Car pulls out on me and I'm to blame?

[Inertia]

To illustrate how cyclists sometimes aren't even considered a vehicle, I had something similar to this on the way in to work.

I was on my own heading towards the junction and a car was waiting for me to pass before it turned right (across my lane). There was another car on other junction which was waiting to turn right (onto the opposite side of the road from me) but couldn't because of the person waiting for me. She decided to slowly slide into my lane right in front of me and round the back of the other car to get out. I had sped up to get past the junction quickly and had to slow because of that idiot.

Hope that makes sense

 

[boydj]

Driver is primarily to blame. The cyclist should have been clearly visible, even if he could have shown better anticipation.

Having said that you should have been travelling at a speed and checking what other traffic is doing.

Sometimes it doesn't matter how slowly or carefully you cycle. I was honking up a long, steep hill a few years ago, doing probably no more than ten mph. I could see a car pull up at a junction coming up on the left, signalling to turn right across me. Broad daylight, no traffic in either direction on the road I was on, and I was clearly visible. He had time to go, but waited, then when I was actually at the junction, he started to go, then stopped, with my front wheel just touching his front wheel arch as I pulled up.

Looked, but did not see.......

 

[tightwad]

Quick update on this matter. As I explained in a previous post, I have held insurance with the British Cycling Federation for many years but have never used it. Straight after the accident I rang and left a message on their accident helpline. The following morning they contacted me took a few details and explained that they would be passing the case over to a firm of solicitors. The latter contacted a couple of hours later and took further details and explained how they would be proceeding. I was emailed various forms which I completed and returned. This Monday, 4 weeks after the accident, I received an email from the solicitore saying that the driver's insurance had admitted liabilty and had posted a cheque for the damage to the bike and clothes that were damaged. They also offered some compensation for the injuries sustained.

I was pleasantly surprised at the speed at which we had arrived at this stage.

 

[fossyant]

Good result.

Sometimes these things are quick, sometimes not... I had a cheque in my hand within 6 weeks for the bike damage, the PI side has been over a year.

 

[gaz]

Quick update on this matter. As I explained in a previous post, I have held insurance with the British Cycling Federation for many years but have never used it. Straight after the accident I rang and left a message on their accident helpline. The following morning they contacted me took a few details and explained that they would be passing the case over to a firm of solicitors. The latter contacted a couple of hours later and took further details and explained how they would be proceeding. I was emailed various forms which I completed and returned. This Monday, 4 weeks after the accident, I received an email from the solicitore saying that the driver's insurance had admitted liabilty and had posted a cheque for the damage to the bike and clothes that were damaged. They also offered some compensation for the injuries sustained.

I was pleasantly surprised at the speed at which we had arrived at this stage.

great turn around! i am jealous
I was hit by a car that pulled out from a side row. clearly his fault, and i've had very little help from the police who where unwilling to pass me any of his information and he failed to inform his insurance company and they are unwilling to push him. so nearly 3 months after i was hit i'm taking him to court.

 

[marinyork]

Great result, respect to British Cycling.

 

[simon walsh]

Super result. Great advert for anyone to join British Cycling.

 

[tightwad]

great turn around! i am jealous
I was hit by a car that pulled out from a side row. clearly his fault, and i've had very little help from the police who where unwilling to pass me any of his information and he failed to inform his insurance company and they are unwilling to push him. so nearly 3 months after i was hit i'm taking him to court.

The police attended straight after the accident and suggested to him that I was equally to blame which prompted him to rescind his original offer to pay cash to have the bike repaired. One of the police officers also lectured me on the dangers of riding without High Vis clothing. They were very hostile to me and showed tremendous empathy to the driver.

I can only suggest that you go to various different police stations and try and get the info from one of the desk jockeys. Go to the same stations also but at different times. Maybe get a solicitor, I can recommend a good one.

 

[gaz]

The police attended straight after the accident and suggested to him that I was equally to blame which prompted him to rescind his original offer to pay cash to have the bike repaired. One of the police officers also lectured me on the dangers of riding without High Vis clothing. They were very hostile to me and showed tremendous empathy to the driver.

I can only suggest that you go to various different police stations and try and get the info from one of the desk jockeys. Go to the same stations also but at different times. Maybe get a solicitor, I can recommend a good one.

My experience with the police that reported to the scene was fantastic. it's just the front desk staff don't have access to the info i need. and the guys that do have the info will only give it to a lawyer / solicitor or an insurance company.

The insurer (Swift cover) are really slow at responding as well.

 

[BentMikey]

That's great news tightwad! Thanks for coming back on here and letting us know.

Is there any chance you can put in a complaint to the police on the way they handled it, and mention your winning compensation in the civil claim? It'd be nice for those police to also get a lesson now that the driver has had his.

 

[tightwad]

That's great news tightwad! Thanks for coming back on here and letting us know.

Is there any chance you can put in a complaint to the police on the way they handled it, and mention your winning compensation in the civil claim? It'd be nice for those police to also get a lesson now that the driver has had his.

I did think about this at the time and subsequently, but on balance decided to spend my time on getting my bike sorted out and the insurance claim. Only so many hours in the day and all that. It is possibly something I may come back to.

 

[BentMikey]

I understand, though I hope you'll reconsider. Think of the future cyclist incidents this clown of a policeman will encounter, and the bias he might apply. I think there's a very good chance of changing that with a calm and factual letter to his boss as a complaint on the original incident number. He won't be able to avoid having to discuss that.