Don't want to waste your time, officer, but.....

[Twilkes]

I suppose it also shows that if someone gives you a mobile phone number - phone it on the spot. If no phone rings on them/in their car, they have lied to you...

That's the thing I regret, and I even thought of doing it at the time but thought 'no, that would be mistrusting'. I may have taken the number down incorrectly, but I don't think so.

Police report made, will see if they make contact with the driver; if not will see if it's worth getting details from the DVLA and writing a letter.

 

[Spinney]

Hoiw many of us actually know our own mobile number?

I know my work mobile number, as I give it out to so many people and it's on the bottom of my emails, but I actually have to look on my phone to get my personal mobile number.

Even better - most people have their mobiles on them (especially if, as may often happen, the reason they had the bump in the first place was that they were using the damn thing!).

If they can't remember their number, they either look it up on their phone (in which case tell them that you find it easier to read the number than be told it, so ask to look at the screen), or you give them your mobile number, and ask them to text you on the spot, in which case your phone will then have their number in it.

 

[jarlrmai]

What happened when I got knocked off a long time ago (by a SMIDSY coming out of a pub car park at 9am) when I was a total newb (no camera etc) was that the guy gave me a mobile phone number (which was correct) and then drove off because I said I was okay and was considering continuing to ride in but this was just the adrenaline turns out I needed stitches and a trip to A&E he could probably have seen the blood everywhere but whatever. When I called the mobile phone number later that day he answered but as soon as I said who I was he hung up, I went to police to report and asked if they could do something to trace the driver, I had witnesses and the mobile phone number but not the reg. They refused to track him down based on the mobile phone number saying it wasn't a serious enough incident. Luckily I came off a bit worse than the bike which apart from a few scuffs was fine, helmet and gloves etc were a write off though.

So lesson learned, always get the reg and insurance details, if you are hurt get the police don't let them drive off, get witnesses and get a camera incase there are no witnesses coming forward or they hate cyclists.

 

[Leodis]

Go back to the scene and have a look for any CCTV near where it happened. Look for shops, etc as they will probably have a camera outside that might catch part of the car so that the police have something to go on. TBH it will be the polices job to look for CCTV but there is nothing wrong with having a look and helping officers by saying "The camera on ----- that points at the road might have caught something".

lmfao it was a slight knock no need to call Targart

 

[goo_mason]

I wouldn't call Targart, as he sounds rubbish. I'd call Taggart though. He'd soon get it sorted in that bluff, Chief Inspector Jim "Nae bloody nonsense youse lot, awright? Yiz unnerstaun?" Taggart way

 

[I like Skol]

lmfao it was a slight knock no need to call Targart

Well, yes and no. You're right that such a minor incident might not be expected to rank highly on the priorities of an over stretched police force but,

Unless there is some worthwhile enforcement taken in cases like this, people (motorists) will continue to lie and deceive to avoid accepting responsibility or the consequences of their actions with impunity. There has to be a punishment for attempting such fraud.

Years ago my wife was involved in an accident and when the insurance claim came back the other motorist had moved the scene of the accident a few blocks down the road to a position where she could make it look like the collision was my wife's fault. Luckily we had a witness and her claims were shown for what they were, a poor attempt at defrauding her/our insurers. The annoying thing is that the claim was then just settled without her being penalised in any way for the attempt (in fact I expect insurers hope you will go to any means to avoid liability?).

 

[ianrauk]

No witnesses, then nothing is going to happen.
Your word against theirs.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Never trust the other party.

A collision between a cyclist and a motor vehicle which causes damage to the bike is very likely to have caused injury to the rider, however small. Even if it's just soreness in the wrists or a bit of bruising that's enough to have police involvement. You don't need to have broken bones or have broken the skin.

I haven't had a collision for a few years now but if it ever happens again, I'll be handling it as an accident with personal injury to make sure the other person's details are accurately recorded.


GC

 

[Licramite]

maybe you should accept that the law is not interested , insurance companys are not interested. unless your injured , not one is interested. - so kick her car door in next time.
- or do what I did in college when a woman dinged my car - I said give us 20 quid or we go through insurance and she coughed up! - my car wasn't worth 20 quid back then.

 

[MarkF]

OP, how did you "take the number down"? Paper and pen or onto your phone? I don't have a cam but always take my phone with me, for pics if needed, I've been "had" in the past trying to be nice to bad and lying drivers.

 

[Twilkes]

Straight into my phone, which is what made me think I should call it straight away. I'm hoping the police will either give me her address, or forward on a letter for me. It's not so much about paying for the repairs, more about letting her know that I didn't just give up.

There's lots of things I'd do differently if I was in a more serious incident now, so this has been a good training exercise.

 

[Crankarm]

One Show last week showed just how prolifically drivers lie. The feature was some thing to do with dash cams similar to head cams as I switched on about half way through. One woman knocked a kid down then lied about it but it was filmed by a dash cam from another car I think and shown on the show .............

Basically assume all people are lying scumbags, although they are not. Take pics and be firm, assertive but not rude. Give them the impression you won't take any crap and don't.

It must have been quite a whack from behind if the impact broke your mudguard and bent your wheel. Many years ago riding in London I was gently nudged from behind a few times, no damage, just shock, but the force was enough to nearly knock me over. Are you sure you are not exaggerating or your wheel was wheely crap so folded as soon as some one so much as sneezed on it? I think put this one down to experience especially as there are no witnesses and your word against hers. You'll be better prepared next time.

 

[Twilkes]

Are you sure you are not exaggerating or your wheel was wheely crap so folded as soon as some one so much as sneezed on it?

How very dare you, I built it myself! ;-) Halo Excite-R cyclocross type rim, so pretty strong.

She had to reverse her car for me to free my bike, so I think it was squashed rather than bent on impact - I didn't feel much of an impact and never felt I was going to come off the saddle. The wheel was way out of true when I got home, although ridable and the hub is fine, and the rim is bent similarly to the high-speed pothole damage I had a while ago.

Interestingly, the tyre was fine and didn't lose any pressure at all.

 

[Licramite]

If you can get hold of her, - your frame is now bent , o dear I need a new bike.

 

[MarkF]

Straight into my phone,

Now you know to use it to take a pic too.