SMIDSY

[.calm]

I suppose it had to happen eventually...

After 2 years of commuting I got knocked off. I was freewheeling down a hill at about 20 mph then someone decided to turn right across the road in front of me. I hit the front wing while the car was at about 45 degrees to the road and got thrown over the bonnet, landing on the far side somewhere.

At this point my recollection gets a bit hazy. A load of onlookers ran up and made sure I didn't move in case I'd broken my neck. Then they called for an ambulance. And made sure I lay in the middle of the road until it showed up. It turns out that I hadn't broken anything; just grazed my knee and ankle.

And then while I was lying in the back of the ambulance the police arrived. Apparently it's an open and shut case. There's witnesses that were behind the moron driver who say they saw me coming down the hill (indeed the main witness is looking after the bike was behind the idiot driver and he said he'd seen me) and that I'd been braking heavily. The copper just said that it was clear what had happened and that it was obvious the idiot driver was at fault.

On the plus side I apparently trashed his car pretty badly. I didn't see it, but onlookers were saying the left front wing was trashed, along with the bumper and there was supposed to be a big hole in the windscreen where my (helmeted) head hit.

It's had to be too smug about it though. The bike sounds like it's in a bad way. I've not seen it, but it sound like the front wheel is dead. And I have a feeling the frame might be bent too. I'll find out when I pick it up tomorrow. I'm just hopeful I can get enough out of his insurance to replace it. Tomorrow I'll phone the ambulance chasing lawyers and see what happens.

[Wendy]

Oooh, glad you're OK!!!!

[cometworm]

Oooh, glad you're OK!!!!

+1.

[dkahn400]

Oooh, glad you're OK!!!!

+1.

+2.

[hatler]

And so we have #3 !

Glad to hear you walked away from this one.

Assuming the nerk is insured you shouldn't have too much bother in replacing all the bent bits from the inevitable payment.

Sounds like you are on pretty safe ground here, but follow up constantly.

I was nearly #3 yesterday. Mini-roundabout (which is really just a road coming in from my left), me doing 20mph, car pulls out from left to turn to its right. It felt like I had the rear wheel in the air for about 6 feet. Just stopped a couple of feet short.  Phew !

[clarion]

Hope all becomes well over time.

[Wowbagger]

Welcome to the forum, .calm. What an appropriate user name you have selected!

It sounds as though you got away lightly, given the speed at which you must have been travelling. My daughter once broke a car windscreen with her head (unhelmeted) at a much lower speed and she was OK too. This was when she was at Uni.

What make of bike were you riding? Let's hope that you have no after-effects and that your assailant's insurance co. pays up nice and generously. Are you a CTC member? When I made my claim in 1982, they were very helpful. Pain, suffering, out-of-pocket expenses, damage to bike, helmet, clothing, personal effects. Did a bystander walk off with your Rolex watch whilst you were dazed?

I reckon a really nice steel-framed commuting bike should be high on your list of early purchases. Mercian? Suits you, Sir!

[.calm]

And so we have #3 !

Glad to hear you walked away from this one.

Assuming the nerk is insured you shouldn't have too much bother in replacing all the bent bits from the inevitable payment.

Sounds like you are on pretty safe ground here, but follow up constantly.

I managed to miss out on his insurance details, but the copper said he'd phone up tomorrow and I'll get them from him. And if his insurance company isn't forthcoming I'll set some personal injury bunch on them. I used to think those people were evil bloodsuckers, but if I don't get any joy from the insurance company I'll set the ambulance chasers on them.

Oddly, I'm not too happy about the situation at this moment in time. 

[hatler]

And so we have #3 !

Glad to hear you walked away from this one.

Assuming the nerk is insured you shouldn't have too much bother in replacing all the bent bits from the inevitable payment.

Sounds like you are on pretty safe ground here, but follow up constantly.

I managed to miss out on his insurance details, but the copper said he'd phone up tomorrow and I'll get them from him. And if his insurance company isn't forthcoming I'll set some personal injury bunch on them. I used to think those people were evil bloodsuckers, but if I don't get any joy from the insurance company I'll set the ambulance chasers on them.

Oddly, I'm not too happy about the situation at this moment in time. 

Do NOT expect the insurance company to do anything unless you put a knife to their throats. They are devious bastards who will do all they can to hang on to their cash for as long as possible.

Fire up the lawyers now. Russell Jones & Walker seem to get the vote from many people here. First thing tomorrow morning. Promise ?

[.calm]

Welcome to the forum, .calm. What an appropriate user name you have selected!

It sounds as though you got away lightly, given the speed at which you must have been travelling. My daughter once broke a car windscreen with her head (unhelmeted) at a much lower speed and she was OK too. This was when she was at Uni.

What make of bike were you riding? Let's hope that you have no after-effects and that your assailant's insurance co. pays up nice and generously. Are you a CTC member? When I made my claim in 1982, they were very helpful. Pain, suffering, out-of-pocket expenses, damage to bike, helmet, clothing, personal effects. Did a bystander walk off with your Rolex watch whilst you were dazed?

I reckon a really nice steel-framed commuting bike should be high on your list of early purchases. Mercian? Suits you, Sir!

Heh.. I do feel lucky he hadn't gone any further. If I'd hit further back I wouldn't have gone sailing over the bonnet but would have come to an abrupt halt.

It was a thorn sherpa so in theory it's was a nice steel framed commuting bike (except the gears are awful). And I am a CTC member. I had a look through all the personal injury people in the ads in the latest issue of "cycle", which is where I found someone local that are supposed to be good. But phoning them was on the list of things to do tomorrow when I find out this blokes insurance details.

[slowfen]

Glad you are up and walking.

Hope you`re not to stiff and achey today.

[Polar Bear]

Ouch!   

Don't worry about waiting for his insurance details.  You have a reference from the Police I guess.  Use that for now. 

I must renew my lapsed CTC membership.

<edit>

Oh, and I meant to link to this ...

</edit>

[Otto]

Glad you ar eOK...It been a nasty couple of weeks for falling off It seems we've had an epidemic

[mrcharly-YHT]

glad to hear you survived that, it sounds like a nasty crash.

I think you should contact a solicitor asap. This is based on my experience of being in car crashes. Back/neck injuries can take a few days to show themselves; then a lifetime to deal with. Plus lots of expensive treatment. A half-decent solicitor will ensure you get enough money to pay for this, a proper medical exam etc.

[iakobski]

And I am a CTC member. I had a look through all the personal injury people in the ads in the latest issue of "cycle", which is where I found someone local that are supposed to be good. But phoning them was on the list of things to do tomorrow when I find out this blokes insurance details.

As a CTC member, phone them first, no need to wait for the insurance details.

You don't need someone local, I pass Russell, Jones & Walker's office twice a day but I've never needed to go in over the course of my case.

[onb]

Glad your ok ,I had a similar experience 18 mths ago although I managed to avoid the car but in doing so lost control and hit the tarmac to the tune of a broken collar bone .The general concensus was I would have been better off hitting the car as you did .However enough of me the CTC will take membership after the event and I can heartily recommend the services of their solicitors Russell Jones and Walker in Manchester ,a mr Macbeth was the dealing person .I dont like our litigeous society but make an exception were negligant motons are concerned it seems to be the only language they understand.

[iakobski]

Do NOT expect the insurance company to do anything unless you put a knife to their throats. They are devious bastards who will do all they can to hang on to their cash for as long as possible.

Ain't that the truth. My crash was over a year ago, the driver was convicted on three counts, but apparently the insurance company (Ecclesiastical Ins Co, believe it or not) are still saying they need time to "determine liability" .
R J & W have given up giving them the benefit of the doubt and have issued court proceedings against them - having had CTC's agreement.

I dont like our litigeous society

Neither do I, but surely that refers to frivoulous claims (eg through your own stupidity) or pure accidents. If you are injured due to someone else's carelessness, why should you have to suffer, both physically and monetarily?

[TheLurker]

Have some more sympathy.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the bruises.  The only variation was the the driver said, "Oh I saw you, but I thought I had right of way..."

There is an upside.  You now have a legit. excuse for spending ages trawling through bike shops and adverts looking for a new bike. 

Slightly OT, but is there _anybody_ here who hasn't ever been knocked off their bike or struck by a vehicle?  I don't think I've ever met a cyclist who hasn't been hit by a vehicle at least once.  Speaking for myself I've been taken out twice.

[alexb]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the bruises.  The only variation was the the driver said, "Oh I saw you, but I thought I had right of way..."

Slightly OT, but is there _anybody_ here who hasn't ever been knocked off their bike or struck by a vehicle?  I don't think I've ever met a cyclist who hasn't been hit by a vehicle at least once.  Speaking for myself I've been taken out twice.

Me too I'm afraid. more than 15 years ago now. Intot he side of a car at a miniroundabout. Not only did I have priority, but he didn't stop at all until he saw me, but by then I was cartwheeling across his bonnet.

The rubbish that they came out with prior to settling was unreal.

[Gattopardo]

Hello

Glad your ok and hope the ache isn't to great.

Use a recomended cycle type ambulance chaser they will know there stuff.  Be wary of the other type from my experience they seen to more interested in personal injury than the material cost.

Make sure you keep all your travel reciepts as you should not be out of pocket for any expenses.  Any joint aches and pains I would recomend going to see a sports physio specialising in cyclist.  They can do wonders and the cost will be covered by the other party.

[handcyclist]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and the bruises.  The only variation was the the driver said, "Oh I saw you, but I thought I had right of way..."

SMITIHROW? 

Slightly OT, but is there _anybody_ here who hasn't ever been knocked off their bike or struck by a vehicle?  I don't think I've ever met a cyclist who hasn't been hit by a vehicle at least once.  Speaking for myself I've been taken out twice.

Depends on your definitions really. I've been taken out on a motorbike by a right turner, but the only time it's happened to me on a cycle (touch wood) was by another cyclist! The usual litany of near misses though, so I'm sure my time will come.

Back to OP, glad to read your injuries aren't too severe. As others have advised, claim for everthing you can think of - insurance companies will always try to scale down your payout.

[clarion]

In perspective.

I've been a cyclist since I was a kid, with gaps 14-19 and 30-40.  Actually hit by one vehicle (A PTW, if that's relevant).

I've been a driver since I was 30.  I've been hit four times. EDIT: I've been a passenger in two incidents.

Maybe I'm just good at getting out the way on a bike.  Indeed, with the impact, I saw danger out of the corner of my eye, and put the hammer down, so I was struck on the rear wheel, not on me or my frame.  Still broke a dropout

[hellymedic]

Have some more sympathy.

Slightly OT, but is there _anybody_ here who hasn't ever been knocked off their bike or struck by a vehicle?  I don't think I've ever met a cyclist who hasn't been hit by a vehicle at least once.  Speaking for myself I've been taken out twice.

I have been in collision with a car.
I have never had any significant injury as a result of a collision.

I can not cycle now but I averaged 10,000 miles per year over three years in the 1990s.

[ABlipInContinuity]

.calm,

glad you are okay!

[Jacomus]

Ouch. That is nasty.

When will motorists start looking instead of just simply driving?

Rest well, keep your joints warm, and feel better soon.

Impacts on the body can take a day or so to feel sore, I'm pretty creaky at the moment from my crash earlier in the week.

This also proves that Mistress Fate does indeed have OCD pretty bad, as she wouldn't accept Liz being broken as the third in the run.