Crash :(

[laertes]

Friday morning I was barrelling down Battersea Park Road in SE London (well, the wind was behind me, I dont normally barrel) in the bus lane, with near -stationary traffic on my right, and some lunatic from the other carriageway, turns right through a gap and comes out across in front of me about 5 yards away from me. Ploughed into the rear side panel of his van and flew through the air until gravity caught up with me. Miraculously only bad brusing to hip and shoulder which I obviously landed on, and some other small scrapes. Handlebars twisted and a big dent in the main cross tube.

Bloke did not see then could not speak enough English to understand what was going on. Was apologetic and did not try to drive off, though. Couple of witnesses made sure I was OK and offered to help, and gave me contact details

I have got the form to report it to the police. The driver put me on the phone to his dad, whose English was only slightly better. They claim they are fully insured so hopefully they are. I have got the form to fill in for the police. Main problem now is a few days on the trains until the bike is fixed. I'm a lucky bunny, could have been worse.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Eek. Glad you are OK. I think you should be checked out by a medical professional if you haven't already.

 

[rusky]

Glad you're here to tell the story.

Get on to these people http://www.rjw.co.uk/ unless you are a member of CTC but they use the same people.

 

[buggi]

might be advisable to overtake stationary traffic on the right side, even if there's a bus lane to which its very tempting to ride in (and i've done it myself but this just reminded me why i shouldn't undertake stationary traffic). helps to avoid this kind of situation. Glad you're ok though

 

[Norm]

Without trying / meaning to detract from the fundamental issue that the van driver was at fault, I never "barrel" when there's stationary traffic around, whatever powers my two wheels, especially as it sounds like you were approaching a junction.

Whilst others might be to blame for accidents, it's usually the cyclist that gets hurt and I'll add a few mins to my journey to reduce that risk.

The dent in the top tube probably means the bike's good for little other than scrap now. Keep records of any pain and injuries you suffer to ensure that you don't lose out when fighting an insurer-biased system.

 

[laertes]

Thanks for the advice all. Seeing a doc tomorrow. I normally avoid that route when there is traffic, but my normal safe route (on a proper London cycle network route) is blocked off by building work.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Ouch..

Get your injuries checked. My crash on Tuesday (similar, a right turning oncoming vehicle across my path) left me feeling that I had a bruised shoulder, but I went straight to A&E (Normally I'm not that sensible, an instinct told me to check it out - though not until after lugging my bent bike home with my bad shoulder)

It's actually a separated shoulder (albeit not a severe one)

Oh, keep receipts of travel expenses incurred as a result of being off the bike too

 

[buggi]

Thanks for the advice all. Seeing a doc tomorrow. I normally avoid that route when there is traffic, but my normal safe route (on a proper London cycle network route) is blocked off by building work.

it's sooooo tempting to barrell it though isn't it... when you've got a clear road ahead of you

 

[gaz]

Get well soon, hope everything gets sorted as soon as.

Only difference i would have done is calling the police. When ever you are involved in an RTC with a vehicle, get them to come to the scene, makes the whole language and insurance issue none of your problem!

 

[jefmcg]

Glad you're here to tell the story.

Get on to these people http://www.rjw.co.uk/ unless you are a member of CTC but they use the same people.

Checked out this (out of curiosity) and found this quite relevant page.

http://www.rjw.co.uk/recent-cases/case/cyclist-receives-pound20000-after-being-hit-by-a-car/

£20,000? How's your elbow?

 

[Beebo]

Glad you are ok.

I also got knocked off on friday by a white van!!! it sounds like a similar incident as i was going up the inside of stationary traffic. The van driver just pulled across my path. My bike seems ok, apart from a buckled peddle which trapped my left ankle.

The guy stopped and was ok about it. I was outside a swimming pool so the staff came out, kept me warm and put ice packs on my ankle.

Went to A+E no broken bones just a bruised ankle.

The guy works for a big IT printer company so he is insured by the comany. He keeps calling and texting me saying he wants to settle any damaged outside of his insurance. This seems odd to me.

On the plus side I live to ride another day, and this will serve as a good reminder to be more carefully when riding in stationary traffic.

 

[laertes]

Get well soon, hope everything gets sorted as soon as.

Only difference i would have done is calling the police. When ever you are involved in an RTC with a vehicle, get them to come to the scene, makes the whole language and insurance issue none of your problem!

I think that's probably the right thing, but I am not sure it even occured to me. Obviously you dont always think straight in such a situation. I was relieved to be relatively unscathed and not have a problem with the driver, reg no etc, and just wanted to get on with sorting my immediate logistics out ie how do I get somewhere from here with a pranged bike.

 

[Arch]

The guy works for a big IT printer company so he is insured by the comany. He keeps calling and texting me saying he wants to settle any damaged outside of his insurance. This seems odd to me.

Sounds like an attempt not to tell his bosses about it...

Also, he may assume that any damage will amount to £20 max, most people think bikes are dirt cheap to fix. Presented with a bill for (worst case) a new bike, he may well go back on that keeness to settle.

I think the majority advice would be to go through insurance. Get the bike checked over at a bike shop. But be prepared for the insurance company to fight every penny - possibly by leaning on the guy to change his story. The insurance company will try to make out you were riding at 50mph while texting, and it was all your own fault.

It's tempting perhaps to say, ok, you give me £50, we'll call it quits, but then he gets away with a relatively light hit in the wallet, and as far as the rest of the world is concerned nothing happened.

Did you tell the police? You were injured, albeit slightly, so it should be reported...

On the filtering aspect, I do filter down the left often, but slowly, and if it gets narrow I just slot into the queue. I know the junctions where drivers are likely to flash other drivers across, and approach them with the assumption that I'll have to stop.

 

[guitarpete247]

might be advisable to overtake stationary traffic on the right side, even if there's a bus lane to which its very tempting to ride in (and i've done it myself but this just reminded me why i shouldn't undertake stationary traffic). helps to avoid this kind of situation. Glad you're ok though

GF and I were coming back from a big shop yesterday and driving through Ashby. I was about here though on the other side of the road. We had passed a cyclist a little earlier and as I was stationary waiting for the lights ahead I was watching for him coming up. I saw him passing the rest of the queued traffic. Two cars back was a Boxster. Without indicating he pulled out to turn into Brook Street (which you will see if you turn around) and almost took out the cyclist. He did stop and the cyclist was saved by the fact that as the lights ahead were on red there was no oncoming traffic.

Whatever happened to "Mirror, Signal, Manouvere" .

When I mentioned this story to GF's son and his partner they both said that they would not expect a cyclist to be overtaking them but thought they should be coming up in the gutter. They did not see the danger of traffic in a town with cars dropping people off and passenger doors suddenly opening onto the pavement. "Bikes don't overtake cars" she told me .

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Get well soon, hope everything gets sorted as soon as.

Only difference i would have done is calling the police. When ever you are involved in an RTC with a vehicle, get them to come to the scene, makes the whole language and insurance issue none of your problem!