- This topic has 27 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by aracer.
-
Hit off my bike by a car, what should/can i do?
-
garethcolins89Free Member
Was hit off my bike by a car on the way home tonight, spoken to the police who are not interested, it’s caused a fair bit of damage to my bike and belongings, but thankfully i’m just battered and bruised.
this is the situation:-was hit by a car overtaking and cutting across me on a roundabout.
-my friend was cycing behind me and witnessed it all.
-after checking i can be certain i was in the right.
-i had lights and hi vis clothing and helmet so was very visible.
-the driver stopped and i have her details.
-damage to my bike, clothing, rucksack, phone etc…
-spoke to the police, they have given me an incident number but are otherwise not interested
-hand is injured an cant ride to work tomorrow, luckily also have a car.any experiances or recommendation on what to do would be much appreciated.
tmb467Free MemberYou need to speak to her insurers
Police won’t do anything yet as there was no obstruction to the carriageway
Although I’m not a legal expert, any traffic accident is something for insurers to deal with unless there is a suggestion of intent to injure (or other criminal activity) by the driver
LummoxFull MemberDefinitely 100% go for a docs check up and make notes while it’s fresh in your mind. I’m 2.5 months in from mine with no bike (frame can’t be sourced) and dodgy shoulder and ankle.
Initially I thought I was just a bit bruised and was very dismissive of my injuries
stayce88Free Memberget your hand checked out at the doctors / hospital, get a repair or replace quote on your bike and gear from a bike shop, get a solicitor and be prepared for a long long wait
collostomyFree MemberI had a similar accident, used a solicitor who was also a cyclist to handle my case, take pictures of your injuries and damaged kit. Get your bike inspected and a damage report from a reputable bike shop. I can recommend the solicitor who I used e-mail me if you want his details.
Definitely get checked out at A&E too. I felt a little battered after the incident but couldn’t move for a week the next morning. Also be prepared to wait, these things are not settled quickly. Good luck and hope there are no serious injuries.monkeychildFree MemberMy mate had something “similar”. A guy hit him from the side, he did a somersault (was clipped in) and landed on his bonnet. Luckily he was ok bar some bruising and muscle strains. His bike was written off and it took almost a year to get paid out!! It was ridiculous.
projectFree Memberhttp://www.bikeline.co.uk they will take charge of the details and get you compensation for your loses, lots of other cycle claims companys exist as weell look in the back of any cycling magazine.
As its an injury rtc the police should be informed by thr driver as, she hit someone,unless she braggs about it on twitter.
garethcolins89Free Memberthanks for all the help guys!
think i know my way forward now,
and atleast she has an imprint of my arse on her door to remind her not to do it again.stayce88Free MemberIts now been 6 months since I was hit by a car and ive still had no money to replace my bike and still on the nhs waiting list for treatment
djc1245Free MemberI got hit on a roundabout in the summer. The driver paid me out a few days later. The only damage I had was ripped clothing, smashed helmet, gravel rash on my shoulder and arse, bent gear hanger and a sore thumb. Accepted the pay out then found my thumb was worse than I thought and it turned out I had torn the ligament. Wished I had gone through his insurance now. So I say go for it and get the right damages
horaFree MemberPolice not interested?
They investigated and decided a RTA then/no intent?
If I run a pedestrian over Im cool then.
MikeWWFree MemberI was hit October 15. Have silver membership with British Cycling so free legal assistance. Driver admitted liability, police prosecuted- 7 points plus fine. I received interim payment earlier this month which covers clothing/bike damage.
Still waiting for full assessment to finalise claim but this was my collar bone (still) at start of last weekmikewsmithFree MemberIt ended up with me refusing to leave until someone at the police station until they took a statement from me (I was also assaulted) sometimes you need to insist.
stayce88Free MemberMikeWW I wish my case had gone like yours!
I got hit in August, driver admitted liabililty and did a driver awareness course, his insurance are still refusing to admit liability!
I also had a broken collarbone, broken jaw, lost teeth, written off bike, 6 weeks off work, still havnt had my teeth fixed or my bike replacedbailsFull MemberYou need to get back to the police and make a proper statement. They might call it an “allegation of bad driving” and have a specific form for it.
If the person on the desk/101 says no then insist they get someone else.
Then follow the lfgss/bikeradar guides. Get photos, write down what happened etc
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40052&t=12722930ti_pin_manFree MemberAnd earlier in the week people were giving me grief for buying a helmet cam for my commute. Ha. Ironic.
Op Good luck with this, let us know how it goes.
worldrallyteamFree MemberHad the same don to me by a bus. Went straight to police and got a police reference. They need to take it seriously. Get photos of all damage to you you bike and kit. Get either to hospital of doctors for a check up. Get any aches and pains checked and noted by hosp Drs. I took photos while still in kit with all wounds still raw through all holes ripped in kit. Get pics as bruising up. Get to a couple of bike shops to get it checked over and and get a written mechanics documentation from them. Keep a note of all times you contacted everyone, police ,solicitors doctors etc.
Get onto a bike specific solicitors. Are you a british cycling member?
I eventually received payment about 16months afterwards. 12 months of which was me trying to make a claim against bus company myself. Once solicitors got involved it was all sorted out in no time.
I used Cycle Law Scotland
horaFree Memberdriver admitted liabililty and did a driver awareness course, his insurance are still refusing to admit liability!
Why are they refusing if the driver did admit liability? The course confirmed his admission of fault.
In this case I really would look at no-fee solicitors.
martinhutchFull MemberWhy are they refusing if the driver did admit liability? The course confirmed his admission of fault.
In this case I really would look at no-fee solicitors.
Aye, that’s crazy. He’s clearly liable for your losses, and if his insurance company has failed him by refusing to see that, that’s not your problem. Sue his ass!
hjghg5Free MemberIt was really smooth when I had to claim – I used bikeline and it only took a couple of months. Insurers admitted liability straight away and settled at the amount we suggested. Maybe it helped that I wasn’t trying it on to get every penny I could out of them – went to them with a sensible number (about £3k for written off bike, kit and injuries) and they were fine about it. Really surprised me after some of the horror stories I’ve heard!
horaFree MemberStayce88 – give them a quick call to discuss today: http://www.bikeline.co.uk/accident_claims/about_us.htm
stealthcatFull MemberStayce – I had the same problem when I tried to claim on the driver’s insurance after they had been sent on a course. Do you have a letter from the police confirming that the driver was found to be at fault? If so, tell the insurer that, and then point out that if they continue to refuse to pay out, you will have to go through a solicitor, which will increase the cost to them…
Aviva gave in pretty quickly when they saw a copy of the letter from the Met!horaFree MemberThe ‘funny’ thing is I bet the insurer is increasing the drivers premiums. Stayce don’t let it go- fight it. Its one fight that you’ll regret later in life if you let it go as you ‘hurt’. Personally I’d simply inform them that I am going down the Solicitor route and call that link immediately. Who cares about their costs? They had 6months already to mitigate their losses/do the right thing. They obviously wanted you to quietly go away which saves them money.
thisisnotaspoonFree Memberti_pin_man – Member
And earlier in the week people were giving me grief for buying a helmet cam for my commute. Ha. Ironic I think the point against a helmet cam is the wearer seems to get into a lot more shouty confrontations than non wearers. Correlation (shouty people like the sound of their voice on film) or causation (filming makes people act up) is a seperate argument, but it seems safer not to have one.
stealthcatFull MemberIn my case, the driver had apparently failed to tell his insurance company about the incident, which was why the letter shut them up so quickly – if I was less cynical, I’d suggest there is a certain amount of confusion about whether the insurer has to be notified about driver re-education courses…
MikeWWFree Memberstayce88 – Member
MikeWW I wish my case had gone like yours!
I got hit in August, driver admitted liabililty and did a driver awareness course, his insurance are still refusing to admit liability!
I also had a broken collarbone, broken jaw, lost teeth, written off bike, 6 weeks off work, still havnt had my teeth fixed or my bike replacedSounds awful-hope you get there. Are solicitors involved-that was my first port of call
aracerFree Memberstayce88’s case is why I always recommend getting specialist lawyers involved for stuff like this, when lots of people say just go straight to the driver’s insurance (well that and experience of an insurance company even when I did get specialists involved – the firm I used have already got a couple of mentions, so no need for more). Take the advice given and get somebody else to do the work for you – typically in the case of awkward insurance companies they need to be threatened with being taken to court before paying out.
The topic ‘Hit off my bike by a car, what should/can i do?’ is closed to new replies.