Got Knocked Off My Bike

Secteur

Usual story - was going along in the cycle lane, and as I passed a street exit, a car just cut in on me as they turned into the side-street.

Gave two hefty slaps on the back-side of the car, but she kept turning in on me and the next thing I know I'm lay on the tarmac feeling dazed and sore!

She drove off, but a witness leapt out of his car and chased her down the street - when she saw this, only then did she turn back.

Got a good witness.

Called the police.

Will call CTC today for advice.

Worst part is that I had already done a 2 hour ride - got home to find my missus (60 miles away) had accidentally locked me out and refused to come back, so I was then having to cycle to my dads in the next town over to get a spare key - needless to say she feels a bit bad about that now!!

MattC59

Hope you're ok !!

Get to a doc and register your concerns, as it may be that in a few days you start to sieze up and need physio. The cost of this can be claimed against her insurance.
Also, claim for anything that's damaged. The components weren't damaged before she hit you, so she should replace them.

MountainMonster

You are the worlds unluckiest cyclist.

Best of luck with the procedures, and definitely get everything from all sides of the stories written on paper, and signed by the writer.

Secteur

Landed on the point of my L elbow at some point during the fall / subsequent pirouetting on the tarmac, so went to A&E as it was sore++ but they said no fracture, thankfully.

I dont have any of the womans details, but the police were on scene and they took a statement from her - they gave me an incident number and said that all her details would be logged on that should they be needed.

I will write everything down this afternoon.

MountainMonster

Secteur wrote:

Landed on the point of my L elbow at some point during the fall / subsequent pirouetting on the tarmac, so went to A&E as it was sore++ but they said no fracture, thankfully.

I dont have any of the womans details, but the police were on scene and they took a statement from her - they gave me an incident number and said that all her details would be logged on that should they be needed.

I will write everything down this afternoon.

Do you have the details for the witness as well? If so, it would be good to get him to send over a statement that's signed to either the police, or you. As far as the woman is, you should be able to get the details off the incident form, so should be ok.

At least the damage hasn't been too bad so far!

chiark

Glad you're OK. As MountainMonster says, you are having absolutely no luck recently: it can only get better.

Reading about this, and so many similar stories, makes me think that no matter how careful I am I can't ignore the risk that I'll be knocked off: time to join the CTC, I think.

Secteur

chiark wrote:

Reading about this, and so many similar stories, makes me think that no matter how careful I am I can't ignore the risk that I'll be knocked off: time to join the CTC, I think.

No excuse not to - it's essential, and for £40 a year - a bargain.

rc856

Ouch!
Thought you'd be safe(ish) in the cycle lane!!
Here's to a speedy recovery.....and to the missus looking after you!!!

mouth

Perhaps you could have concentrated on 'stopping' instead of slapping the side of the car? No excuses for the car driving maniac but would you have gotten injured?

willbevan

sorry to hear you got off, i am glad you are not seriously injured.

Definetly get everything recorded in injuries.

I got knocked off just over a year ago, i hit a car at 30mph on the front wing and sumersaulted over the car with the bike, needless to say the carbon baby i was riding was written off (it was the drivers fault, didn't stop at a junction and pulled out in front of me). The driver with all due respect them was great, omitted liability, gave me his details and took me to work (as i was actually not badly injured by some miracle, some road rash).

CTC's solicitors (i dealt with PEnny and then Robert i think), got it sorted in about 3 months for me (which is quick from what i hear about most peoples times claiming)

As someone mentioned, for the cost per year it is an essential to belong to them!

Secteur

Mouth wrote:

Perhaps you could have concentrated on 'stopping' instead of slapping the side of the car? No excuses for the car driving maniac but would you have gotten injured?

Good thought (you sound more like a driver than a cyclist, though!).

It all happened in a flash, but I recall the car closing me down and turning in on me sharply - in theory even with warning, I doubt I could have stopped in time.

I slapped the car as it was up against my right hip pushing me over, to make them aware I was there before they crushed me under their wheels.

I reckon it saved me from a mangled leg.

mouth

Good thought (you sound more like a driver than a cyclist, though!).

[/quote]

I'm a professional driver and spend more than 40 hours per week at the wheel as well as commuting by bike so sympathise with all parties. Not to say that car drivers aren't to blame, but some cyclists do seem to have a death wish.

Bobbinogs

Hi Secteur,

Looking on the bright side, if she didn't hear you coming then maybe the squeak has been fixed after all

Seriously though, glad to hear you are ok.

Secteur

Bobbinogs wrote:

Hi Secteur,

Looking on the bright side, if she didn't hear you coming then maybe the squeak has been fixed after all

Seriously though, glad to hear you are ok.

Haha you cheeky sod!! :P

(PS the noise seems to have fixed itself)

Paul057

Like has been said above, at least you're ok mate. The woman who hit me last week is denying responsibility and i've got no witness either. Gutted. I'n the middle of sorting out a claim now but still feeling stupid for not getting an ambulance and police right away. Knocked my confidence too.

What's the CTC all about then? Don't know anything about it, but i'm thinking i need to be a member.

whitestar1

Secteur wrote:

Bobbinogs wrote:

Hi Secteur,

Looking on the bright side, if she didn't hear you coming then maybe the squeak has been fixed after all

Seriously though, glad to hear you are ok.

Haha you cheeky sod!! :P

(PS the noise seems to have fixed itself)

As someone who was in a similar incident I can understand how you are feeling. It's a petty that it took an accident to fix the squeak! not that I would recomment such a solution On another note, this is the very reason why I signed up with British Cycling.

Secteur

Have had a letter from the police abouot this, saying they have reviewed the evidence and feel there is enough evidence to take action.

She will be offered a "driver awareness course" along with a fee for this of £150.

If she refuses, she will be prosecuted.

In addition, her insurers clearly aren't aware of this police decision yet, as they are denying her responsibility. They will be informed today & as my solicitor says, she has two choices;

1) accept the driver awareness course and therefore admit negligence & therefore allow me to claim freely for my losses through her insurance

2) deny responsibility, make me have to "fight" to claim for my losses in an "old fasioned civil suit" but then she will face police prosecution for refusing the driver awareness course

So, either way she will have to face the consequences of her actions.

Nice to see the police taking this seriously - they just wrote to me out of the blue!

DavidJB

Good to hear that she's going to face some form of punishment, hopefully it will make her a better driver and avoid this happening to someone else.

nochekmate

Secteur wrote:

chiark wrote:

Reading about this, and so many similar stories, makes me think that no matter how careful I am I can't ignore the risk that I'll be knocked off: time to join the CTC, I think.

No excuse not to - it's essential, and for £40 a year - a bargain.

Secteur wrote:

Insurance (all forms) is a con. And they will wriggle out of paying something like 80% of claims.

My mantra: only buy insurance for something you can't afford to replace.
.

Umm!! Two different threads, two different views but same poster (although no doubt you will argue that you can replace bikes but not yourself!

The CTC however is no doubt a form of insurance and I quote you again 'Insurance (all forms) is a con'.

Since you suffered no injuries, I trust that you will not be chasing a claim (other than perhaps for damaged components).

Secteur

Indeed, I do believe that all forms of insurance is a con, however CTC membership if not directly an insurance policy. I stated that I dont think it's wise to insure against something I can afford to replace. My life or loss of earnings is not something I can afford to replace, so not sure what your antagonistic post is about.

I am not claiming for personal injury (but actually I did require stitches in my leg and a trip to A&E with a badly swollen elbow, road rash and a 2week inability to turn my head due to torticollis - all as a result of the accident) as I feel that this is just part of the trials and tribulations of life.

I am just claiming for the costs incurred in bike & helmet repairs / replacement.

Thanks for the concern!

wishitwasallflat

Sorry to hear of this and hope you are well but why are you not pursuing a personal injury claim - you were injured through no fault of your own due to someelse's negligence? I drive a car and if I did what this driver did to you I would expect you to claim - I ride a bike and if I was injured like you have been I would claim.

I know insurance premiums are being forced up for all by dubious and/or spruios claims but yours is genuine so why not claim?

bails87

I agree with wishitwasallflat. You have a genuine case for a PI claim, so claim, you're entitled to it.