Looking for advice re witnessing a collision

[RedRider]

Earlier this evening my partner came home with another cyclist in tow. He'd just gone over the bonnet of a car up the road and had a cut and swollen ankle and says his head left a dent in the car's bodywork. We gave him a little first aid and he's gone off to A&E for a more thorough check-up. We've kept hold of his bike for him which has a badly buckled front wheel, and damaged forks.

My partner was a witness to what happened. The car pulled out of the side road and he hit it side on. Although the driver stopped briefly to ask if he was alright they then left the scene without exchanging details. The cyclist was really shaken at this point.

Another driver had managed to jot down the reg number and gave them to my partner and the lad now has the number.

I've advised him to call the police and make sure the call is logged for insurance reasons if nothing else.

Is there any other advice I can give the lad just now?

(The weird thing is, almost exactly a year ago I brought a cyclist home following an incident at the next junction along. I arrived just after it had happened and broke up a fight between the cyclist and the driver. Fortunatey the cyclist wasn't injured and I was able to loan him a wheel to set him on his way.)

 

[DCLane]

@Drago @CopperCyclist @Vikeonabike here - but I'm certain they're leaving the scene of an accident, which is an offence.

 

[Drago]

Yeah, if they've not given their name and address and the name and address of the R/O (if different) then he's committed and offence.

 

[RedRider]

Thanks both. Apparently the driver got out the car to check for damage and then drove off even though there was a big old dent n the bonnet.

 

[S.Giles]

If (as seems likely) the accident was not the cyclist's fault, he needs to report the incident to the police and contact a solicitor.

Steve

 

[400bhp]

Sad that people leave the scene like that. Won't the proverbial book be thrown at the driver for leaving the scene when someone has been injured?

 

[vickster]

@Cyclist33 for advice as to what to do in case of accident

 

[classic33]

@RedRider, search for Accident Advice, under my name, in title only.
Much of what is given there will apply to a person witnessing the incident. The important part being get down what happened on paper.
Get pictures of all damage, rider & bike if possible.

Check @Vikeonabike's statement thread for what can be expected, and how to word it.

Edited to add the link
Accident Advice

 

[classic33]

Sad that people leave the scene like that. Won't the proverbial book be thrown at the driver for leaving the scene when someone has been injured?

No, that's the sad part of this.

 

[classic33]

How is the other rider by the way?
If you've heard.

 

[Profpointy]

strictly speaking, the "leaving the scene" offence, like any offence, is against "the Crown" and thus anyone could report it and it be followed up (in theory). It doesn't need the victim to make the complaint, you could do that yourself if you were so minded.

Whether the Police or CPC will bother following up. without a complain from "the victim" is a different matter, but in law at least, it is irrelevant.

 

[RedRider]

@RedRider, search for Accident Advice, under my name, in title only.
Much of what is given there will apply to a person witnessing the incident. The important part being get down what happened on paper.
Get pictures of all damage, rider & bike if possible.

Check @Vikeonabike's statement thread for what can be expected, and how to word it.

Edited to add the link
Accident Advice

Thanks, that's good information and advice. My partner's written stuff down and is happy to act as a witness but unfortunately the police/ambulance were not called at the time and other witness details were not offered/sought. There's CCTV at the junction so that may be useful. She's going to text him in the morning and I'll ask her to point him in the direction of this thread.
We've not heard how he got on at A&E. The foot/ankle injury looked like it was going to be painful and debilitating but I guess the bang to the head is potentially the most serious.

 

[classic33]

Hopefully he's okay.
Witness wise, if all were saying the same thing, I'd be wary. Unless it was blatantly obvious.

If you have the bike, check for frame damage and photograph if possible.

Pass your details on, but at this stage don't give him your witness statement. In case the police do decide to take statements from those concerned.

 

[Cyclist33]

@Cyclist33 for advice as to what to do in case of accident

er,, why?

 

[classic33]

er,, why?

Possible repeat of this sort.