Car accident with a cyclist
Discussion
Hi guys,
I just need some advice. A cyclist went straight into the front of my car when I was turning into a side road from still. I pretty sure it was my fault. I waited for the two cars to pass then I slowly began to turn in, next thing I know, there is a cyclist on my bonnet! I offered to buy him a new wheel which had been damaged.
However he did not have a hi-vis on and it was pretty dark (sundown is around 6pm and the accident occurred at 8pm). So does that mean that it was his fault. I mean I was not driving fast. I was still prior to turning into the side road, I was slow turning. I can't think of anything I did wrong expect see the cyclist. I can only imagine that because he did not have a hi-viz on, I did not see him.
Thanks guys. I am still going to buy him a new wheel, doesn't matter if it my fault or his fault for not wearing a hi viz.
I just need some advice. A cyclist went straight into the front of my car when I was turning into a side road from still. I pretty sure it was my fault. I waited for the two cars to pass then I slowly began to turn in, next thing I know, there is a cyclist on my bonnet! I offered to buy him a new wheel which had been damaged.
However he did not have a hi-vis on and it was pretty dark (sundown is around 6pm and the accident occurred at 8pm). So does that mean that it was his fault. I mean I was not driving fast. I was still prior to turning into the side road, I was slow turning. I can't think of anything I did wrong expect see the cyclist. I can only imagine that because he did not have a hi-viz on, I did not see him.
Thanks guys. I am still going to buy him a new wheel, doesn't matter if it my fault or his fault for not wearing a hi viz.
annsxman said:
Did you indicate to turn left into the side road?
Yes. I was actually turning right into the side road from the main. So the vehicles are coming towards me.Also I never turn without indicating or without double checking if the coast if clear (debatable...).
mike9009 said:
Unlucky, but I think you are at fault. I am not sure where in law it says that cyclists must wear Hi Viz jackets?
Did he have lights on the bike? Did he have valid tax disc displayed?
You're right. It is just advised to wear high visibility clothing to avoid accidents...Did he have lights on the bike? Did he have valid tax disc displayed?
Ah well. I'm just glad the cyclist isn't injured in any way.
He had a light on the front but when I said " I don't think your light was on" he immediately said yes it was definitely on and then clicked the light on to show me ( surely if it was on, it would still be on!?)
Edited by mrkhan89 on Tuesday 21st October 23:19
TheAngryDog said:
????
Op, just want to get this right.
You were turning right into a side street, so the bike hit you on the passenger side of your car as you turned across them?
Almost right. The bike hit me on front. I was turning but I was barely into the maneuver and he hit me. So you could say it was head on even though I was turning. Op, just want to get this right.
You were turning right into a side street, so the bike hit you on the passenger side of your car as you turned across them?
Ian Geary said:
No law to wear hi-vis, but a front reflector * is required, and lights are a legal requirement at night.
If no-one was hurt I doubt the police would be interested.
If the cyclist takes up damage / personal injury claim against your insurance then lack of legal lighting could be a factor to consider, but by this stage I hope you'd have got hold of someone proper legal advice.
hth
Ian
Well he asked if I could buy him a new wheel a I was quite happy to. Surely he can't then try and claim against my insurance? Yes you're right, I should get some legal advice before I get a letter through the post eek! Thanks- OK, the reflector would be of little use if not lit by your headlights.
If no-one was hurt I doubt the police would be interested.
If the cyclist takes up damage / personal injury claim against your insurance then lack of legal lighting could be a factor to consider, but by this stage I hope you'd have got hold of someone proper legal advice.
hth
Ian
The cyclist did not have a reflector at the front of his bike. I made sure to check and I also asked him. He replied by saying that he had a light at the front, which, as I mentioned before, was not on. Only at my query did he deny it was off and went ahead and switched it on as to show me it was working...
accident said:
you must be taking the piss.
you come on a forum and say you drove into a cyclist and you want to blame him/her
do you blame parked cars for being in your way when you hit them?
Yes I 'come on a forum', as most of us (I am pretty sure you too) do before we begin posing our questions/discussions etc. you come on a forum and say you drove into a cyclist and you want to blame him/her
do you blame parked cars for being in your way when you hit them?
My question was about a car accident. Last I checked this was a motoring forum?
Please quote and reply when and where I said that I want to blame him. I am not looking for a resolve here, just a personal resolve, for my conscience. I said in my initial post that I believe it was my fault. Where in this thread do you see me pointing the finger. My only issue towards the cyclist was that he did not have a Hi-Viz.
This is the first time(hopefully last) I have hit anything/anyone so I am unable to answer your final question about hitting parked cars. However you must have habitual experience of doing that seeing as you assumed it is something one does by saying "when you hit them".
With all do respect, bugger off.
TheAngryDog said:
Ok, so how did he hit you? Was he in the middle of the road? Did you come together on your side or his side of the road?
He was sort of in the middle as there was no car behind him and it was a pretty clear space in front of him ( expect for me waiting to turn right)Here is a visualisation I quickly did of the incident.
|http://thumbsnap.com/iDd3oOAB[/url]Edited by mrkhan89 on Wednesday 22 October 00:17
yellowjack said:
Dependent on the type of lamp, and the type of switch, it is entirely possible for a battery operated lamp to shut off in the event of a collision. It happened to me when I was hit by a van which entered a roundabout I was already on. It's due to the impact jolting the batteries and interrupting the power to the LED/PCB. It happens a lot off road as well, if you come off, or even if you hit an obstacle or a drop really hard. Finding a switched off lamp in the woods in the dark is a b
h, too, when it has parted company with the handlebar mount.
Mostly, IMHO, for "didn't see him" you can more accurately substitute "didn't really look that hard".
Oh that is interesting. I had a feeling he may have either switched it off after the crash (took me 20 seconds to park the car safely) or it may have turned off from the impact of the crash as you said.h, too, when it has parted company with the handlebar mount.Mostly, IMHO, for "didn't see him" you can more accurately substitute "didn't really look that hard".
Indeed, I believe I did not look hard enough, which I am genuinely surprised at. I consider myself a safe driver, I was even watching recordings of drivers and cyclists a few days prior to get a better understanding of awareness when driving around cyclists. I am gutted but I am sure to learn from this and be ever more careful on the road.
can't remember said:
Finish the job next time.;)
Beer Man said:
Ok, we all make mistakes but, couple of questions.
1) What time did this happen?
2) were there streetlights and were they on?
3) how soon before making the failed turn were you on your phone?
Please visit the initial post to answer the first question. Yes the street lights were on. I do not use my mobile whilst driving, I keep it locked in the glove compartment whilst driving which also offers a charging facility (perhaps it is there to incentivize hiding your phone, who knows). I was waiting for the mobile phone question, cheers.1) What time did this happen?
2) were there streetlights and were they on?
3) how soon before making the failed turn were you on your phone?
555 Paul said:
As a very keen cyclist here is my take on it. The cyclist went down the inside of you without seeing your indicator or reading your intentions & you turned left into the road without properly checking your mirror for cyclists and the accident occurred. Cyclists must display lights at night if not just for the law but to stand a chance of staying alive! I personally don't cycle in the dark even though I carry lights on my bike just in case I get caught out by sunset.
What strikes me as worrying though is that instead of taking it on the chin you are looking to blame the cyclist for not wearing a hi-vis and not displaying reflectors! A reflector would not have helped you see him (regardless of whether his light was on) due to that fact that your lights wouldn't picked up on it.
You're both at fault in my opinion but you're coming on here acting like a bell end looking to blame someone else rather than taking responsibility for your own actions, I hope that the next cyclist/motor cyclist that you don't see doesn't suffer the same consequence. The cyclist should also take note from this and improve his observations and count himself lucky.
You have not read through the thread carefully enough. Had you, you would know that I was not turning left. Hence, I did not need to check my side mirror. Are you familiar with the purpose of a forum? Evidently not. If you were, you would clearly see that I am not looking to blame the cyclist, I am merely discussing the scenario.What strikes me as worrying though is that instead of taking it on the chin you are looking to blame the cyclist for not wearing a hi-vis and not displaying reflectors! A reflector would not have helped you see him (regardless of whether his light was on) due to that fact that your lights wouldn't picked up on it.
You're both at fault in my opinion but you're coming on here acting like a bell end looking to blame someone else rather than taking responsibility for your own actions, I hope that the next cyclist/motor cyclist that you don't see doesn't suffer the same consequence. The cyclist should also take note from this and improve his observations and count himself lucky.
When have I complained? I have taken it on the chin as you so eloquently put. And how the hell will his reflector/hi-viz not have helped me to see him? Not taking anything away from my lack of observation but what a silly nonsensical statement.
You are the bell end. Just because you've been a member of this forum for a few years longer than me you think that it is okay to call me a bell on for 'coming on here' as if it some sort of personal space of yours. Looser.
However I agree with your other points such as...Error: non existent.
555 Paul said:
You're right, in that case why it's the original posters fault and hi-vis still had no bearing on the accident.
I see where you are coming from however it is ignorant to say no bearing. In a badly lit road, a slight illumination in the form of a hi-viz etc can have a profound bearing.Just to make clear because everyone is misinterpreting and having a go at me. I admit that it was my fault. This is a discussion of the incident. The possibilities, the avoidances etc. I am just discussing the incident. If you just want to come on here and say something abusive or have a rant, please refrain.
Beer Man said:
i'll echo what was said about the front lights, they can disengage on an impact (and have also had to fumble around dark woods searching for mine)
the way I see it is it's both your fault really.
Streetlights really are good enough to see a bike at 8pm unless the rider was in full stealth mode. So yeah, you should have seen him especially if their light was on (you'd be amazed at the number of people that 'don't see' a lit up motorbike during the day)
They SHOULD have seen you turning and have been riding at a speed that they could stop safely in an emergency for you (as should any road user) to continue your ill conceived move.
You were pretty lucky there were no injuries as it, in the eyes of plod, clearly would have been your fault.
And fair play to you for offering to pay for a wheel. lots that wouldn't.
ALSO fair play to you for admitting, on here of all places, that it was probably your fault!
take it as a lesson, hope nothing more comes of it, put it behind you.
I agree with your points and I equally appreciate your wise words. The cyclist, and I, have been extremely lucky and I will be more observant in the prospect.the way I see it is it's both your fault really.
Streetlights really are good enough to see a bike at 8pm unless the rider was in full stealth mode. So yeah, you should have seen him especially if their light was on (you'd be amazed at the number of people that 'don't see' a lit up motorbike during the day)
They SHOULD have seen you turning and have been riding at a speed that they could stop safely in an emergency for you (as should any road user) to continue your ill conceived move.
You were pretty lucky there were no injuries as it, in the eyes of plod, clearly would have been your fault.
And fair play to you for offering to pay for a wheel. lots that wouldn't.
ALSO fair play to you for admitting, on here of all places, that it was probably your fault!
take it as a lesson, hope nothing more comes of it, put it behind you.
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