclusive'.

Lost all faith with the police.

Hope your healing ok.

wpdoolan

Sorry to hear about your accident and hope recovery goes well and quickly

The way the police treated the whole thing is a disgrace if i were you i would speak to the inspector for the area and highlight where the officers involved didnt follow police procedure i..e. informing family and leaving kids to own devices. If you get no satisfaction there i would make a complaint to the police ombudsman about it.

It is a no brainer that you will be taking a case against the driver for reovery of costs and compensation.

Any best wishes on the recovery

Rich158

Gazzaputt wrote:

Rich I had the same with the Met police when I was knocked off. All they were interested in was getting away as quickly as possible. Paramedic had to call the wife to tell her what had happened and where I was. I was told the police should have gone to the hospital to find out how severe my injuries were. Did they hell not even a follow up call I had to chase.

After the accident the police were not interested in investigating although it was a hit and run. I chased to get CCTV footage from a bus and council camera although the police told me this was 'inconclusive'.

Lost all faith with the police.

Hope your healing ok.

Thanks Gazza, sorry to hear you had a similar experience with the Met, I was hoping it was just Kent police, but it appears this indifference is endemic. It's a real shame in this day and age that our respect and trust in them is slowly being eroded by their inability to do their job. It's sad that everyone has a similar experience, I certainly wouldn't ever put my trust in the police again, and neither will my kids.

I feel like I'm starting to heal a bit, but getting back on the bike seems very far away at the moment.

Specialized Needs

Ah, I was picturing them emerging from a side road, I hadn't thought of the tip turning. I see. I can't picture it completely but I would have thought you were on a slight upslope there (so emerging from a dip by the garden centre), and not out of the sun? Anyway, useless speculation by me, sorry.

wpdoolan wrote:

... and highlight where the officers involved didnt follow police procedure i..e. informing family and leaving kids to own devices...

From my experiences this is a key aspect to pursuing a complaint effectively - find out what the Police should have done and raise with them what they didn't do and why. You'll no doubt have to put it to the local police first before escalating it to the IPCC - I'm sure the IPCC will just redirect you if you don't.

wpdoolan wrote:

best wishes on the recovery

Um, yep +1; I feel stupid for not having said this first off :oops: . I hope the shoulder lets you turn right soon.

Rich158

duncedunce wrote:

Ah, I was picturing them emerging from a side road, I hadn't thought of the tip turning. I see. I can't picture it completely but I would have thought you were on a slight upslope there (so emerging from a dip by the garden centre), and not out of the sun? Anyway, useless speculation by me, sorry.

wpdoolan wrote:

... and highlight where the officers involved didnt follow police procedure i..e. informing family and leaving kids to own devices...

From my experiences this is a key aspect to pursuing a complaint effectively - find out what the Police should have done and raise with them what they didn't do and why. You'll no doubt have to put it to the local police first before escalating it to the IPCC - I'm sure the IPCC will just redirect you if you don't.

wpdoolan wrote:

best wishes on the recovery

Um, yep +1; I feel stupid for not having said this first off :oops: . I hope the shoulder lets you turn right soon.

Just had a great e-mail from the rozzers in response to my original complaint. They've asked if I took any witness details at the time :shock: :shock: :shock: You know I really didn't think of that when I was lying in the road covered in blood It just gets better and better :roll: :roll:

K1LLB0Y

:shock:

Holy s%^#

Sorry to hear man! Hope you come right with the Met.

MonkeyMonster

Rich158 wrote:

Just had a great e-mail from the rozzers in response to my original complaint. They've asked if I took any witness details at the time :shock: :shock: :shock: You know I really didn't think of that when I was lying in the road covered in blood It just gets better and better :roll: :roll:

So before or after you woke up in hospital? *boggles*

Perhaps a restorative pint or two will set that shoulder healing better...

Rich158

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Rich158 wrote:

Just had a great e-mail from the rozzers in response to my original complaint. They've asked if I took any witness details at the time :shock: :shock: :shock: You know I really didn't think of that when I was lying in the road covered in blood It just gets better and better :roll: :roll:

So before or after you woke up in hospital? *boggles*

Perhaps a restorative pint or two will set that shoulder healing better...

many bottles of fine wine have been sacrificed in search of feeling better. Especially effective when mixed with codeine

They've just asked for witness details, 3 weeks later :shock: in spite of the driver fully admitting he was blinded by the sun and still pulled out at the scene. How much more fecking evidence do they need :shock:

Specialized Needs

Rich158 wrote:

Just had a great e-mail from the rozzers in response to my original complaint. They've asked if I took any witness details at the time :shock: :shock: :shock: You know I really didn't think of that when I was lying in the road covered in blood It just gets better and better :roll: :roll:

That smacks of a standard response where the respondant doesn't know the case. That would be bad enough (depends how it is worded). If it purports to be from someone aware of the case, and of your condition at the time, then I hope they offer an apology for their lack of sensitivity.