cycling accident...

Hi, not sure if this is off topic but maybe some of you have had
similar experiences;

I was cycling to work this morning in London (UK), when I noticed a car on a
side road to my left approaching the junction with the main road (which I
was on) at speed, there were no other vehicles around so I tried to make eye
contact (as I usually would) to ensure she had seen me, I wasn't able to see
her but continued confident, (being daylight and there were no parked cars
or other obstructions to her view), that she must have seen me - at which
point she proceeded to turn left onto the main road, over shooting the
junction and hitting the side of me and my bike with the front corner of her
vehicle. I came off the bike went over the bonnet and landed face down in
the road. I promptly picked myself up and indicated we should go to the
police station, luckily situated across the road. I have a small bruise on
my knee and a graze and bump to my left cheek bone where my head hit the
road, I felt ok and declined an ambulance. We were given accident report
forms by the police and the driver accepted all responsibility, apologising
profusely. The sadle of my bike is torn where it hit the floor and I have
the minor injuries as stated - I think my head is ok. The question is, in
this litigious age could I and should I take this any further?

I've been commuting by bike every day a round trip of 12 miles for the last
two years and really feel drivers need to take more care and pay more
attention of cyclists instead of just feeling they have to get past them at
any cost! I think this driver has learnt her lesson but is that enough?

Any advice much appreciated.
Regards, G.

On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 13:36:32 -0000, "GG" wrote:

I was cycling to work this morning in London (UK)

Oh, _that_ London.

Sorry to hear of your accident.

No doubt you will be advised to contact a solicitor.

GG wrote:
Hi, not sure if this is off topic but maybe some of you have had
similar experiences;

I was cycling to work this morning in London (UK), when I noticed a car on a
side road to my left approaching the junction with the main road (which I
was on) at speed, there were no other vehicles around so I tried to make eye
contact (as I usually would) to ensure she had seen me, I wasn't able to see
her but continued confident, (being daylight and there were no parked cars
or other obstructions to her view), that she must have seen me - at which
point she proceeded to turn left onto the main road, over shooting the
junction and hitting the side of me and my bike with the front corner of her
vehicle. I came off the bike went over the bonnet and landed face down in
the road. I promptly picked myself up and indicated we should go to the
police station, luckily situated across the road. I have a small bruise on
my knee and a graze and bump to my left cheek bone where my head hit the
road, I felt ok and declined an ambulance. We were given accident report
forms by the police and the driver accepted all responsibility, apologising
profusely. The sadle of my bike is torn where it hit the floor and I have
the minor injuries as stated - I think my head is ok. The question is, in
this litigious age could I and should I take this any further?

I've been commuting by bike every day a round trip of 12 miles for the last
two years and really feel drivers need to take more care and pay more
attention of cyclists instead of just feeling they have to get past them at
any cost! I think this driver has learnt her lesson but is that enough?

1. Get to a doctor and have your injuries assessed ASAP.
2. Make sure you have a detailed description of all damage, clothing
bike etc.
3. It is best if you have a tame shark (aka lawyer) to scare the
weasels (insurance company) into actually paying up.

A good bet is the CTC (www.ctc.org.uk) who have a specialist team of
lawyers who understand cycling injuries. Even if you don't want to hang
the driver out to dry, it is worthwhile having a lawyer to deal with
all the frustrations and hassle regarding restoring you to where you
were before the accident.

...d


Any advice much appreciated.
Regards, G.

GG wrote:

road, I felt ok and declined an ambulance. We were given accident report
forms by the police and the driver accepted all responsibility, apologising
profusely. The sadle of my bike is torn where it hit the floor and I have
the minor injuries as stated - I think my head is ok. The question is, in
this litigious age could I and should I take this any further?

Only you can make that decision. However:

any cost! I think this driver has learnt her lesson but is that enough?

....it's not a question of "teaching her a lesson". You have suffered
injury and loss through her actions; the least she (or, practically, her
insurers) can do is to give you some recompense for that. Any claim
would be, in the first instance, for loss only and not punitive damages
- bear that in mind. So:

1. Document *everything*, and keep records and times.

2. You may be feeling fine right now but you may well feel **** tonight
after the adrenaline has worn off and everything has stiffened up.

3. You may have other injuries that were not obvious (with the
adrenaline), but will manifest over the next few days or weeks.

4. Take photographs of all injuries and damage - a cheap disposable
camera will do. If anything manifests further than a bruise by
tomorrow morning, see your GP, and get him/her to document your
injuries. Take pics of the bruises as they develop.

5. If you're not already a member, join the CTC (www.ctc.org.uk). They
have a special legal advice department and some recommended solicitors
who specialise in this, and who will be able to claim for material
damage, injury, and inconvenience. Although they're supposed to only
offer that to members, they've been known to let it ride if you purchase
a few years' membership immediately.

6. Get your bike checked out by a bike shop. Although it may be
rideable, the frame, forks, or cranks could be bent (I slide off on
diesel in a single-vehicle accident, and managed to bend a crank...)

7. Keep all receipts (taxi fares, etc).

8. Avoid "accident claim", no win no fee, firms.

9. I hope the damage really is as light as it seems, and you get well quick.

R.

Paul wrote:
On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 13:36:32 -0000, "GG" wrote:

I was cycling to work this morning in London (UK)

Oh, _that_ London.

The one inside the M25, or the one on Eday?

Sorry to hear of your accident.

Me too.
--
Ambrose

in message , GG
') wrote:

The question is, in
this litigious age could I and should I take this any further?

You should at least claim off her insurance company for any and all
damages. But, more to the point, we need to develop the perception among
the driving public that hitting a cyclist has consequences, so there's
some point in pursuing it as far as far as you can pour encourager les
autres.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken, and there was nothing we could do but wait
patiently for the RAC to arrive.

GG wrote:
The question is, in
this litigious age could I and should I take this any further?

I can't offer any useful practical advice, but what I would say is hit
her as hard as you can and make sure she has an incentive not to let it
happen again - the next person she hits may not be as lucky as you...

d.

GG wrote:

I've been commuting by bike every day a round trip of 12 miles for the last
two years and really feel drivers need to take more care and pay more
attention of cyclists instead of just feeling they have to get past them at
any cost! I think this driver has learnt her lesson but is that enough?

No. It's very likely you will start to receive increasingly nasty
correspondence from her insurer claiming for the damage to the car, no
matter what she may have said at the time. Engage the CTC immediately,
document everything, get all damage photographed and assessed by a bike
shop or doctor.

--
Mark.
http://tranchant.plus.com/

Simon Brooke wrote:
You should at least claim off her insurance company for any and all
damages. But, more to the point, we need to develop the perception among
the driving public that hitting a cyclist has consequences, so there's
some point in pursuing it as far as far as you can pour encourager les
autres.

While I agree in principle that does also involve whipping up a
pro-cyclist media frenzy in order that les autres are a) aware, b) not
made aware in a "Bloody Cyclist Ruined My No Claims Bonus, When Are
They Going To Be Licenced And Plated, The Lycra Wearing Freaks[1]"
Daily Wail / TrollB stylee.

Jon

[1] Does anyone else find reading capitalised such as that irritating?

Jon is Away! wrote on Thursday 23 Feb 2006 17:10:

[1] Does anyone else find reading capitalised such as that irritating?

Very.
--
Regards
Alex
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