Violent bus driver and a lawyer who lied

[Crankarm]

Holding oneself out to be a lawyer when one is not is a criminal offence s.1 of the Solicitor's Act I think. It is a similar offence to impersonating a police officer. If you know the guy's name contact the Law Society, SRA or the Bar Council and make a complaint. He will be investigated and may.........may be struck off one would hope but could be fined or face a suspension. Also a lawyer is supposed to abide by The Law Society's Code of Conduct. From what you say he appears to have breached Rule 1 his core duties to act with integrity, fairness and conflict of interest being a witness as well. You can also check whether this guy is a solicitor or barrister on the Law Society website. If it appears not then make further enquiries then nail him. People will say absolutely anything to manipulate a situation.

The previous several posters are right. You shouldn’t have confronted the driver. Carry a camera to record number plates and take pictures as soon as you realise a difficult situation is brewing. Alternatively get a headcam. There is nothing better than film footage. When drivers realise they are being filmed they generally either clear off or start playing the fool, but don't be drawn into a physical confrontation. If you have an issue with a bus or lorry driver again just call the Driving Standards Agency after wards. They regulate HGV and PSV license holders. They are very helpful indeed and will take the issues you raise seriously. Likewise some one has mentioned TfL. Not sure what if anything they would do but if they have a dept tasked with receiving reports of poor bus driving then it would make sense to report the incident to them. As for the police I wouldn't. Invariably they get totally the wrong end of the stick and everything ends up back firing on you. I simply wouldn't. The only 999 service I would use would be the ambulance or fire service.

But try to put it out of your mind. It is not worth worrying about. Do get a camera though preferably one that can record sound as well. Decent quality footage is worth it’s weight in gold as we see from others who post clips. Keep the camera readily accessible if not a continuous filming headcam.

Safer cycling to you.

 

[LOGAN 5]

The "lawyer" didn't represent the driver he was a witness - who didn't see much. The driver was arrested on suspicion of assault. He wasn't charged because when the witness lied during his witness statement the police said the CPS obviously wouldn't pursue a case where an independent witness corroborated the story the bus driver had given, both lying of course.

TfL take reports of bad bus driving that's why I contacted them.

I didn't call 999, I went into a police station later that day. I was also so shaken up I couldn't get my mobile phone camera to work at the time. I also don't go around hitting people. Being a female cyclist it's not the first thing that comes to mind when male drivers get aggressive and start screaming in my face. To be honest I was a bit frightened. Was I really going to hit a very angry man, no I don't think so. So when the police said to me that the witness said I was shouting at the driver I was really surprised because it's so improbable that a woman would shout back at an enraged violent man already screaming in her face. It was a total farce. And in any case this would have been difficult as I was astride my bike on the white line on the off side of a bus on a busy road. The driver being the bully he is probably wouldn't have done what he did to a man because he'd know he would most likely get hit. But assaulting a woman is easy isn't it. Assaulting TfL staff is also a very serious matter and no doubt the lying lawyer would have made much of that too had I defended myself. CCTV was wiped off apparently. Maybe the bus garage didn't want it shown. The police had to put some pressure on the garage manager for him to give them the driver's details. They told me that the manager was being threatened with obstructing police investigations and may be pursued for that, they then got the details.

The police wouldn't give me the name of the witness - data protection etc -so I've no idea if he really is a lawyer or not. If he is then he certainly has no integrity whatsoever and shouldn't be practicing.

I agree a helmet cam would have been perfect. Then he would have been prosecuted for assault without doubt.

The only thing to come out of this is that hopefully he'll never do it again. I wasn't hurt only shaken up. It's upsetting to have a man an inch from your face screaming and then being shoved. But if what happened with the arrest and police involvement etc and it being on his record prevents him from doing it to somebody else where the consequences may be much more serious then that's saved whoever else he may decide to assault. Lots of people carry knives these days so who knows how such incidents can escalate.

Anyhow he'll certainly get some bad karma his way.

 

[rnscotch]

I had a similar thing happen last year except with a black cab driver and i was actually knocked off my bike, usually i would have knocked him on his arse but on that occasion i played it smart as there where loads of people watching the taxi driver and cyclist who were having an altercation so i just baited him as i had a feeling if i gave him enough rope he would hang himself the end result was he got arrested and was charged with five offenses: criminal negligence causing bodily harm, dangerous operation causing bodily harm, attempt to obstruct justice, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon.

Court case is in may.. I have 6 witnesses some times you have to play smart and the long game.

 

[thomas]

Court case is in may.. I have 6 witnesses some times you have to play smart and the long game.

Yep, I'd agree with playing it smart. If you start something, you've got to be able to finish it...and if you start something, it'll look like there was more to it and people won't have much sympathy for either party.

 

[Blackandblue]

That is truly a shocker.

All I can add from my experience echoes what Dellzeqq has said.

First and foremost try to stay calm. It's not easy but remember that you're alive and uninjured - ultimately that's the best result and you should be happy with that. That other people behave like the bus driver or lawyer is a sad fact of life and you shouldn't dwell on it.
If you want to take action, do so recognising that it probably won't make you feel better (for some it does but, from what you have said, Logan 5, I suspect you would feel pretty bad about it. In any event it lowers you to their level and may prejudice any legal retribution that you may wish to seek.
Take photos. Just getting the camera phone out is usually enough to diffuse the situation and stop it from escalating.

 

[boydj]

I'd take comfort from the fact that the bus driver will have been through a very uncomfortable time having been arrested and interviewed by the police, with his management involved, no doubt, through requests for details, CCTV etc. His card has been marked and a report of any similar incident could see the end of his career. It may not be as much as he deserved, but he's certainly not got off scot free.

 

[ufkacbln]

.. and people wonder why videos are becoming more popular.

It can easily discredit a witness like yours or the driver