I was assulted yesterday...

[LostBoy]

..on the way home by a couple of chav thugs in a hire van. I was waiting patiently (for once!) at the lights behind and to the right hand side of a bus that wanted to turn left. It moved off on a green filter and I followed so as to get to the ASL in front of 2 lanes of traffic that wanted to go forward (light was still red). A van behind the bus horned and the driver accused me of cutting him up, I told him where to go.

Driver stopped got out started mouthing off in my face, then catching me off guard his scrawny sidekick got out and pushed me hard. With a bike between your legs the only way is down. Hit the ground pretty hard, traffic in the 3rd lane broke sharply to avoid running over my head. Assailants jumped back in van & drove off.

Few cuts & bruises & a sprained ankle but most gutted about my bike; rear dérailleur bent into spokes. A kind soul saw and was understandably shocked by the whole incident. She took a few snaps one with the reg of the van so I reported the incident to the police. Not sure what to do (or expect) now. With a dodgy ankle & no bike didn't go into work today.

Been looking on eBay for a new SRAM X7....gutted.

Would appreciate any advice.

 

[Jezston]

What did the police say? Was it just 999 you rang, and did you get to speak to a traffic officer?

Worth following it up by calling the local police station. Also, worth getting in touch with the hire company so they can find out who had it then.

What a horrible thing to happen. Have you got another bike? If so, get back on one as soon as possible and keep riding - don't get put off by something like that.

With a good witness, photos, a co-operative hire company and proactive police these guys will get done for it no problem.

 

[MLC]

FFS its not the Somme what is the matter with some prats out on the road or elsewhere who think it perfectly OK to push someone over.

Sorry to hear all that hopefully the police can come up with something good (don't hold breath they are too busy fighting for their pay packets) . If they pushed you in the path of oncoming traffic surely that is attempted murder?

If you are a member of CTC I would instruct one of their solicitors to get on the case if of course the Van was Insured. I would also get down the docs and have your injuries checked out in case you can need it as evidence.

 

[benb]

That's horrible, please keep us updated on progress.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

That's incredible! Hope you are OK.

I think the police will take this seriously, and there is a trail to the culprits, but as already said, you need to keep evidence, including medical evidence just in case. Did you get details of any other witnesses?

 

[HLaB]

Thats horrible, let hope the boogers get what is coming to them.

 

[VamP]

I also think the police will take it seriously, as it's potentially a GBH or attempted GBH charge. Make sure you get your ankle checked out, including X rays, and provide this information to your investigating officer.

You owe it to the rest of the cycling community and the world at large to push this as far as you can. These guys will do it again, and the next guy might not be so lucky.

Also you may be awarded compensation, my GF received £500 for having her shoulder dislocated by an aggressive thug, who assaulted her without a cause. He had previous so the cops threw the book at him.

 

[BentMikey]

Oh bummer for that, let's hope the police get you some recourse.

Oh, I'd start persuing their insurance for the cost of the rear derailleur immediately. If nothing else, you can hopefully hammer their insurance premiums for years to come as the most likely and most meaningful punishment you can deliver.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I reiterate what has already been said. I would agree that pushing you into oncoming traffic should be classes as attempted murder. I hope your witness is willing to make a full statement. All the best.

 

[gavintc]

If the deraileur was in the spokes - check the alignment of the hanger. It may be that the deraileur is OK and the hangar is bent.

Oh, sympathies - complete prats.

 

[kedab]

all the best with everything - and i'd echo the comments regarding getting back on a bike asap.

 

[Beebo]

What idiots.

I hope the police throw the book at them if they can identify them.

I doubt this is a matter for their Motor Insurers though. This is a criminal act undertaken by the driver and passenger whilst outside of the vehicle, it is not a motor accident and most insurance policies exclude criminal acts and as such it will not fall within the remit of a third party motor insurance policy.

 

[Origamist]

I'd also contact Martin Porter via his website: http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/

He was also assualted in a similar manner and the chap received a caution: http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/2010/12/police-caution-for-unprovoked-assault.html

Porter is now pursuing him for damages.

 

[Arch]

I reiterate what has already been said. I would agree that pushing you into oncoming traffic should be classes as attempted murder.

<pessimistic hat>
Should be, but won't. The police might just care, the CPS might not, and if it even goes to court they might get sod all sentence. Good luck with getting a result, but don't hold your breath.</pessimist hat>

I'm sick of angry stupid people throwing their weight around. Sorry.


And don't expect anything from an insurance company either, they'll do anything but pay, even in a clear cut case...

 

[david1701]

might be worth taking the bike to a shop and getting a repair estimate from a kosher mechanic as that ought to be paid for too