Crash with motorist - I'm not yet bike-insured
ChrisB200SX
Posts: 19
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?
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?
0
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I don't see why you need to have insurance if its the other persons fault ?
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!
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.
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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
seanoconn
£7,000? What were you riding?
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.
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.
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
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So why does he keep saying the car moved off?
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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.
and what about us..............
Annoyed that he's flagrantly avoiding doing his duty by law though!
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.
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.
Anyone know if you can sign up to BC after an incident and they will help you (if required)?
Apparently SwiftCover now don't even answer calls on their claims phone-line :x
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.
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Facebook? No. Just say no.