Pumpkin the robot
Guru
Now't. The officer just said your insurance will sort it. Yeh, 3 years later. I have no trust of GMP.
x2 re: GMP
In my case the police never even took a statement from me (unless the incoherent ramblings I issued while being bundled into the ambulance with a fractured skull and broken neck were noted down and recorded as my account of the incident? I have no recollection of what I may have been saying!). I chased the police up a couple of times to try and arrange making a statement about the incident from my perspective but was always just given the brush-off.
The police are not in the slightest bit interested because I didn't die and even though, in my opinion, the evidence shows that the driver lied about his actions and was clearly driving far too fast when he hit me they have just ignored his guilt....
I have to let this go because I don't want to spend the rest of my life being bitter about it and it doesn't actually affect my situation post-collision. What does worry me is the fact that this dangerous driver and others like him are still allowed to continue driving unchallenged, even after causing serious and near critical injuries to other road users. The other very serious issue is that it increases the danger for all other road users including me, my friends, family, and colleagues. The message to drivers is out there and is very clear. Drive recklessly and dangerously, cause injury and damage, accept no responsibility, and it is almost a certainty that you will walk away scot-free.
I would have liked the police to take some action against the driver, with my day in court if necessary. I can't comment on suitable punishments but perhaps a short driving ban would be a start? 3-6 months unable to drive would be a good time to allow the driver to reflect on the seriousness of what they did. Hell, they might even have to resort to using a bicycle to get a round and that would teach them a valuable lesson indeed!
And yet the GMP where most helpful in my accident. I assume it would be the same police force, as it was in both @fossyant and @I like Skol neck of the woods.
I had no recollection of the accident, but I did tell the policman the kind of speed I would have been doing, and that I would have been riding near the centre of the road, because people would try to overtake me on a blind corner, despite the fact I would have been riding at the speed limit for the road at that point.
The officer read out the witness statement of the woman that pulled out on me, and I was a little disappointed that she came out with the cycling bingo favourites. I was wearing black, I was going too fast, I was in the middle of the road etc. The police were happy to prosecute for undue care and attention, but I would like to believe it was an accident and she did not pull out on purpose. I said i would be happy if she admitted guilt and saw it was her fault. The policeman went to tha accident site and then went to see her and pointed out I can wear whatever colour clothing I like, I was not speeding and I do not have to ride in the gutter. She admitted it was her fault (which helped my injury claim) and I hope she now a little more aware of cyclists and other road users when she pulls out of side roads.
The officer did see why the accident could have happened but said that at the end of the day you do not pull out of a side road without making sure the road is clear. if you are not sure you do not pull out.
I guess it comes down to the officer as to the service you get.
Don't get me started on Cheshire police though