The Driver Who Ran Me Over Is In The Cells.....Now

cornsnacks

After an idiot nearly ran me down whilst driving down a bus lane illegally due to standing traffic in the 'legal' lane, then tried to knock me off in a traffic queue because I guess he was unhappy a bike was making progress he ended up driving round stationary traffic and cutting into traffic lights where he drove directly into my rhs and knocked me off.

I laid there looking at the sky somewhat stunned, bleeding from two small holes in my right leg and realised nothing was broken except for my bike, forks are bent as are both wheels, mudguards and maybe some more bits I haven't found yet.

I was just cycling home, nice and steady.

He drove off.

Nice people came and helped me, lots of them in fact and many wrote his number down and I am told some have given statements about his driving, I've given one too.

The fantastic traffic copper who came has found him and arrested him and he is in the cells now :shock: . They mentioned treating is as an assault rather than an accident.

What do I do know, anyone know a decent cycling solicitor to deal with his insurer or I do it myself ?

Last few hours have been a bit of a blur and seem to have passed in a few minutes, still can't believe it happened but it did and the Police have just left my house.

davis

Crikey. Glad you're ok, and pleased to hear the police are treating it correctly.

Best of luck, by the far the most important thing is your relative lack of injury; keep an eye out for developing problems.

cjcp

Russell Jones & Walker, Alyson France & Co, matybe Leigh Day are firms who deal with this sort of matter.

Don't do it yourself - get a solicitor to do it. Do you have insurance (BC? CTC?).

Get yourself to a hospital asap for a check up. Some injuries may not manifest immediately, so be careful about settling early on.

Write down now everything you can remember of incident, and maybe draw a diagram.

And don't post anything on here which will help the driver's case.

Glad you're ok in the circumstances.

Zachariah

Listen to cjcp - best not to write anything about it at all until after the case is fully resolved.

Rich158

glad you're ok dude. I'm using Leigh Day, BC put me on to them and they've been very good. If you're a BC member they'll pay for it all as well

chuckcork

Zachariah wrote:

Listen to cjcp - best not to write anything about it at all until after the case is fully resolved.

And then when it is tell us the level of satisfaction resulting.

straitty

I can vouch for Alyson France & Co.

Jon represented me twice and has 100% success rate. Good advice and encouragement to seek financial justice. If twats in cars, black cabs and buses actually realised the range of compensation I'd be claiming from their insurancers, they might actually take the time to take a proper look before driving into / pulling out / driving at me.

They need to take responsibility for their actions and you need to claim what's yours.

benno68

In this day and age, most solicitors will take a decent case on a no win no fee basis whether you're are a member of a club or not, they should claim all costs from the offending party/his insurers or the Motor Insurers Bureau (if he's uninsured).

Before you instruct them, make sure that they will not charge you for any costs or disbursements (medical fees etc) whether the case is successful or not.

I've heard of solicitors in the past winning a case and taking some of the compensation from their client - aswell as claiming costs from the other side - that's lawyers for you - hey guys .

All the best for a speedy recovery Cornsacks.

deffler

driver sounds like an absolute lunatic, hope he gets what he deserves.

Welcome to the forum, wish it was in better circumstances.

tlw1

glad you are ok, that could have been a lot worse!

realALBERTAN

cornsnacks wrote:

After an idiot nearly ran me down whilst driving down a bus lane illegally due to standing traffic in the 'legal' lane, then tried to knock me off in a traffic queue because I guess he was unhappy a bike was making progress he ended up driving round stationary traffic and cutting into traffic lights where he drove directly into my rhs and knocked me off.

I laid there looking at the sky somewhat stunned, bleeding from two small holes in my right leg and realised nothing was broken except for my bike, forks are bent as are both wheels, mudguards and maybe some more bits I haven't found yet.

I was just cycling home, nice and steady.

He drove off.

Nice people came and helped me, lots of them in fact and many wrote his number down and I am told some have given statements about his driving, I've given one too.

The fantastic traffic copper who came has found him and arrested him and he is in the cells now :shock: . They mentioned treating is as an assault rather than an accident.

What do I do know, anyone know a decent cycling solicitor to deal with his insurer or I do it myself ?

Last few hours have been a bit of a blur and seem to have passed in a few minutes, still can't believe it happened but it did and the Police have just left my house.

Good to see a fellow cop who can see the forrest for the trees...

cornsnacks

Many thanks, I have now contacted one of the solicitors above who will assess my case.

The bike is in the LBS and the wheelbuilder there has pointed out that the bend on the rear could only have been caused by a car tyre it is so pronounced. That was a little scary considering I was clipped in and it could have been my leg as well. Looks like the bike will be too pricey to bother repairing but I'll have to wait and see

I am awaiting the Police who are making 'further enquiries' the driver has to go back to the Police Station to be interviewed again in a few weeks. A CSI type lady has taken some photos of the bike and my legs, I'm mobile but stiff.

I am really starting to become anti-car despite owning some really nice luxury cars and hot hatches over the years. I just want to get out and ride again so the MTB may have to make an appearance sometime soon.

Cheers

kelsen

cornsnacks wrote:

I am really starting to become anti-car despite owning some really nice luxury cars and hot hatches over the years. I just want to get out and ride again so the MTB may have to make an appearance sometime soon.

Just keep in mind that it's not the car but rather the idiot behind the car who did this to you. Hope all goes well with the case.

prj45

kelsen wrote:

Just keep in mind that it's not the car but rather the idiot behind the car who did this to you. Hope all goes well with the case.

Don't think it's quite as simple as that.

I sse perfectly mild mannered people turn into inconsiderate arseholes when they get behind the wheel of a car (but I presume the same applies to people who get behind the handlebars of a pedal cycle or motorcycle).

Mithras

realALBERTAN wrote:

cornsnacks wrote:

After an idiot nearly ran me down whilst driving down a bus lane illegally due to standing traffic in the 'legal' lane, then tried to knock me off in a traffic queue because I guess he was unhappy a bike was making progress he ended up driving round stationary traffic and cutting into traffic lights where he drove directly into my rhs and knocked me off.

I laid there looking at the sky somewhat stunned, bleeding from two small holes in my right leg and realised nothing was broken except for my bike, forks are bent as are both wheels, mudguards and maybe some more bits I haven't found yet.

I was just cycling home, nice and steady.

He drove off.

Nice people came and helped me, lots of them in fact and many wrote his number down and I am told some have given statements about his driving, I've given one too.

The fantastic traffic copper who came has found him and arrested him and he is in the cells now :shock: . They mentioned treating is as an assault rather than an accident.

What do I do know, anyone know a decent cycling solicitor to deal with his insurer or I do it myself ?

Last few hours have been a bit of a blur and seem to have passed in a few minutes, still can't believe it happened but it did and the Police have just left my house.

Good to see a fellow cop who can see the forrest for the trees...

+1 and glad you're OK.
Just to add to that, make sure you go to the GP's or A&E and get the injuries logged. Something longer lasting may become apparent further down the line and you need to be able to prove it was sue to the accident.!

Kieran_Burns

kelsen wrote:

cornsnacks wrote:

I am really starting to become anti-car despite owning some really nice luxury cars and hot hatches over the years. I just want to get out and ride again so the MTB may have to make an appearance sometime soon.

Just keep in mind that it's not the car but rather the idiot behind the car who did this to you. Hope all goes well with the case.

Agreed - maybe I should change my signature to "I'm not anti-car, I'm anti-idiot"

Roastie

Wow! Bit glad your are ok and so far resolution has been positive - keep us posted!

dilemna

:shock: Blimey! That moton sounds like a pyscho. Inside a cell is the best place for him.

As Mithras and others have said get down to your GP asap and get your injuries logged and don't forget Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as what you suffered sounds really scary. You must be in shock. When I was knocked down I suffered flashbacks for months, would often wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. It was a horrible time. I was diagnosed with moderate PTSD. You were lucky not to be seriously injured/killed. Don't try and do too much to soon. Let yourself heal properly first. This will all be taken account in your claim by your solicitor against the driver's insurer if he is insured or the MIB. Take lots of pics as your injuries mature or get your other half to take them. Keep a diary. If the police prosecute him then your civil claim will more then likely follow this although your solicitor may well be able to obtain interim payments for out of pocket expenses, repair/replacement of bike and any other damaged property or private specialist medical treatment. The PI side will take some time to resolve as by their nature some injuries take some to heal or prognosis is sometimes uncertain.

But get down to your GP asap and don't forget you might be suffering from shock. Also loss of earnings if you can't work because of your injuries. Pain suffering loss of amenity (PSLA). But the solicitor should clarify all this with you. Read the conditional fee agreement carefully several times before you sign it. If you don't understand ANYTHING ask the solicitor to explain it. They have to do this under Law Society guidelines. Once you sign you agree to it. It is a legally binding contract between you and your solicitor.

How many witnesses do you have? Any CCTV?

Was the driver as high as a kite or drunk?

Get well.

The Running Man

That's shocking cornsnacks : I do hope you get properly compensated and the idiot gets what he deserves.

Hope you're ok soon and back on the bike but as CJCP says do not post anything definitive about either your state of mind or health until the case is resolved.

Clever Pun

deffler wrote:

driver sounds like an absolute lunatic, hope he gets what he deserves.

Welcome to the forum, wish it was in better circumstances.

this

Headhuunter

I'm using Russel, Jones & Walker for my claim which is continuing at the moment. Driver has admitted full responsibility, so far I've had money for bike, money for travel and medical expenses and the case continues for damages. They've been very good and although I'm not a CTC member, have taken it on as "no win no fee" as they reckon I should get a fair whack out of it. You have to get at least £1000 for no win, no fee to kick in otherwise the solicitors fees are not covered by the other side.....

cornsnacks

10 months later and I've just arrived home from Crown Court.

He had pleaded not guilty and a load of the witnesses were in the court, it seems he took some advice from his barrister and pleaded guilty to Dangerous Driving, Failing To Stop, Assault.

The judge was excellent, the lad was a 19yr old with a new driving licence and a bad case of the red mist, he ended up leaving court with the following sentence.

6 months in prison suspended for 2 years.
3 months home curfew with a tag.
2 year driving ban and an extended retest.
200 hours unpaid community work.
£400 compensation.
£1000 prosecution costs.

I am happy with that, it actually seems like a harsh sentence when you consider how it would effect your own life. The compensation would have been higher but the judge commented on the ongoing insurance claim and said the full amount would come from his insurer.

The Coppers were great, the system worked.

Headhuunter

cornsnacks wrote:

10 months later and I've just arrived home from Crown Court.

He had pleaded not guilty and a load of the witnesses were in the court, it seems he took some advice from his barrister and pleaded guilty to Dangerous Driving, Failing To Stop, Assault.

The judge was excellent, the lad was a 19yr old with a new driving licence and a bad case of the red mist, he ended up leaving court with the following sentence.

6 months in prison suspended for 2 years.
3 months home curfew with a tag.
2 year driving ban and an extended retest.
200 hours unpaid community work.
£400 compensation.
£1000 prosecution costs.

I am happy with that, it actually seems like a harsh sentence when you consider how it would effect your own life. The compensation would have been higher but the judge commented on the ongoing insurance claim and said the full amount would come from his insurer.

The Coppers were great, the system worked.

Good outcome. Did you ever contact a solicitor about compensation (£400 comp sounds ridiculously low), surely you can claim through the civil courts for damage to the bike and yourself.

cornsnacks

I've got RJW, they are very slow, todays events may speed things up.

W1

Good that they got the assault charge to stick.

Glad you feel justice has been served.

Headhuunter

cornsnacks wrote:

I've got RJW, they are very slow, todays events may speed things up.

Yeah these things take ages. It took me I think 10 months to get the final compensation and my driver admitted immediately that he was at fault... Yours sounds more complicated. Insurance companies work at snail's pace when they have to pay out....

Mr Plum

Glad the system worked in your case; that sentence is impressive.

benno68

Good result, he got what he deserved and hopefully he will learn from it!

Now it's just down to the lawyer's working out your deserved compensation, hopefully avoiding the civil court system.

greg66_tri_v2.0

He sounds like trouble in a pink sack. I'd be surprised if he can make it two years without triggering his suspended sentence.

soundninjauk

Glad it's all come out ok for you. And yeah, it actually seems like a vaguely reasonable sentence instead of some puny tap on the wrist.

keyser__soze

Result! Didn't see the original posts way back when but great to hear you had witnesses that gave a damn and also a decent copper to take up the case.

I was recently rammed from behind by a motorcyclist while stopped on the right side in an ASL (turning right) after he told me to "Get the f**k out of my way" so he could barge in there filtering round the outside of traffic. Severe bruising to my leg, buckled rear wheel, though (probably unfortunately for making my case) I didn't fall over. The guy zoomed off when the lights changed almost immediately and unfortunately I didn't get a license plate. I turned to talk to the driver in the car behind to get his details as a witness and he told me to get out of _his_ way as the lights were now green :roll: Reported it to the police and they said they wouldn't do anything as they didn't have a full plate.