Minor cycling accident
Discussion
3 weeks ago I was knocked off my bike (Boris bike) in London. I was generally ok, a few bruises, grazes and a little shaken up but nothing serious. I picked myself up and exchanged details with the women who hit me and despite her attituded stinking regarding a collision (in my opinion) that was her fault I got on my way home.
Once home I discovered that my trousers were damaged (knee), shoe scuffed, smartwatch scratched and tablet that was in my bag screen smashed. I reported the accident to the police via online service.
A few days later I was still sore so went to minor injuries, was told I probably had soft tissue damage on hand (it had gone blue) which went down to stop fall as I went over handlebars and same for my back as I probably twisted funny.
Yesterday I received a letter from the Met Police saying the no further action will be taken which is fair enough. Part of me wants to let this go and move on, I hate ambulance chasers and wasn’t really injured significantly, although I am still aware of my palm aching if I put full weight on it.
What I am more frustrated about is the damage to my possessions, again this is something I could let go but the women’s attitude was so poor I kind of feel like I don’t want her to get away with it, particularly as it could have been worse. I have needed to buy new trousers (part of a suit), my shoes/watch are no longer in good condition and I’ll need a new tablet.
Now to the question, what should I do? Move on? Seek some compensation? If I do, how do I go about it? Ring her insurance company which details I now have or do I need to employ someone to take the case on? We aren’t talking about much money here but I just feel like her incompetence needs highlighting.
Once home I discovered that my trousers were damaged (knee), shoe scuffed, smartwatch scratched and tablet that was in my bag screen smashed. I reported the accident to the police via online service.
A few days later I was still sore so went to minor injuries, was told I probably had soft tissue damage on hand (it had gone blue) which went down to stop fall as I went over handlebars and same for my back as I probably twisted funny.
Yesterday I received a letter from the Met Police saying the no further action will be taken which is fair enough. Part of me wants to let this go and move on, I hate ambulance chasers and wasn’t really injured significantly, although I am still aware of my palm aching if I put full weight on it.
What I am more frustrated about is the damage to my possessions, again this is something I could let go but the women’s attitude was so poor I kind of feel like I don’t want her to get away with it, particularly as it could have been worse. I have needed to buy new trousers (part of a suit), my shoes/watch are no longer in good condition and I’ll need a new tablet.
Now to the question, what should I do? Move on? Seek some compensation? If I do, how do I go about it? Ring her insurance company which details I now have or do I need to employ someone to take the case on? We aren’t talking about much money here but I just feel like her incompetence needs highlighting.
Type R Tom said:
3 weeks ago I was knocked off my bike (Boris bike) in London. I was generally ok, a few bruises, grazes and a little shaken up but nothing serious. I picked myself up and exchanged details with the women who hit me and despite her attituded stinking regarding a collision (in my opinion) that was her fault I got on my way home.
Once home I discovered that my trousers were damaged (knee), shoe scuffed, smartwatch scratched and tablet that was in my bag screen smashed. I reported the accident to the police via online service.
A few days later I was still sore so went to minor injuries, was told I probably had soft tissue damage on hand (it had gone blue) which went down to stop fall as I went over handlebars and same for my back as I probably twisted funny.
Yesterday I received a letter from the Met Police saying the no further action will be taken which is fair enough. Part of me wants to let this go and move on, I hate ambulance chasers and wasn’t really injured significantly, although I am still aware of my palm aching if I put full weight on it.
What I am more frustrated about is the damage to my possessions, again this is something I could let go but the women’s attitude was so poor I kind of feel like I don’t want her to get away with it, particularly as it could have been worse. I have needed to buy new trousers (part of a suit), my shoes/watch are no longer in good condition and I’ll need a new tablet.
Now to the question, what should I do? Move on? Seek some compensation? If I do, how do I go about it? Ring her insurance company which details I now have or do I need to employ someone to take the case on? We aren’t talking about much money here but I just feel like her incompetence needs highlighting.
If the driver was negligent, then you would have a valid claim, and you should claim for you losses.Once home I discovered that my trousers were damaged (knee), shoe scuffed, smartwatch scratched and tablet that was in my bag screen smashed. I reported the accident to the police via online service.
A few days later I was still sore so went to minor injuries, was told I probably had soft tissue damage on hand (it had gone blue) which went down to stop fall as I went over handlebars and same for my back as I probably twisted funny.
Yesterday I received a letter from the Met Police saying the no further action will be taken which is fair enough. Part of me wants to let this go and move on, I hate ambulance chasers and wasn’t really injured significantly, although I am still aware of my palm aching if I put full weight on it.
What I am more frustrated about is the damage to my possessions, again this is something I could let go but the women’s attitude was so poor I kind of feel like I don’t want her to get away with it, particularly as it could have been worse. I have needed to buy new trousers (part of a suit), my shoes/watch are no longer in good condition and I’ll need a new tablet.
Now to the question, what should I do? Move on? Seek some compensation? If I do, how do I go about it? Ring her insurance company which details I now have or do I need to employ someone to take the case on? We aren’t talking about much money here but I just feel like her incompetence needs highlighting.
What were the circumstances that resulted in the collision?
How are you going to highlight her incompetence though? Her insurance will pay out and she’ll possibly pay a little more in premiums over the next few years. You don’t get to punish her, because you don’t like the way she acted.
To claim, either contact her insurance directly, or if you’ve got legal cover on any of your car / home / cycle insurance then ring them and ask them to do it for you.
To claim, either contact her insurance directly, or if you’ve got legal cover on any of your car / home / cycle insurance then ring them and ask them to do it for you.
To answer some of the questions:
Basically, she was in the wrong lane, indicating to join the correct one, changed her mind and hit me as I overtook on her right.
When I say highlighting, I mean in the sense of insurance record, at the moment it’s like it never happened. I will have a look into the legal cover, do you think that is a better bet than contacting them myself?
Unfortunately, it just got missed by CCTV by a few feet, got us discussing the accident after once we’d moved to a safe spot but that’s it.
Basically, she was in the wrong lane, indicating to join the correct one, changed her mind and hit me as I overtook on her right.
When I say highlighting, I mean in the sense of insurance record, at the moment it’s like it never happened. I will have a look into the legal cover, do you think that is a better bet than contacting them myself?
Unfortunately, it just got missed by CCTV by a few feet, got us discussing the accident after once we’d moved to a safe spot but that’s it.
She can’t lie as there’s already been an incident reported to the police. The fact she isn’t being prosecuted is moot.
Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
It was the other way for me, I gently tapped a cyclists back wheel causing him to fall. Chances are he would of remained up right if it hadn’t been wet at the time. I jumped out of car and picked up his bike as he was already on his feet cursing, can’t blame him. He quickly took off his jacket and he had a very small scrape to his left elbow, but no other visible signs of an injury, probably due to the wet conditions. I checked his bike over, not a mark on it, back wheel running true etc, then I rang the police to report it. Past my phone over to him to have a chat with them and he said it was an accident and he was fine. I then organised to put his bike in the back of my car and take him home to which he agreed.
Then things changed, he rang his wife and I could hear her shouting on the phone at him, suddenly he started holding his shoulder and started limping, insisting I rang an ambulance. I told him I would ring them, but also I would be on my way as he would be sat by the side of the road for a few hours as it was anything but an emergency. So he then asked for the lift and said he would call when he got home. We arrived at his house to be met by his screaming wife saying I had really injured him badly and she needed my insurance details. I replied she wasn’t there and how funny it was that everything was fine until he rang her. By that point I’d had enough and quickly put his his bike on the verge outside his house. I drove off with her chasing the car asking for my insurance, to which (childishly) I shouted out the window “find it you stupid greedy woman” all this while hubby stood there silently, no “are you alright love” or the slightest concern for him. Needless to say I rang insurance as soon as I got home and they had already been in touch.
Then things changed, he rang his wife and I could hear her shouting on the phone at him, suddenly he started holding his shoulder and started limping, insisting I rang an ambulance. I told him I would ring them, but also I would be on my way as he would be sat by the side of the road for a few hours as it was anything but an emergency. So he then asked for the lift and said he would call when he got home. We arrived at his house to be met by his screaming wife saying I had really injured him badly and she needed my insurance details. I replied she wasn’t there and how funny it was that everything was fine until he rang her. By that point I’d had enough and quickly put his his bike on the verge outside his house. I drove off with her chasing the car asking for my insurance, to which (childishly) I shouted out the window “find it you stupid greedy woman” all this while hubby stood there silently, no “are you alright love” or the slightest concern for him. Needless to say I rang insurance as soon as I got home and they had already been in touch.
Lindun said:
She can’t lie as there’s already been an incident reported to the police. The fact she isn’t being prosecuted is moot.
Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
She can give an entirely different account of the incident & claim that you are the liar.Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
In the absence of independent witnesses/camera footage it is he said/she said.
paintman said:
Lindun said:
She can’t lie as there’s already been an incident reported to the police. The fact she isn’t being prosecuted is moot.
Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
She can give an entirely different account of the incident & claim that you are the liar.Much better to have someone do it for you, as they’ll know what to claim for and how to do it, whilst probably getting you the best outcome.
Future insurers won’t care. She’s had a claim in the past 5 years, that’s all they’ll see and she’ll be like a huge chunk of the drivers out there.
In the absence of independent witnesses/camera footage it is he said/she said.
Type R Tom said:
Would the police have contacted her? I don't know if she reported it or not.
Only they can answer that.Type R Tom said:
I'm not really sure what she would say to change the story, I'm unlikely to cycle into her after all!
She might claim that you did.As I said, in the absence of independent witnesses it's he said/she said.
williaa68 said:
Do you have british cycling membership? If so their legal advice service is very good. And if you don't and you commute / use boris bikes regularly it is worth thinking about - the third party liability insurance cover alone is worth the membership fee.
Seriously thinking about it now, kind of always thought I was bulletproof as it's my first accident with a vehicle in nearly 30 years of cycling. My GF commutes via bike and has been pressing me to get organised for a while. paintman said:
Type R Tom said:
I'm not really sure what she would say to change the story, I'm unlikely to cycle into her after all!
She might claim that you did.As I said, in the absence of independent witnesses it's he said/she said.
KAgantua said:
So it sounds like you overtook her while she was changing lanes? Was she fully commited to the other lane before you overtook?
Doesnt sound clear cut IMO
She had jumped the queue using the wrong lane and was stationary straddling lane 2 and 3 (1 left, 2 straight, 3 right) indicating left. I was turning right and went past her on the right, as I was along side she pulled away moving to the right and knocked me towards the centre island and off. Doesnt sound clear cut IMO
To my mind she was in the wrong lane, should have indicated right if changed her mind and should have checked her blind spot. I suppose I maybe shouldn't have over taken but why wouldn't I overtake a car on the right that is indicating to the left and not moving.
Type R Tom said:
To answer some of the questions:
Basically, she was in the wrong lane, indicating to join the correct one, changed her mind and hit me as I overtook on her right.
When I say highlighting, I mean in the sense of insurance record, at the moment it’s like it never happened. I will have a look into the legal cover, do you think that is a better bet than contacting them myself?
Unfortunately, it just got missed by CCTV by a few feet, got us discussing the accident after once we’d moved to a safe spot but that’s it.
Do you often overtake a vehicle that is indicating to turn in your direction?Basically, she was in the wrong lane, indicating to join the correct one, changed her mind and hit me as I overtook on her right.
When I say highlighting, I mean in the sense of insurance record, at the moment it’s like it never happened. I will have a look into the legal cover, do you think that is a better bet than contacting them myself?
Unfortunately, it just got missed by CCTV by a few feet, got us discussing the accident after once we’d moved to a safe spot but that’s it.
motco said:
Do you often overtake a vehicle that is indicating to turn in your direction?
He didn't. Type R Tom said:
She had jumped the queue using the wrong lane and was stationary straddling lane 2 and 3 (1 left, 2 straight, 3 right) indicating left. I was turning right and went past her on the right, as I was along side she pulled away moving to the right and knocked me towards the centre island and off.
To my mind she was in the wrong lane, should have indicated right if changed her mind and should have checked her blind spot. I suppose I maybe shouldn't have over taken but why wouldn't I overtake a car on the right that is indicating to the left and not moving.
To my mind she was in the wrong lane, should have indicated right if changed her mind and should have checked her blind spot. I suppose I maybe shouldn't have over taken but why wouldn't I overtake a car on the right that is indicating to the left and not moving.
tony wright said:
It was the other way for me, I gently tapped a cyclists back wheel causing him to fall. Chances are he would of remained up right if it hadn’t been wet at the time. I jumped out of car and picked up his bike as he was already on his feet cursing, can’t blame him. He quickly took off his jacket and he had a very small scrape to his left elbow, but no other visible signs of an injury, probably due to the wet conditions. I checked his bike over, not a mark on it, back wheel running true etc, then I rang the police to report it. Past my phone over to him to have a chat with them and he said it was an accident and he was fine. I then organised to put his bike in the back of my car and take him home to which he agreed.
Then things changed, he rang his wife and I could hear her shouting on the phone at him, suddenly he started holding his shoulder and started limping, insisting I rang an ambulance. I told him I would ring them, but also I would be on my way as he would be sat by the side of the road for a few hours as it was anything but an emergency. So he then asked for the lift and said he would call when he got home. We arrived at his house to be met by his screaming wife saying I had really injured him badly and she needed my insurance details. I replied she wasn’t there and how funny it was that everything was fine until he rang her. By that point I’d had enough and quickly put his his bike on the verge outside his house. I drove off with her chasing the car asking for my insurance, to which (childishly) I shouted out the window “find it you stupid greedy woman” all this while hubby stood there silently, no “are you alright love” or the slightest concern for him. Needless to say I rang insurance as soon as I got home and they had already been in touch.
Just wanted to say (and this may or may not apply in this particular instance), but when you've just been knocked off your bike you have a HUGE dump of adrenaline which really has some magic effects.Then things changed, he rang his wife and I could hear her shouting on the phone at him, suddenly he started holding his shoulder and started limping, insisting I rang an ambulance. I told him I would ring them, but also I would be on my way as he would be sat by the side of the road for a few hours as it was anything but an emergency. So he then asked for the lift and said he would call when he got home. We arrived at his house to be met by his screaming wife saying I had really injured him badly and she needed my insurance details. I replied she wasn’t there and how funny it was that everything was fine until he rang her. By that point I’d had enough and quickly put his his bike on the verge outside his house. I drove off with her chasing the car asking for my insurance, to which (childishly) I shouted out the window “find it you stupid greedy woman” all this while hubby stood there silently, no “are you alright love” or the slightest concern for him. Needless to say I rang insurance as soon as I got home and they had already been in touch.
As it wears off you become aware of your injuries and start to feel the pain that the adrenaline was masking.
Usually if someone has just had a crash they feel absolutely fine, even slightly euphoric, and then over the next half hour they get worse and worse and eventually have a shock reaction when it all wears off. I've had instances where I've had to persuade someone *not* to just jump back on their bike and keep riding, and shortly afterwards it's become apparent that that was very good advice.
Just something to bear in mind.
Christ this thread is depressing.
The other driver may try and lie. She’ll fail. The police only send those letters when they can’t be read to prosecute, but it’s worded as a warning s to future conduct. Did you get one? If not that helps as you only have to prove on the balance of probability that she was in the wrong.
Courts tend to find more in favour of cyclists as they have little protection in a crash.
The other driver may try and lie. She’ll fail. The police only send those letters when they can’t be read to prosecute, but it’s worded as a warning s to future conduct. Did you get one? If not that helps as you only have to prove on the balance of probability that she was in the wrong.
Courts tend to find more in favour of cyclists as they have little protection in a crash.
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