Cyclist hit my car, what do I do now?

[Samcat]

• Firstly this is not an anti cyclist rant *

I've never been in this situation before, so I'm a bit unsure how to proceed, any advice welcome.

Whilst driving to work this morning I was hit by a cyclist who rode off the kerb/pavement into the rear quarter of my car. I was turning left onto the trading estate traveling at about 25mph, I presume he was going to cross the junction and carry straight on (on the pavement). He didn't see me and just rode off the kerb, I almost got the feeling that he was going to do it as I passed him.
I stopped, and in my mirror I saw him get back on his bike and pedal quickly away, luckily for him there was no-one behind me.

What do I do? There is quite a large dent/scratch on my rear quarter, which I guess I'll have to pay for

Do I need to report it? to who?

Luckily for me there are CCTV images of the event recorded from a camera on the building where I work.

Now, I pass this guy most mornings on the way to work, and when I see him next I will try to speak to him, mainly to inquire if he was hurt, but do I have any legal right to request compensation for the damage, other than him admitting he made a mistake and offering to pay for the damage?

Of course he could always ask me for my details and put-in a counter-claim

[Pixelpeep]

I would say with some certainty this would never see a claim.

Save energy and cough up for repairs.

sorry, its a stty situation but maybe you have to accept when there is no way to win a battle there is no point starting it?

[Snowboy]

This was an RTA, call the police now and report it.
Otherwise you're breaking the law, and it could bite you in the arse later.

Ask them for advice while your on the phone.

Secondly, speak to the cyclist.
Explain the situation, tell him he owes you for damage.

Once you've done those two see what happens.

[Who me ?]

Police and insurance company I'd imagine. Might be worth getting hold of a copy of the CCTV in case cyclist is "persuaded" to cash in . I'd wait for some legal bod or your insurance company to comment on the sense of asking the cyclist if he was hurt as this could (possibly my cynical POV) looked on as an admission.

[Retroman]

Report it to the police.
Cyclist was involved in road traffic accident and left the scene before providing their full name and address. It's an offence but unless the police have some details little they can do. It's precautionary though and covers your back should the cyclist lie and say you hit him and drove off.

If you can prove the cyclist hit your car and get their details then you can sue them for the damages via the small claims if they refuse to pay.

Edited by Retroman on Thursday 1st May 17:15

[Mave]

This kind of thing really pisses me off. Gives cyclists a bad name. I'd get some quotes for the work to see whether it's worth going insurance or not depending on cost vs NCB and excess. I'd probably try to make contact with the cyclist as well, not to ask if he's ok but to ask about money!

[rowanxx]

If he was on the road as he should have been, you would have sideswiped him wouldn't you? Shirley you should have waited until it was safe before turning...?

[3Dee]

rowanxx said:

If he was on the road as he should have been, you would have sideswiped him wouldn't you? Shirley you should have waited until it was safe before turning...?

Jeez - - they do come out of the woodwork - don't they!

[Snowboy]

3Dee said:

rowanxx said:

If he was on the road as he should have been, you would have sideswiped him wouldn't you? Shirley you should have waited until it was safe before turning...?

Jeez - - they do come out of the woodwork - don't they!

I'm pretty sure that 'Shirley' is code for "I'm being sarcastic".

[Mr Will]

rowanxx said:

If he was on the road as he should have been, you would have sideswiped him wouldn't you? Shirley you should have waited until it was safe before turning...?

Surely he shouldn't have been riding on the pavement?

[Davel]

He hit you.

You should inform the police, as he might just say that you hit him and drove off without stopping. Of course he might not but, in todays claim culture, you never can be sure.

Can you get a copy of the cctv recording just in case?

Try to speak to him and ask him what he's going to do about the damage to your car.

He clearly road off hoping to get away with it...

[Johnnytheboy]

I recommend the OP does the British thing: get the car fixed, be not very happy about it, then glare angrily at the cyclist next time you see him, but no more.

[Aretnap]

Retroman said:

Cyclist was involved in road traffic accident and left the scene before providing their full name and address. It's an offence...

No it isn't; the duty to stop and give details only applies to the driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle, which a cycle isn't. At least the legal duty only applies to a driver, the moral duty is another matter.

OTOH if the cyclist suffered damage or injury the OP's obliged to report it regardless of fault as he didn't give his own details. Obviously he doesn't know whether there was damage or injury caused, but he'd be as well to report it to make sure his backside is covered.

[7db]

Retroman said:

Report it to the police.
Cyclist was involved in road traffic accident and left the scene before providing their full name and address. It's an offence but unless the police have some details little they can do.

Not an offence as the bike isn't a mechanically propelled vehicle.

[Seight_Returns]

Report the incident to the police - you have an obligation to do so if you're unable to exchange details at the scene for whatever reason - you must do so as soon as practical and in any case within 24 hours of the incident otherwise you commit an offence even if you're in innocent party in the collision.

Provide your insurance company with all the information you have including the CCTV and any other information that may help identify the cyclist.

Hassle your insurance company daily thereafter to make sure they do everything reasonable to identify the 3rd party and make a recovery - that's what you pay your premium for.

Don't get involved with the cyclist personally, if he didn't do the decent thing at the time he's not going to do so after the event - you can't (legally) do anything to resolve the situation that your insurer can't do for you.

[Snowboy]

7db said:

Retroman said:

Report it to the police.
Cyclist was involved in road traffic accident and left the scene before providing their full name and address. It's an offence but unless the police have some details little they can do.

Not an offence as the bike isn't a mechanically propelled vehicle.

The car is.
Therefore it's an RTA.

I think you're getting confused with a cycle hitting a pedestrian or another cycle not being an RTA.

[Aretnap]

Snowboy said:

The car is. Therefore it's an RTA.

But only the driver has to stop and give details. Law here.

Road Traffic Act said:

The driver of the mechanically propelled vehicle must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.

[Munter]

Aretnap said:

mechanically propelled

The pedals and chain are a mechanism....good enough?

[Aretnap]

Munter said:

The pedals and chain are a mechanism....good enough?

No. The actual propulsion has to be by mechanical means, be it an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a steam engine or whatever, as opposed to muscle.

[oyster]

Seight_Returns said:

Hassle your insurance company daily thereafter to make sure they do everything reasonable to identify the 3rd party and make a recovery - that's what you pay your premium for.

Good luck.

99% of us go for the cheapest quote. If your insurer would spend thousands and thousands playing Magnum PI to track down a few hundred quid then you must pay a mahoosive premium.