Crash with motorist - I'm not yet bike-insured

ChrisB200SX

So I was visiting my brother in Bournemouth the weekend before last and decided to take the bike with me. Thought I'd pop out on the Saturday, do some hills for an hour and head out to Swanage on Sunday (and maybe Corfe Castle) as it was supposed to be a really nice day.

So I manage to get about 1 mile away, still warming up and taking it easy and at the top of a hill when a car pulls out in front of me at a roundabout, I slammed into the front wing and flew over the bonnet. I felt my helmet hit the ground with a bit of a thud but other than bumps, bruises and scrapes I'm generally fine. Lucky really as it could have been a lot worse. There was a bang when the bike and my lower legs slammed into the car... I had tried to "eject" over the bonnet but didn't have the time to think about still being clipped-in :roll: Not really too sure what happened ot the bike at/after the moment of impact.

The driver moved his car before I'd even got up (I was a little dizzy), all of the traffic stopped and everyone seemed to get out of their cars to see if I was alright. Some people offered to take photos but the car had already moved off. I have details of one couple who took a photo, I also have the driver's details but not insurance details. I reported the incident to the local Police. Took pictures of my (rather minor!) injuries too.

I've had the bike (MEKK Poggio 1.5) since late July but haven't had much chance to get out on it a great deal, also haven't yet decided what to do with joining a club or what sort of route to go with insuring the bike.

As I don't currently have insurance, what's the best way to progress with getting my bike checked over and then repaired or to make a claim? There are plenty of seriously grazed parts and the front wheel was pushed right up against one of the brake blocks.

I hear joining CTC includes insurance and may cover me retrospectively? Should I go with a "no win - no fee" type claim company, if so, any recommendations?

Either way I need to insure the bike, mostly for this sort of eventuality as I'm not too worried about it being stolen. Any recommendations?

cougie

Try these people. Lots of good reports from satisfied customers - http://www.bikeline.co.uk/

I don't see why you need to have insurance if its the other persons fault ?

epo.wks

www.askmid.com - enter the reg details, pay £4 or whatever it is and it'll give you the insurance company & policy number. It's up to you to then call them and report the incident. if the driver moved off quickly afterwards, it's likely that he/she won't bother contacting their insurance company.

Explain that you have notified the police of the event and have witnesses. Then explain that you will be taking your bike to a shop for a check over & will be pursuing them for the damages/costs.

Unless you are seriously injured which, thankfully, you aren't then a solicitor is a bit of an overkill in this kind of scenario and most things can be dealt with directly.

I have done this 3 times before following incidents whilst commuting in the winter and have always got settlement from drivers insurance companies without legal assistance. Last time, Aviva put close to £7,000 in my account within a week after submitting an repair invoice/estimate.

Please feel free to PM me should you need any assistance!

cat_with_no_tail

I understand you wanting to get insurance moving forward, CTC seem to be pretty popular.

Have you actually tried contacting the guy first though? Before involving the despicable ambulance chasers.

Last time someone went into me at a roundabout he went right over my front wheel (luckily JUST missed my leg). Like you, I was relatively uninjured. I simply asked him to pay for an inspection of the bike at the LBS, and the new front wheel which it turns out was the only thing which needed replacing. We did this without needing to involve his insurance for which he was eternally grateful. I did think he'd baulk at paying £300 for a new wheel (most non-cyclists can't comprehend anyone spending more then £100 on an entire bike) but he was a nice chap about it, very apologetic.

arran77

Cat With No Tail wrote:

I understand you wanting to get insurance moving forward, CTC seem to be pretty popular.

Have you actually tried contacting the guy first though? Before involving the despicable ambulance chasers.

Last time someone went into me at a roundabout he went right over my front wheel (luckily JUST missed my leg). Like you, I was relatively uninjured. I simply asked him to pay for an inspection of the bike at the LBS, and the new front wheel which it turns out was the only thing which needed replacing. We did this without needing to involve his insurance for which he was eternally grateful. I did think he'd baulk at paying £300 for a new wheel (most non-cyclists can't comprehend anyone spending more then £100 on an entire bike) but he was a nice chap about it, very apologetic.

This is probably the best way to go in the first instance as thankfully you're not injured too injured and if it doesn't work out then go down the route of the ambulance chasers.

I know everyone wants their 'compensation' these days when they have an accident but at the end of the day everyone ends up paying for it through higher motor insurance premiums as most of us are car drivers too

LinkD

epo.wks wrote:

http://www.askmid.com - enter the reg details, pay £4 or whatever it is and it'll give you the insurance company & policy number. It's up to you to then call them and report the incident. if the driver moved off quickly afterwards, it's likely that he/she won't bother contacting their insurance company.

Explain that you have notified the police of the event and have witnesses. Then explain that you will be taking your bike to a shop for a check over & will be pursuing them for the damages/costs.

Unless you are seriously injured which, thankfully, you aren't then a solicitor is a bit of an overkill in this kind of scenario and most things can be dealt with directly.

I have done this 3 times before following incidents whilst commuting in the winter and have always got settlement from drivers insurance companies without legal assistance. Last time, Aviva put close to £7,000 in my account within a week after submitting an repair invoice/estimate.

Please feel free to PM me should you need any assistance!

£7,000? What were you riding?

ChrisB200SX

Cat With No Tail wrote:

Have you actually tried contacting the guy first though? Before involving the despicable ambulance chasers.

I did think he'd baulk at paying £300 for a new wheel (most non-cyclists can't comprehend anyone spending more then £100 on an entire bike) but he was a nice chap about it, very apologetic.

It's the latter part that concerns me... I mention price of repairs and he just denies the incident ever occurred... this sort of thing tends to happen to me :roll:

It's not an expensive bike, but I'm a bit concerned about the fork and the shifter hoods, derailleur and some other bits took a serious scraping.

StillGoing

Because you were injured in the collision he has to provide his insurance details to you or anyone having reasonable cause to demand them. If he didn't do it at the time, then HE must report the collision to the police and produce his insurance to them as soon as practicable and within 24 hours or he commits offences. It doesn't matter that your injuries are superficial; an injury RTC is an injury RTC.

epo.wks

LinkD wrote:

epo.wks wrote:

http://www.askmid.com - enter the reg details, pay £4 or whatever it is and it'll give you the insurance company & policy number. It's up to you to then call them and report the incident. if the driver moved off quickly afterwards, it's likely that he/she won't bother contacting their insurance company.

Explain that you have notified the police of the event and have witnesses. Then explain that you will be taking your bike to a shop for a check over & will be pursuing them for the damages/costs.

Unless you are seriously injured which, thankfully, you aren't then a solicitor is a bit of an overkill in this kind of scenario and most things can be dealt with directly.

I have done this 3 times before following incidents whilst commuting in the winter and have always got settlement from drivers insurance companies without legal assistance. Last time, Aviva put close to £7,000 in my account within a week after submitting an repair invoice/estimate.

Please feel free to PM me should you need any assistance!

£7,000? What were you riding?

S-Works SL4. Plus a lot of my clothing & helmet was wrecked, including my shoes would you believe! I must be honest, I walked away with my life which is better than a cash settlement.

ChrisB200SX

Evans cycles messed me around so I ended going to another LBS that was recommended to me, they said because the fork and frame were carbon it could be damaged and need an x-ray to be sure. They recommended I get the guys insurance details and make a claim.

So, I spoke to the careless Audi A3 driver... he said he didn't have his insurance details to hand but would phone me back, but it distinctly sounded like he was not interested... that was 8 days ago :roll: I think I've given him adequate time!

I shall be using askmid this evening and going from there...

surrey_commuter

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Evans cycles messed me around so I ended going to another LBS that was recommended to me, they said because the fork and frame were carbon it could be damaged and need an x-ray to be sure. They recommended I get the guys insurance details and make a claim.

So, I spoke to the careless Audi A3 driver... he said he didn't have his insurance details to hand but would phone me back, but it distinctly sounded like he was not interested... that was 8 days ago :roll: I think I've given him adequate time!

I shall be using askmid this evening and going from there...

Why did you leave it 8 days? you should be ringing him daily. I would ring him once more giving him 24 hours and the throw the book at him

oscarbudgie

What are the police doing? I thought they would take a hit and run seriously? No?

joenobody

oscarbudgie wrote:

What are the police doing? I thought they would take a hit and run seriously? No?

It's not a hit & run

bendertherobot

Crack on with making the claim. He wants to forget about it. Just deal with the insurer now.

oscarbudgie

JoeNobody wrote:

oscarbudgie wrote:

What are the police doing? I thought they would take a hit and run seriously? No?

It's not a hit & run

So why does he keep saying the car moved off?

veronese68

I think it may be an offence not to give insurance details after an accident. I once had that, called the police and they got the insurance details for me and were quite happy to do so. Then just deal with his insurers.

StillGoing

Veronese68 wrote:

I think it may be an offence not to give insurance details after an accident. I once had that, called the police and they got the insurance details for me and were quite happy to do so. Then just deal with his insurers.

philthy3 wrote:

Because you were injured in the collision he has to provide his insurance details to you or anyone having reasonable cause to demand them. If he didn't do it at the time, then HE must report the collision to the police and produce his insurance to them as soon as practicable and within 24 hours or he commits offences. It doesn't matter that your injuries are superficial; an injury RTC is an injury RTC.

OP. you should be knocking on the door of your local nick well before now as he has failed to provide his insurance details at the time of the collision and has no doubt failed to report the RTC. As you've left it so long, unless you have damn good witnesses to support your allegation, there's every chance the driver has managed to get a bunch of rent a witnesses to say he was nowhere near the scene of the collision. Any cctv for the area will be wiped after 10 days in most circumstances.

Report it to the police as someone failing to give insurance details and failing to report, and make sure you give them a detailed description of the driver and the car such as any tattoos, car stickers etc. Also ask them to check ANPR records for the registration in the area of the collision to counter any chance of him saying it must have been someone else.

joenobody

oscarbudgie wrote:

So why does he keep saying the car moved off?

Moved off from the exact site of the accident. Presumably then parked up close by. How else would he have the driver's contact details? The Police are unlikely to have given him anything, certainly not a mobile number.

Team4Luke

"This FREE service has been designed specifically for motorists to use from their mobile to check the insurance details of the other parties involved in a road traffic accident at the roadside. View the video below for more information or read the Press Release. "

and what about us..............

ChrisB200SX

So I paid and got his insurance details, I'll give them a call when I get time and see how I get on with making a claim.

Annoyed that he's flagrantly avoiding doing his duty by law though!

patrickf

Now get yourself over to British Cycling or the CTC and sign up. I've always thought it's worthwhile to have some legal cover (both third party and legal assistance) should the worst happen.

Pokerface

patrickf wrote:

Now get yourself over to British Cycling or the CTC and sign up. I've always thought it's worthwhile to have some legal cover (both third party and legal assistance) should the worst happen.

I was going to ask if the OP was a British Cycling member.

If so, you get free legal cover - they have solicitors that will handle EVERYTHING on your behalf.

I got hit by a car last year and BC's solicitor's handled it all. Got my bike and clothing replaced, and a cash settlement for my injuries. All for the cheap price of £32 a year.

StillGoing

ChrisB200SX wrote:

So I paid and got his insurance details, I'll give them a call when I get time and see how I get on with making a claim.

Annoyed that he's flagrantly avoiding doing his duty by law though!

So report him. He will be prosecuted for failing to provide his insurance details at the time when requested and for failing to report the RTC within 24 hours. Not reporting him just means he'll think he can get away with again the next time he causes an RTC. With a bit of luck, his licence will be so loaded that he'll receive a ban and hike his insurance through the roof.

duckson

Pokerface wrote:

patrickf wrote:

Now get yourself over to British Cycling or the CTC and sign up. I've always thought it's worthwhile to have some legal cover (both third party and legal assistance) should the worst happen.

I was going to ask if the OP was a British Cycling member.

If so, you get free legal cover - they have solicitors that will handle EVERYTHING on your behalf.

I got hit by a car last year and BC's solicitor's handled it all. Got my bike and clothing replaced, and a cash settlement for my injuries. All for the cheap price of £32 a year.

Anyone know if you can sign up to BC after an incident and they will help you (if required)?

Mikey23

I think that would be unlikely!

duckson

Obviously wouldn't be claiming on the insurance, just the legal help side.

apreading

duckson wrote:

Pokerface wrote:

patrickf wrote:

Now get yourself over to British Cycling or the CTC and sign up. I've always thought it's worthwhile to have some legal cover (both third party and legal assistance) should the worst happen.

I was going to ask if the OP was a British Cycling member.

If so, you get free legal cover - they have solicitors that will handle EVERYTHING on your behalf.

I got hit by a car last year and BC's solicitor's handled it all. Got my bike and clothing replaced, and a cash settlement for my injuries. All for the cheap price of £32 a year.

Anyone know if you can sign up to BC after an incident and they will help you (if required)?

I think ctc do that not sure about BC

ChrisB200SX

Could someone confirm whether either CTC or British Cycling cover a back-dated claim like this? Just about to make the decision and join but would obviously prefer to join one that can help in this regard this year, then maybe review the choice next year.

Apparently SwiftCover now don't even answer calls on their claims phone-line :x

fast as fupp

no they wont.

you need a solicitor-one that specialises in cycling accidents.

the sooner the better.

bendertherobot

fast as fupp wrote:

no they wont.

you need a solicitor-one that specialises in cycling accidents.

the sooner the better.

Indeed. But, in the meantime, he needs to make the insurer aware. Take it out of the hands of the driver.

apreading

Legal claims advice: CTC members also receive free legal advice and help from our specialist team of lawyers in the event of a claim for damages being made either by you or against you. If you are not a CTC member at the time of the incident, it is still worth contacting the Accident Claims Line for advice on 0844 736 8452 as you may still qualify for help, depending on the circumstances of the crash and on payment of a 5-year commuted membership fee, refundable from the amount of any damages awarded in your favour. Note that Third Party cover cannot be applied retrospectively.