Crankarm said:
Irrespective of what happens next or not with the police, are you ok?
From the damage you describe to the car and your speed I would have thought you would need treatment for injuries you may have suffered? Did the paramedic not take a look at you? I thought you said the paramedic called the police? I would have thought he would have stuck around if he felt you needed treatment or even called an ambulance. The fact that he left as he felt you and the driver were going to fight it out says a lot. He didn't want to get involved in a street brawl.
Why did you not take a pic of the driver and his car and the reg?
First thing I used to do was get my camera out on movie mode the instant a driver looked like or was being agressive, or stupidly denying something when they were clearly at fault or trying to drive away, even if the latter, I had them and their car recorded.
Sorry but next time don't get into slanging matches with drivers which quickly escalate. If you can film them and get their details and any witness details. Take pics of any damage and injuries.
Hope you are feeling better.
There's a road like the one you describe in Peterborough. Lots of young Asian drivers with lots of bad attitude, mobiles glued to their ears and no seat belts being worn. I avoid it if ever I am up that way as had some very near hits when I unknowingly cycled along it once. Every now and again the police have a blitz on it catching lots of drivers who are uninsured driving untaxed cars, from bangers to chaved up BMWs.
Anyway hope you are ok ....... and your bike.
I didn't need hospital attention, paramedic was dealing with another cyclist accident already so he continued to do so. He probly would have looked me over if I asked. I did get a look over by my girlfriends flatmate, he is a doctor. He advised me if I feel faint or sick go to A&E. I didnt want to wait for ages then waste their time over being grazed and bruised.
I took photo of reg and car in one, but he started to come toward me aggressively so I put my phone in my pocket rather than try to snap one of him in case he tried to take the phone or attack me. I'm buying a helmet cam ASAP now.
I have garmin data showing speed etc to counter his claims of me speeding, photo of his car inc damage and reg number, picture of my injuries (skinless knees and elbow, some swelling I'm also a bit stiff, can't take photo of that though, lol), witness name and number.
I understand I could have been calmer but I guess inexperience took over. Plus I do have a tendency to answer aggression with aggression, maybe a defense mechanism such as to not be bullied by over aggressive meatheads, its a shame, and I know I should keep my cool, but sometimes I don't. I didn't threaten or act physically aggressive, just raised my voice (and swore a fair bit), not letting him just walk off and asserted that I was not to blame.
Thanks for concern all. Im a tough cookie, and the bike is fine. I was more upset that I couldn't run my 5km race this morning, and that my fave casual shorts were wrecked than my injury, my girlfriend thinks I'm mad, hehe. 1st thing I did was check bike, then someone said were your shorts already like that, I look down, shredded, replied no, then lifted them up to see the grazes. I'm very annoyed about its impact on my training and more so that he shouldn't have even been on the road being un-insured, the fact the crash was his fault is secondary, he shouldn't have been driving at all.
Oh by the way paramedics didn't call police, he suggested it. I should have accepted, but I was pretty pumped with adrenaline and not thinking so clear, and was more interested in seeing what the deal with the guy was and why he wanted to leave and not provide details.
