Been hit by a car whilst riding in a cycle lane...

[bozmandb9]

Love this forum! Recovering from injury and told by fellow cyclists effectively, it's your fault, be more careful!

Of course we all know we have to ride defensively, and expect some motorists to do stupid things. Doesn't really help to have it rubbed in when we get knocked off anyway.

As for 'if you can't see him how can he see you'... well I despair. Let's all just give motorists a medal for knocking us off. Obviously it will always be our fault!

Anyway, you've had good advice. Put the matter into the hands of a competent specialist solicitor, look after yourself, get well soon!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Love this forum! Recovering from injury and told by fellow cyclists effectively, it's your fault, be more careful!

Of course we all know we have to ride defensively, and expect some motorists to do stupid things. Doesn't really help to have it rubbed in when we get knocked off anyway.

As for 'if you can't see him how can he see you'... well I despair. Let's all just give motorists a medal for knocking us off. Obviously it will always be our fault!

Anyway, you've had good advice. Put the matter into the hands of a competent specialist solicitor, look after yourself, get well soon!

wuh?

 

[Origamist]

If YOU didn't see the car until you hit it what chance had the car driver on seeing you?

Yes, the car driver should have been more vigilant but cyclists should ride more defensively and in my opinion wear lighter coloured clothing to be seen more easily, YES the driver of a motor vehicle may be at fault but that won't help you if you are

Spare us the cyclist death fantasies and by all means upload film of your impeccable defensive riding. There are dozens on this forum happy to offer "advice" as to how you could improve YOUR cycle craft.

OP, hope you fully recover and good luck seeking redress.

 

[Sara_H]

There was never any denial from the driver in my case. Liability was accepted very quickly. It's the nature of injury and recovery that is taking so long. Plus the long wait for expert appointments and reports!

All of the emergency services behaved impeccably. Most of my treatment has been covered by my private insurance and costs incurred by the provider are a not insignificant part of the claim

The driver in my case pleaded guilty in the criminal case but the insurance company are still playing silly buggers.
It took them a full year to pay an interim payment for part of the bike repair cost (they haven't paid the full repair cost) and they are challenging absolutely everything even down to bus fares in the time I was too injured to ride.
Now 15 months on, solicitor says it may take years.

 

[vickster]

It's my injury ultimately that's holding up the process...no settlement has yet been discussed with the other side. It seems to take weeks if not months for the experts being paid hundreds to produce a report to actually do so...and I've got to wait over two months for an appointment, so I expect it'll be at least February before the report is prepared!

 

[glenn forger]

Aviva still haven't paid an interim payment to the poor rider who lost a leg to the skip lorry driver at Victoria.

 

[classic33]

The driver in my case pleaded guilty in the criminal case but the insurance company are still playing silly buggers.
It took them a full year to pay an interim payment for part of the bike repair cost (they haven't paid the full repair cost) and they are challenging absolutely everything even down to bus fares in the time I was too injured to ride.
Now 15 months on, solicitor says it may take years.

The longer you wait, the less you'll settle for is the hope.

 

[MarkF]

If YOU didn't see the car until you hit it what chance had the car driver on seeing you?

I know this road like the back of my hand and a struggle to see how both the cyclist and driver didn't see each other. The OP would have been able to see the car clearly for many 100's of metres before the collision, he is going downhill and the view is clear and uncluttered, alarm bells should have rung as soon as the car moved centrally. The car driver is to blame but it's better to debate the incident rather than just leaving it at that. I'd like to think that this would have ended with me just shaking my head if it had been me.

 

[vickster]

The longer you wait, the less you'll settle for is the hope.

The solicitor has valued the claim and given me a range based on the earth report from March and on the assumption that I am recovered and pain free, which I'm not. Hence another trip to the expert, for him to say I am always likely to have some residual pain (as well as residual scar, numbness and skin discolouration which has already been reported). The tear in my shoulder of course complicates things further potentially if it felt to be a result of the accident! If we'd settled last year, this wouldn't have come to light!

 

[classic33]

Never easy is it?

 

[vickster]

Never easy is it?

It's just a bit tedious and I'd like it settled at some point not too far in the future. I just hope the other party are agreeable when we finally put a number to them!

 

[classic33]

First two offers made to me were for £70 and then £90. It was only a bike. Receipt from the shop for recent drivetrain renewal surprised them. Done just the month before.

 

[vickster]

We are talking slightly higher numbers with me...I didnt get paid for 8 days for starters...

 

[classic33]

Still have mine on computer and got this piece from an explantion, that had to be sent, as the two stories differed

"If as said, I stopped on the road to let a bus approaching from behind pass me & then allowing him to leave Hebble Lane then I have no hesitation in saying he's lying. To stop with any vehicle behind purely to let it pass whilst riding a bicycle would be dangerous during the day. At night, with a bus approaching from behind simply stopping to allow it to make a L.H. turn across me, borders on the suicidal, I feel."

How many would stop at a junction to let a vehicle pass, when you know which direction the type of vehicle will be taking? Not what was done but what was said I'd done.

 

[classic33]

We are talking slightly higher numbers with me...I didnt get paid for 8 days for starters...

Got more than that in the end. Solicitor dealing with it was the one who said it's only a bike. That's when I got one who dealt with cycling related cases to take over the case.