Deliberately knocked off bike by car.

[Cyclopathic]

My friend turned up yesterday looking a bit wet and shaken after just being deliberately knocked off his bike by a car which then drove off. Fortunately he wasn't hurt but he took a tumble in the crappy sludgy wet snow that was everywhere.
There were several witnesses and some one took the number of the car. Also my friend has kept the guys wing mirror as a souvenir/evidence. I have strongly advised him to inform the police and hope that he does but I wonder what, if anything will happen to the motorist if all things are as they appear?
I worry that despite witnesses and the wing mirror that it will be impossible to prove that this was deliberate. Knowing how little people can be punished for taking a life at the wheel I think this guy will get away with virtually no punishment. There can be no way that the driver didn't notice losing a wing mirror though so there is at least hope that he will get stuffed for failing to stop. For all he knows he could have killed my friend so I think the least he should get is a lifetime ban from driving and made to attend how not to be a dangerous git classes.
Anybody got any realistic idea of what the driver might be facing?

 

[BentMikey]

The realistic view is that the driver will probably get talked to by the police, and a note made on the PNC. He/she might at the very most be done for leaving the scene of a collision, but that's about the best hope. If your friend has anything to claim that's damaged on the bike, then I would recommend doing that. It's not about the money, but about making sure his insurance are aware of his driving behaviour. This will mean significantly increased insurance premiums in the future. That would be the best to hope for.

Don't let that discourage him though. Must report it, because I bet that's not the first time the driver did that. Police need these reports to be able to take more action against persistent offenders.

 

[G3CWI]

I think the least he should get is a lifetime ban from driving and made to attend how not to be a dangerous git classes.
Anybody got any realistic idea of what the driver might be facing?

As far as I can tell, lifetime driving bans are seldom if ever given. And if one was given, what use would the classes be? Why would your friend not tell the Police?

http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/lifetime-driving-bans-uk.html

"lifetime Bans and Dangerous Driving

Lifetime bans are rare but can be imposed by the courts. Prison sentences for drivers who cause injury by dangerous driving can be up to two years. The maximum prison sentence for anyone who causes death by dangerous driving is 14 years. The minimum compulsory driving disqualification for dangerous driving is 12 months. There has been an outcry for these punishments to be increased, especially for those who cause death or injury by dangerous driving. There are guidelines that magistrates must follow, and on rare occasions judges have imposed lifetime driving bans."


I hope that he soon feels a lot better.

 

[snorri]

Is it not a bit OTT to claim the cyclist was "deliberately" knocked off his bike?

 

[ianrauk]

The realistic view is that the driver will probably get talked to by the police, and a note made on the PNC. He/she might at the very most be done for leaving the scene of a collision, but that's about the best hope. If your friend has anything to claim that's damaged on the bike, then I would recommend doing that. It's not about the money, but about making sure his insurance are aware of his driving behaviour. This will mean significantly increased insurance premiums in the future. That would be the best to hope for.

Don't let that discourage him though. Must report it, because I bet that's not the first time the driver did that. Police need these reports to be able to take more action against persistent offenders.

From personal experience... this is what will happen.

 

[Davidsw8]

It's a bit weird if you can drive your car deliberately at someone then drive off and get nothing more than a talking to by the police but if you ran up to someone in the street, bashed their kneecaps with a hammer and ran off, the penalty would be a tad more serious

 

[clarion]

Well, quite. I well remember trying to report an attempted murder to the Police after someone drove their car at speed directly at me, having made clear verbal threats, all in sight of CCTV cameras. The Plod's reaction was 'Well, did he hit you?'
'No. I jumped out of the way and behind another vehicle before escaping'
'Well, if there's no injury, there's no crime' Which is bollox, of course.

Unbelievable, But this was the Met.

I would encourage your friend to report it, but it is possible that the other party will deny it, or will say that some maniac cyclist came out of nowhere and just ripped his wing mirror off, and he'd like the Police to prosecute for the damage. Given how the BiB tend to prioritise crimes against property over crimes against the person, it could end badly. But there's a chance that the dangerous idiot who did this will get prosecuted, and will get convicted, so it is definitely worth following up on that basis.

 

[addictfreak]

Is it not a bit OTT to claim the cyclist was "deliberately" knocked off his bike?

Without further detail, the claim also seems a little OTT to me as well. As the Op states the weather conditions were not the best. However it does not excuse in anyway the driver leaving the scene.
The best thing the cyclist can do is report the facts to the police along with witness details, and hope for a successful outcome.

 

[fossyant]

Well if all else fails, and he finds where the driver is, he could always shove the wing mirror where the sun don't shine.

 

[gambatte]

If it's one on one, no witnesses its one thing. Sounds like there were plenty of witnesses this time though.
IMO A definite one to report. You can't lose a wing mirror and not know it? Even if he just gets a talking to, if theres a next time they're not talking to him with a clean sheet?

 

[downfader]

Is it not a bit OTT to claim the cyclist was "deliberately" knocked off his bike?

Several of us have had a car deliberately swung at us in the past. A rider tends to know... usually the shouting, the hand gestures.... pointing at the pavement/painted gutter etc tends to give it away.

 

[Crankarm]

I wouldn't bother reporting this to the filth because in their perverse world you'll, sorry your friend, will likely be charged with criminal damage of the wing mirror, be prosecuted, be convicted, fined and community service. You sorry your friend will then have a criminal record which may mean end of career if it is a line of work where a criminal record is a big no no. Unemployed cannot pay mortgage or feed family. Have to sell bikes and house. On the streets. Disaster. Be thankful you are still alive. If you see the vehicle again try and film it and find out where the owner lives then poor rancid milk in the heater vents.

 

[ufkacbln]

The report does not always seem to be worthwhile, but it does flag the vehicle and driver.

I had one incident which was taken more seriously than expected because the driver had done something similar a few weeks before......

 

[Maz]

One driver in Brazil took the cyclist's arm with him!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21736724

 

[HLaB]

Is it not a bit OTT to claim the cyclist was "deliberately" knocked off his bike?

It might be but its justified IMO with the coward doing a runner