Hit and run - Manc CC

[bitmadmax]

Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying your commutes

On Wednesday morning I was blatantly left hooked by a driver on Great Ancoats street in Manc city centre. Whilst I was in the middle of the road I peered over to try and get the plate. I was slightly relieved when they started to stop, but almost immediately sped off again.

It was a very busy junction with lots of motorists waiting to get across. Not one stopped to get out and help. Luckily one chap who was walking near the scene left me his details and the number plate.

I reported this to the police (skeptical) A few hours later a really nice traffic plod called me back saying the number plate all tallies up and they were taking it further, and I will receive forms in the post in the next few days. So it would seem this will take care of the "leaving a scene" law thing, but how can I take it further? I mean, I injured my knee and shoulder, which means I am currently on public transport.. I will definitely need a new helmet, new trousers. So I will be out of pocket effectively. Also, how can I ever ride my carbon frame confidently again knowing it hasn't been comprimised?? Superficially only my seat is ripped and an STI lever bent. I have cycle insurance with the ETA, but I think I can only use this as 3rd party insurance or if my bike is stolen?

I'm not one to endorse this "where there's blame" stuff, in fact, if she'd have stopped to even check I was OK, I might have forgot about the whole thing. Maybe.

In all my years of commuting, this is the first time anything like this has happened. Needless to say, my confidence in the Human race is at an all time low

Any advice on moving things forward would be appreciated as always...

Thanks chaps.

 

[Hawk]

Record all expenses (keep receipts, tickets etc)

Take bike to a bike shop that can give you a crash damage assessment. Get them to value the damage (in writing). Possibly worth going to two different shops.

Contact some lawyers; Russel Jones and Walker seem to be favourites. Will probably offer you a no-win-no-fee type deal.

The police's investigation is a criminal one, you can also start civil proceedings (i.e claiming money for damage and possibly injury from the other party).

Good, cycle-experienced lawyers will be able to advise you of this all better than anyone on here can

 

[gaz]

You are best off going through RJW via the CTC.

 

[bitmadmax]

Cheers guys.

Re RJW - I am not in the CTC (wish I was now!), does this make the option unavailable to me?

 

[Hacienda71]

Cheers guys.

Re RJW - I am not in the CTC (wish I was now!), does this make the option unavailable to me?

I think you can join post the accident and RJW will take on the case.

 

[Hawk]

You can contact the lawyers directly yourself not via CTC. But Gaz's post suggests going via CTC to same lawyers may be better

 

[growingvegetables]

And don't let your feelings about the "where there's blame" game get in the way. Basic fact of life - the only people who may actually profit out of this are the driver's insurers, from receiving increased premiums over the next few years.

 

[gaz]

Cheers guys.

Re RJW - I am not in the CTC (wish I was now!), does this make the option unavailable to me?

As hacinda said, you can join post incident and go with RJW, no fees at all then

 

[bitmadmax]

Well, I put a request in for a "callback" to RJW via the CTC website (I have since registered). I had a callback this morning. Do I need to obtain the driver details etc before they can proceed? I get the impression they're not that interested in damage to property.. only personal injury (which as luck would have it is pretty minor/temporary (hopefully)).

 

[fossyant]

You have the number plate, this is all they really need as they have access to insurance databases

 

[Crankarm]

Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying your commutes

On Wednesday morning I was blatantly left hooked by a driver on Great Ancoats street in Manc city centre. Whilst I was in the middle of the road I peered over to try and get the plate. I was slightly relieved when they started to stop, but almost immediately sped off again.

It was a very busy junction with lots of motorists waiting to get across. Not one stopped to get out and help. Luckily one chap who was walking near the scene left me his details and the number plate.

I reported this to the police (skeptical) A few hours later a really nice traffic plod called me back saying the number plate all tallies up and they were taking it further, and I will receive forms in the post in the next few days. So it would seem this will take care of the "leaving a scene" law thing, but how can I take it further? I mean, I injured my knee and shoulder, which means I am currently on public transport.. I will definitely need a new helmet, new trousers. So I will be out of pocket effectively. Also, how can I ever ride my carbon frame confidently again knowing it hasn't been comprimised?? Superficially only my seat is ripped and an STI lever bent. I have cycle insurance with the ETA, but I think I can only use this as 3rd party insurance or if my bike is stolen?

I'm not one to endorse this "where there's blame" stuff, in fact, if she'd have stopped to even check I was OK, I might have forgot about the whole thing. Maybe.

In all my years of commuting, this is the first time anything like this has happened. Needless to say, my confidence in the Human race is at an all time low

Any advice on moving things forward would be appreciated as always...

Thanks chaps.

Oh please, you probably claim for everything in life ..................

You can't be that niave that you don't know that you need to sue the driver for damages who will hopefully be insured, so you need to go visit a PI solicitor. Others have already suggested to you solicitors RJW. There are others who have experience of cases where cyclists have been knocked down. You are not going to get millions like in USA so claim for everything. Get your bike checked out and repaired properly, get down to your GP asap to have them assess and record your injuries and offer any treatment. Take pics of injuries. Your chosen solicitors should explain eveything else, this after all is their duty to you. At least you have a witness. There might even be CCTV that recorded the incident.

Sorry to be so blunt but there have been many many many posts on this subject. There might even being a sticky "What to do in case of an accident / knockdown".

GWS.

 

[Hawk]

They might appear more interested in injury as it seems a lot of longer-term injuries go unnoticed initially.

I would guess they make their money regardless of whether they get you compensation for damages or for injury.

 

[Arjimlad]

No win no fee = win, get paid by opponent.

They recover their fees from the other side only if it gets out of the small claims court jurisdiction, where legal costs can't be recovered.

The small claims limit is currently a £5,000 for damaged kit, bus fares etc (although rising to £10,000 in April 2013) OR £1,000 if damages for personal injury is involved.

So for the average left hook like this, unless your bike is written off & worth over £5,000, there probably needs to be an injury worth more than £1,000 before a solicitor will take the case on a no-win-no-fee basis.

 

[jonny jeez]

It was a very busy junction with lots of motorists waiting to get across. Not one stopped to get out and help. Luckily one chap who was walking near the scene left me his details and the number plate.

.

Hi Cake Bandit, sorry to hear this but I am glad to see that you ahve a witness, this puts you streets ahead in claim terms and should make proceedings much smoother. consider yourself unfortunate to have been hooked but equally fortunate to have a willing witness.

I'm not one to endorse this "where there's blame" stuff, in fact, if she'd have stopped to even check I was OK, I might have forgot about the whole thing. Maybe.

Rubbish, this isnt you sueing someone for trying to do the right thing but just getting it wrong, this was dangerous driving with the addition of failing to stop at the scene.

Forget the guilt and ensure you claim for all costs, dont be kind or shy..she was neither. keep receipts for all train fares, taxis, bike, physio, lost this and that.

plus do as others say and photograph your injuries now and as they bruise up.

All the best

 

[bitmadmax]

Well just an update.

Police came back and NFA'd, as expected, basically it was the drivers word against mine and a ropey witness. However not all was lost..

During interview, the other party completely denied any knowledge of what she had done, gave a false account of events in her statement and claimed the damage caused to her car was there when she bought it. As if she didn't have anything to hide, she made her statement in the presence of a solicitor!? Lying cow...

Anyway, the Constable was quite nice about it all really, I think they knew she was lying (but obviously couldn't argue this).