Off'ed...... by a boat !

[PpPete]

Out for a ride yesterday p.m. doing a final check out of the route for the Hampshire Bimble.

Lots of cyclists out, which is great to see.

And then .... a totally un-necessary close pass from an eejit in a Jaguar.
Gave me about 6" clearance. Not nice .... but you get used to that sort of thing.... and then I find that he's towing a boat. As the bow of the boat goes past I realise that, a) it's not a small boat and it looks like it's going to be wider than the car b) the road narrows ahead, with railings on the side.

No choice but to ride into the ditch. Fell awkwardly, and apart from the expected grazes to knee, hip, elbow, shoulder and elbow I have a suspected broken rib (or two).

Driver was totally oblivious to anything amiss.... until another car chased him and flagged him down. I have his name & address and although I'm not generally in favour of the "litigation culture" I'm tempted to use one the claims companies that advertise in back of the mags to pursue him for ££££. Anyone any experience of these outfits ?

 

[dodgy]

www.bikeline.co.uk she's a cyclist (Alysson) who I often see around here, very highly regarded and is a specialist in cycling compensation litigation.


Hope you recover well!

 

[abo]

Did you have a cam running, sounds like a youtube classic!

Seriously though, sounds like he needs prosecuting for dangerous driving. After all, I bet he passes fixed road furniture with sufficient space not to fcuk his boat up so its not like he won't know how much space he shpuld leave. In fact, perhaps that could suggest it was deliberate, or at least negligent.

No experience of a cash for crash company but I'm assuming your bike is trashed, your clothes are trashed and you could be looking at some time off work to recover if you've got broken bones? I'd want to be put back to how things were before the crash ie a fully working bike, clothes intact (lol makes it sound like they were blown off or something) and in a position to earn cash, so compo to cover medical expenses, physio etc. to get you back to fitness asap. Thats my take anyway

 

[Hip Priest]

What a pillock. I'm impressed at your skills of anticipation. I daresay an inexperienced cyclist like myself would've ended up wedged between the railing and The SS Bellend. Kudos also to the other motorist who chased him down. Get well soon.

 

[rusky]

Glad you're more or less OK.

Go to the docs & get checked out, that way you have a record if you go legal. Are you not a fully paid up member of CTC? If not, use R, J & W - same people http://www.rjw.co.uk/

 

[funnymummy]

Oh MyGoodness xx So glad your arn't more serioulsy injured, what a complete & utter tit driving that car. I have no experience eiether with claims & such, but if i needed to make one i'd go through the CTC - It's one of hr reaosn we joined them.
Good luck & i hope you recover quickly xxx

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Heal fast PpPete. I assume the police have been involved? If not involve them and seek advice from one the specialist solicitors recommended above.

 

[smokeysmoo]

The SS Bellend.

 

[coffeejo]

Ouch. What a total bar steward. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[abo]

The SS Bellend

Quote of the week lol

 

[leyburnrunner]

to ramp up the proceedings (both police and compensation) you really need independent witnesses. did you get any contact details from anyone who saw the incident?

 

[Arch]

Yes, report to the police, you were injured. The driver ought to have done so too. He probably ought to be charged with driving with undue care, and leaving the scene, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.

Did you get details off any witnesses - the other car driver, etc?

I'm also not a fan of 'daft' litigation*, but if someone has a jag and a boat, and drives like that, take em for every penny you can...

Go through CTC or Bikeline or similar, and be prepared for the driver, and his insurance, to do everything they can to avoid paying up, including claiming you rode out into his path or something.



*People trying to sue when they could have avoided the accident with a little care, etc.

 

[exbfb]

I've never claimed on a single insurance policy in my life, but in these circumstances, I would be making sure that I was puttiing the bite into this one hard.

Jag towing a boat.
Yeah ok, not exactly skint then.
He has materially affected your life and potentially your livelihood too.
He has to apy for what he did.

Mate of mind who used to commute on his motorbike was a SMIDSY victim some years ago.
Two cars turning right across his bow, the first had the time and space to do so, the 2nd never even looked, just followed. Cue the biker flying through the air and landing about 20 metres up the road.

The insurance company settled the day before it went to court.
He never ever told me what his payout was, but he did say that he'll never have to work again.

Get started straight away.

 

[numbnuts]

Glad your OK Pete

 

[Night Train]

Sorry to hear that and I hope you are not too badly injured otherwise.

I hope you have teh witness details too, it is careless driving at least as the driver clearly didn't care that he was too close and probably didn't even think about the effects of towing a trailer either.

A claim is worth doing if you can, as much as a punishment for the driver as compensation for your damages and injuries.