was hit by a cyclist today...thoughts?
Discussion
Fortunately the cyclist wasn't hurt (or at least said he wasn't), and neither was his bike.
I was at this junction.
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.354655...
It's not immediately apparent from the overhead view but there is a slight curve to the left on the main road as it goes from the SW to the NE. The Street View makes it a bit clearer.
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.354149...
On the picture, I'm the red blob, attempting to pull out of the junction onto the main road. All of the yellow cars had stopped to let me out of the junction. So out I pull. I get about three quarters through the manoeuvre when my right window is filled with cyclist.
He scraped along the side of my car a bit, as opposed to hitting the side, and was still upright by the time the incident finished. I pulled straight over and checked to see if he was OK.
He didn't have any injuries (I asked him twice) and his bike wasn't damaged (I asked him twice). He didn't ask for my details, didn't write down my number plate, and rode off.
It's about 12 hours since the incident now, and I'm mulling over whether to report it to the police and insurance. It's not a "reportable" accident as such, but if the cyclist decides he is injured tomorrow morning, I figure I'll be in trouble if I don't report it.
What would PH do?
I was at this junction.
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.354655...
It's not immediately apparent from the overhead view but there is a slight curve to the left on the main road as it goes from the SW to the NE. The Street View makes it a bit clearer.
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.354149...
On the picture, I'm the red blob, attempting to pull out of the junction onto the main road. All of the yellow cars had stopped to let me out of the junction. So out I pull. I get about three quarters through the manoeuvre when my right window is filled with cyclist.
He scraped along the side of my car a bit, as opposed to hitting the side, and was still upright by the time the incident finished. I pulled straight over and checked to see if he was OK.
He didn't have any injuries (I asked him twice) and his bike wasn't damaged (I asked him twice). He didn't ask for my details, didn't write down my number plate, and rode off.
It's about 12 hours since the incident now, and I'm mulling over whether to report it to the police and insurance. It's not a "reportable" accident as such, but if the cyclist decides he is injured tomorrow morning, I figure I'll be in trouble if I don't report it.
What would PH do?
Sounds like the kind of thing that would go 50/50 if it went down to insurance. He was at fault for overtaking past a junction and you were at fault for not giving way to a vehicle already on the carriageway.
I'd just let it drop if he's willing to, although you should inform your insurance company of the accident, technically.
I'd just let it drop if he's willing to, although you should inform your insurance company of the accident, technically.
Report it.
It is a reportable collision - I'll guarantee that your car, his bike of him WILL have damage.
It is a reportable collision - I'll guarantee that your car, his bike of him WILL have damage.
LukeSi said:
Report it. And if the guy has damaged your car and not left details isn't it criminal damage?
No. The cyclist and driver both stopped, and each had ample opportunity to ask the other for details. If they didn't that's their look out. They have fulfilled their obligations under the RTA.LukeSi said:
Report it. And if the guy has damaged your car and not left details isn't it criminal damage?
Nope. If it were criminal damage, most drivers in the country would have a conviction for it.It's an accident and any damage that occurs as a result is dealt with by insurance companies, not by the CPS prosecuting concerned parties for criminal damage.
the same thing happened to me 2 months ago but the only difference was that it was a pedestrian.
i phoned the police and reported it. (i have s dent in the driver side door), they told me by law that i then had to go to the police station with all my documents, mot, license, insurance and make a report (within 7 days) (they gave me a form, i had to fill it out where it happened, what time etc), then they contacted me a week later by post to say nothing further would be done. I had to fill out the form as they said by law you have to report a RTC (road traffic collision), That way it also gave me peace of mind- like say if the pedestrian went to the police or hospital a few days later and reported it, i would of got in trouble for not reporting it. the cyclist could report it tomorrow or delveop medical issues, OR his mates could say he could make an injury claim, THEREFORE GO TO THE POLICE STATION NOW AND REPORT IT!
i phoned the police and reported it. (i have s dent in the driver side door), they told me by law that i then had to go to the police station with all my documents, mot, license, insurance and make a report (within 7 days) (they gave me a form, i had to fill it out where it happened, what time etc), then they contacted me a week later by post to say nothing further would be done. I had to fill out the form as they said by law you have to report a RTC (road traffic collision), That way it also gave me peace of mind- like say if the pedestrian went to the police or hospital a few days later and reported it, i would of got in trouble for not reporting it. the cyclist could report it tomorrow or delveop medical issues, OR his mates could say he could make an injury claim, THEREFORE GO TO THE POLICE STATION NOW AND REPORT IT!
Just been down to the cop shop and woke up the desk sergeant. I'm the proud owner of incident No. 1 for today. Definitely a sensible idea to tell the police; I have an idea what would happen if I didn't and the cyclist did actually report me, and it wouldn't be pretty. At least this way I've got to put my side of it down first.
Now the next question is the insurance company. I've never bothered reporting minor non-claim dings and bangs before (got reversed into by a post office van despite leaning on the horn, and scraped a wall a bit) and I know that my insurance will go up if I do report it, but it seems a bit excessive. I think there is a little bit of damage, but only to bits of the car that needed work done to them anyway as I've only had it a couple of weeks, so it's hard to tell what's what.
Now the next question is the insurance company. I've never bothered reporting minor non-claim dings and bangs before (got reversed into by a post office van despite leaning on the horn, and scraped a wall a bit) and I know that my insurance will go up if I do report it, but it seems a bit excessive. I think there is a little bit of damage, but only to bits of the car that needed work done to them anyway as I've only had it a couple of weeks, so it's hard to tell what's what.
I had a big accident last year, and I only started driving again two weeks ago. Still can't quite heel and toe properly due to ankle damage, but everything else is fine apart from my confidence, and things like this don't really help much. So perhaps I am fretting over a minor bump too much, but if we didn't obsess about stuff, the internet would be rubbish.
davepoth said:
I had a big accident last year, and I only started driving again two weeks ago. Still can't quite heel and toe properly due to ankle damage, but everything else is fine apart from my confidence, and things like this don't really help much. So perhaps I am fretting over a minor bump too much, but if we didn't obsess about stuff, the internet would be rubbish.
Bad luck and glad your back on the road.I know that uncomfortable confidence feeling. It passes after a bit as long as cyclist cooperate.
I hit a car once on my bike as he made an un indicated right turn into an alley way in an old van full with ?????
I was head down it 12th gear and couldnt stop.
I got a buckled wheel and he lost both wing mirrors as I flew across his bonnet. Called it quits.
Good luck.
K321 said:
.... I had to fill out the form as they said by law you have to report a RTC (road traffic collision), ...... THEREFORE GO TO THE POLICE STATION NOW AND REPORT IT!
I dont htink this is true, is it? Surely the law is an accident only has to be reported by law if there is an injury involved, isn't it?There are 10's of thousands of minor bumps between vehicles on the road every year, if they all had to be reported by law, the police would be swampped. I rear ended a car at a junction a few years ago, all my own fault, no one injured, both cars badly damaged (not mere cosmetic) but this was all sorted out without bothering the police.
Corsair7 said:
K321 said:
.... I had to fill out the form as they said by law you have to report a RTC (road traffic collision), ...... THEREFORE GO TO THE POLICE STATION NOW AND REPORT IT!
I dont htink this is true, is it? Surely the law is an accident only has to be reported by law if there is an injury involved, isn't it?There are 10's of thousands of minor bumps between vehicles on the road every year, if they all had to be reported by law, the police would be swampped. I rear ended a car at a junction a few years ago, all my own fault, no one injured, both cars badly damaged (not mere cosmetic) buy have to report this was all sorted out without bothering the police.
Chiswickboy said:
Corsair7 said:
K321 said:
.... I had to fill out the form as they said by law you have to report a RTC (road traffic collision), ...... THEREFORE GO TO THE POLICE STATION NOW AND REPORT IT!
I dont htink this is true, is it? Surely the law is an accident only has to be reported by law if there is an injury involved, isn't it?There are 10's of thousands of minor bumps between vehicles on the road every year, if they all had to be reported by law, the police would be swampped. I rear ended a car at a junction a few years ago, all my own fault, no one injured, both cars badly damaged (not mere cosmetic) buy have to report this was all sorted out without bothering the police.
We both drove off, both cars still worked, after we cleared up the bits of my car that fell off.
a post man ride into my rear quarter, scraped the car and fell on the floor. I reported it to the fuzz and my insurer.
Fuzz just filled in standard paperwork, insurance left it as an unsettled claim which went against me as a fault claim for 3 f
king years.
Don't bother your insurer, unless you need to claim fort the damage to your car.
Fuzz just filled in standard paperwork, insurance left it as an unsettled claim which went against me as a fault claim for 3 f
king years.Don't bother your insurer, unless you need to claim fort the damage to your car.
kambites said:
Sounds like the kind of thing that would go 50/50 if it went down to insurance. He was at fault for overtaking past a junction and you were at fault for not giving way to a vehicle already on the carriageway.
Really? Sounds like the OP pulled out on the basis of cars stopping to let him out without checking all vehicles were stopped and hence the collision with the bike. (Disclaimer: I can't see the picture at work). I can't see that being the cyclists fault, bikes always file down the inside or outside, otherwise there wouldn't be much point cycling 
Fortunately nobody was hurt and there was no damage so you did the right thing with the police, I don't think I'd bother informing insurance on the basis of your policy going up but at least the police know if something is going to come out of this.
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