Another knocked off thread

[SamG40]

Hi all,

A couple of weeks ago I was knocked off whilst going down the right hand side of a line of stopped/barely moving traffic (the driver just pulled out right to turn in the road without looking). The guy at the time was all "I'll pay for any damage". I got his reg, phone number and name. I managed to get a quote back from the bike shop for the damage and had tried unsuccessfully ringing and texting him since last Friday and of course he never replied/answered. I rang the police to see if they could get me his insurance details, they made me an appointment which I attended this evening. When the officer took me through he told me he had just spoken to the driver and asked if I'd rung him at all. Reluncantatly the driver gave the officer his insurance company name which he gave to me. The policeman had to give his badge number and offer to let the man ring 101 to verify it before the driver would give him the insurance company name.

My question is what I should do next. Should I just ring his insurance company in the morning and file the claim myself or do I need to get a solicitor on the case? I wasn't a member of british cycling at the time and I've yet to ring the house insurance to see if there is any joy there.

Any help gratefully received.

Sam

 

[vickster]

I'd a solicitor on the case if you were injured, if not, the no win no fee firms are unlikely to be interested if it's only a claim for bike damage

If your home insurance (or car insurance?) legal cover cannot help, do you have any sort of employee assistance through work? If no to all, call the insurance company, taking name and details of the person you speak to and ask for a claim form. He should have informed his insurers, my betting is that he won't have so make sure you have all the details to hand. Follow up the conversation in writing too in an email or by snail mail

If that all fails, then try a solicitor. You might be able to join BC retrospectively, phone them

Some of this might help too https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/accident-advice.151618/

 

[bikingdad90]

Hi Sam,

I would contact an organisation such a Leighton Day who specialise in bike accident claims. I think the other one is called Gordon Slater solicitors.

There is obviously bike damage but there will also be loss of earnings, travel expenses, litigation costs etc which soon mount up.

By the sounds of it the bloke is an awkward one so probably going to deny it with insurance company.

 

[vickster]

Hi Sam,

I would contact an organisation such a Leighton Day who specialise in bike accident claims. I think the other one is called Gordon Slater solicitors.

There is obviously bike damage but there will also be loss of earnings, travel expenses, litigation costs etc which soon mount up.

By the sounds of it the bloke is an awkward one so probably going to deny it with insurance company.

It's Leigh Day, they are the firm used by British Cycling. Slater and Gordon are used by CTC, if not injured, I'd be surprised if they will be a lot of help

 

[RichardB]

Most motor insurance companies have a third party claims department. You could try ringing them and seeing if they will help. If the driver admits he was at fault, it's usually fairly painless to claim through this method. If he has changed his mind and is disputing blame, you'll need to get lawyered up - but only if you can get free or low-cost advice and representation. Paying for a solicitor yourself is likely to be ruinously expensive, and the outcome uncertain, and is probably not worth it. In that case, chalk it up to experience and move on, for your own peace of mind.

 

[benb]

What a dick, trying to wriggle out of his responsibilities.

 

[SamG40]

Cheers for the responses. I have contacted my insurance company who I have legal cover with and started the proceedings with them. It seems it might be quicker to go straight to the insurance company myself and deal with them but considering how the driver has been so far I cant see him just admitting to everything straight away.

Thanks again guys.

 

[fossyant]

Glad its not too bad.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What a dick, trying to wriggle out of his responsibilities.

One more reason we need presumed liability.
https://www.change.org/p/pass-a-mem...torists-horse-riders-cyclists-and-pedestrians

GC