Nearly hit a kid about an hour ago... need camera recommendations!

[sabian92]

Evening all..


Bit shaken up - kid about 12 turned, grinned at me and ran out into the road at a pinch point (There is one there now, might I add...) and ran in front of me (as in, look at this guy chase me on a bike). Grabbed the brakes, locked both wheels and the rear wheel lifted as I screamed at him to get out of the road.

Give him a good bollocking for it, claims his mates pushed him but I watched him grin and run - I know I can't do much about it apart from what I've done (gone back to the school he'd just left, was still in uniform...) and told them. He knew he'd royally arsed up as he didn't say a word as I screamed at him.

I do want a camera now though. This is the last straw of idiots on the roads (or apparently now, pavements...), so any recommendations? Prefer HD, don't really ride at night and have about 150 quid to spend. Prefer new but wouldn't not go 2nd hand if the deal was worth it.

 

[Paul J]

A camera would have helped how?

 

[MrJamie]

Eeep!

What happens legally if you run someone over? Are you likely to get sued for stupid kid's hospital bills?

 

[Paul J]

The cyclist will be to blame, same as if you were in a car.

 

[sabian92]

A camera would have helped how?

If I'd have hit him and hurt him, who would they believe? The lad with loads of his mates or the "evil cyclist who knocks kids over"?

Eeep!

What happens legally if you run someone over? Are you likely to get sued for stupid kid's hospital bills?

Dunno - don't want to find out! Thankfully for him I didn't hit him but it was as close as I'd like to come to it, believe me.

 

[baldycyclist]

i use a contour

 

[sabian92]

Which one? I see there are quite a few different ones on Evans?

 

[al78]

The cyclist will be to blame, same as if you were in a car.

Doesn't sound like it in this case.

 

[gambatte]

For all the rhetoric on here about "it's always the vehicle drivers fault", this was similar to one my mum had in her car about 10 years ago. I was in the passenger seat. Approaching some parked cars, we both noticed a bunch of kids 13-14 yr olds pratting about on the pavement. She slowed down, but as one of them ran out without looking he ended up taking at ride on the bonnet. Impact speed of about 10mph.
We called police and ambulance. Nothing but shock for the lad, but a big crease in the bonnet of the mondeo. Independant witness stated he'd not looked. Lad said the same.

Mum claimed on her fully comp insurance, but was informed by the attending copper that it wasn't unknown for insurance companies to chase up peds to reclaim their losses. It was the 1st time I heard about household insurance covering for 3rd party liability outside the home.

 

[baldycyclist]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/VholdR-Cont...SYZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332269997&sr=8-1
This is what I use but there is a slightly better one for a little more
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Contour-ROA...FSYQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332269997&sr=8-2

 

[baldycyclist]

you have to buy a bigger capacity memory card though as it is memory hungry
Quality is good even in the dark though
check out my videos
vids

 

[sidevalve]

The trouble with these type of "accidents" is cyclists like m/cyclists are often injured in the bang or at the least pretty messed up. Getting a rational set of witnesses is pretty near impossible. Thus I suppose a camera would have helped, but only if you'd seen him and his mates messing about before the accident. Had you hit him his "mates" would of course have vanished and although you may have escaped prosecution you are still the vehicle and no doubt "injury lawyers" etc would have been on the case and unless you had VERY good camera evidence + witnesses,a camera wouldn't have helped much againt them. Just be thankfull you got good brakes.

 

[Ecclefechan]

Eeep!

What happens legally if you run someone over? Are you likely to get sued for stupid kid's hospital bills?

Nothing, the Police would have came and it would have been declared a Non-fatal VVP RTA (Vehicle Versus Pedestrian, Road Traffic Accident), the Child would have got a stern warning off the Police, and in the UK Hospital bills are paid by the National Health Service.

 

[simon.r]

I did run into a child a couple of weeks ago:

I was approaching 2 children (aged about 14 or 15) who were walking with their backs to me down the middle of a joint use path. I slowed, rang my bell and shouted 'excuse me'. Both turned round and saw me. One moved to the left and tugged the other's arm. The other began to go to the left and then scrunched her shoulders and deliberately, without looking (she had a hood on) moved to the right. At the same time as she moved towards the right I was lining up to pass them on the right. I braked (I was doing, I'd estimate 5 or 6 mph at this point) and ended up hitting her, my left shoulder to her right shoulder, at very low speed - just a gentle nudge.

No harm done, but had I been going faster it could easily have resulted in injury to either or both of us.

I have to admit I got home and started looking at cameras, simply for the reason that if there had been any injuries I think it would have been useful to have evidence of what happened. If she had been injured it would have been very easy for her to accuse me of riding dangerously.

FWIW I think I'll be getting one of these when funds allow, based on an hour or so looking into the options available.

 

[gaz]

Read my Guide to buying a helmet camera.