Knocked Off my bike. 3 Hours at Emergency
BigG59
Posts: 396 Member
I was on my TDF Challenge ride last night. Just left house, a car almost knocked me off at the top of the road.
At traffic lights a mile further on I caught up wit the car, and this is where I was perhaps wrong. "Pointed out the error" in a rather forceful way ie. I swore at the driver.
Anyway I set off, Car caught me up a few hundred meters further on and he pulled alongside, then drifted over and knock me off., He initially stopped to see if I was OK and then then started to drive off, but, I called the police, he must have seen what I was doing as then stopped a few hundred meters further on and came back.
Police turn up and cannot press charges as there were no independent witnesses!!
I have his address and insurance details, what shroud I do ?- My thoughts are get an ambulance chasing solicitor on it - anyone know a good no win no fee cycle friendly solicitor (UK).
Bike has cosmetic damage, though gears now seem miss-aligned, my brother's wife's family have the LBS so its booked in Monday for a check over. I am hoping no derailer damage but I did manage 118km today. I am covered in cuts and bruises and spent 3 hours at A&E
At traffic lights a mile further on I caught up wit the car, and this is where I was perhaps wrong. "Pointed out the error" in a rather forceful way ie. I swore at the driver.
Anyway I set off, Car caught me up a few hundred meters further on and he pulled alongside, then drifted over and knock me off., He initially stopped to see if I was OK and then then started to drive off, but, I called the police, he must have seen what I was doing as then stopped a few hundred meters further on and came back.
Police turn up and cannot press charges as there were no independent witnesses!!
I have his address and insurance details, what shroud I do ?- My thoughts are get an ambulance chasing solicitor on it - anyone know a good no win no fee cycle friendly solicitor (UK).
Bike has cosmetic damage, though gears now seem miss-aligned, my brother's wife's family have the LBS so its booked in Monday for a check over. I am hoping no derailer damage but I did manage 118km today. I am covered in cuts and bruises and spent 3 hours at A&E
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shaking my head in disbelief at the attitude of hate toward cyclists that some drivers show. It makes me want to wear a helmet cam for just those occasions. My state in the US, Mississippi, has a law that drivers must give cyclists 3 feet when passing. I'm glad you are ok.
-David0 -
I know the feeling all too well.
A homeowner's dog chased me across the centerline so I deployed the dog spray.
The homeowner chases me down in his truck and forces me off the road.
The homeowner then knocks the phone out of my hand and knocks me off my bike. Mind you, this was about my third ride after a total left shoulder separation less than two weeks previous caused by a dog.
The police finally arrive about the same time my wife arrives. The end result. If I want to press charges against the homeowner who chased me down, ran me off the road, and pushed me off the bike, then I will be arrested and taken to jail since there were no "eye-witnesses".
I contracted with a lawyer to recover my losses from the dog that hit me on the bike separating my shoulder but because that homeowner doesn't have home insurance there is no way to recover any awarded damages by the court. So I would be out about $3,000US if I took the homeowner to court who admitted to police that they knew their dog was dangerous to cyclists.
Moral of the story. Cyclists are truly the victims of racism. Be very careful when cycling alone. If possible, cycle in a group of two or more. If possible, have a camera.
I still cycle alone as I commute but I am very aware know that LEO will not support me in the event of anything going wrong. Thankfully my Coach always rides me.0 -
David,
Georgia also has the 3-foot law but as I learned in my incident if there are no eye-witnesses then the police will not enforce the 3-foot law. At least not in Pike County, Georgia.0 -
Anyway I set off, Car caught me up a few hundred meters further on and he pulled alongside, then drifted over and knock me off., He initially stopped to see if I was OK and then then started to drive off, but, I called the police, he must have seen what I was doing as then stopped a few hundred meters further on and came back.
Police turn up and cannot press charges as there were no independent witnesses!!
Unbelievable! This is one of the reasons I wear a helmet camera! Just because you swore at the driver, doesn't give him a reason for knocking you off your bike! What if you'd come off and banged your head? You could be dead! It sound's as though the copper/s who attended just couldn't be a*sed :mad: I don't suppose you got their details did you?
Are you not a member of British Cycling or Cycle Assist etc?I have his address and insurance details, what shroud I do ?- My thoughts are get an ambulance chasing solicitor on it - anyone know a good no win no fee cycle friendly solicitor (UK).
I would definitely pursue it! Maybe Join British Cycling retrospectively & get them to pursue it on your behalf? Alternatively, do you have legal cover on your home insurance?Bike has cosmetic damage, though gears now seem miss-aligned, my brother's wife's family have the LBS so its booked in Monday for a check over. I am hoping no derailer damage but I did manage 118km today. I am covered in cuts and bruises and spent 3 hours at A&E
All of this should be covered by your chosen Legal Assistance
This is the kind of s*it we don't have to put up with - I would get a second opinion from the Police; phone your area's Police HQ and ask to speak to a Traffic Officer! Where did the incident take place? Any CCTV which would've caught the incident?
Stand your ground & don't let this lie!0 -
I was on my TDF Challenge ride last night. Just left house, a car almost knocked me off at the top of the road.
At traffic lights a mile further on I caught up wit the car, and this is where I was perhaps wrong. "Pointed out the error" in a rather forceful way ie. I swore at the driver.
Anyway I set off, Car caught me up a few hundred meters further on and he pulled alongside, then drifted over and knock me off., He initially stopped to see if I was OK and then then started to drive off, but, I called the police, he must have seen what I was doing as then stopped a few hundred meters further on and came back.
Police turn up and cannot press charges as there were no independent witnesses!!
I have his address and insurance details, what shroud I do ?- My thoughts are get an ambulance chasing solicitor on it - anyone know a good no win no fee cycle friendly solicitor (UK).
Bike has cosmetic damage, though gears now seem miss-aligned, my brother's wife's family have the LBS so its booked in Monday for a check over. I am hoping no derailer damage but I did manage 118km today. I am covered in cuts and bruises and spent 3 hours at A&E
Wow, that's horrendous. There really are some angry drivers out there.
I've never thought about a helmet camera as it always seemed a bit OTT but if the police don't care unless "independent" witnesses saw it then we're all screwed. The thing is, even if independent witnesses saw it, they witnessed how he chased you down and pushed you off and aren't likely to want to hang around and give a statement to be his next target.
You weren't in the wrong swearing at him...natural reaction, I've done the same myself and usually just get verbal back. I've never actually had anyone say "do you know what, you're right, I am an ignorant pig of a driver who doesn't care about more vulnerable road users, I'm terribly sorry" but it doesn't stop you wanting to vent and show them the error of their ways. It certainly does not warrant physical abuse so aggressive as to knock you off your bike.
Frankly, I'm shocked and a little scared too (think you must be in Lancs judging by red rose, and I'm in Gtr Manchester)
I hope you're not too shaken up by it and it won't put you off cycling
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I appreciate everyone's feedback - thank you. To answer the various points raised - hope I got them all.
Actually I did bang my head; as it was so hot I didn't have a helmet on - idiot. So a lump the size of an egg appeared and is the reason my wife insisted I went to A&E (Emergency Room). A new helmet with lots of vents ordered today and being delivered tomorrow.
No I am not too shaken up and its not put me off. I am made of sterner stuff than that In fact the next day I was out doing 118km and over 1500m of climbing in the Pennines followed my a quieter 40km on Sunday.
I consider myself as a Lancastrian, but, the county boundary changes mean I am technically in Gtr Manchester.
Unfortunately I am not a member of British Cycling, I think I will go and take a look at their web site. Great suggestion.
One of the things the policeman suggested was a helmet cam. He said he uses a camera in his private car. He was actually quite good and I sensed he wanted to help, but without a witness and the driver plus his passengers saying he never made contact, it becomes my word against theirs.
My bike is at the LBS, they said it looked fine and first check suggest no damage. I pick it back up tomorrow.
The younger angrier me of ten years ago would have been to visit the guy (I have his address) with my brothers (all cyclists themselves) to point out the error of his ways. I'm a lot more mellow these days and realise that gets you nowhere other than creates more trouble.
At the end of the day idiots like this are the minority and incidents of this type are rare, I just wish the police had been able to do something about it. Hopefully losing his no-claims discount will make him realise.0 -
oh how horrible!, I am so sorry!0
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CTC might be a better option than British Cycling. They make a big thing about the free legal support that comes with the membership and they are pushing strongly on the whole subject of cycling safety and the reticence of police/courts to do anything to support cyclists. They'd be likely open to offering you some help, even if the incident was before joining.0
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We have a 3 foot law here in NC, but you wouldn't know it. Yet I ride ... and believe it or not am not too afraid. I've been working on building a rapport in my community. I have a theory if you are smiling it is hard to be an a**hole. So, I make eye contact with all motorist and smile and wave (if it is safe). People will react with out thinking and smile and wave back. The smile makes them feel good and are less apt to do something mean. My theory and don't dissuade me, it makes me feel safer.
I would, however, encourage you to pursue even if you don't win hopefully it will make this person think twice before doing something like that again. I've been thinking about a helmet cam, maybe I should get one.0 -
Glocks don't add much weight to your bike.
Good thing I don't carry because I know that there would be some dead drivers out there. :mad:0 -
Just got off the phone with an "ambulance chaser" my LBS recommended.
Lets see what happens.
Thanks for the feedback everyone.0 -
We have a 3 foot law here in NC, but you wouldn't know it. Yet I ride ... and believe it or not am not too afraid. I've been working on building a rapport in my community. I have a theory if you are smiling it is hard to be an a**hole. So, I make eye contact with all motorist and smile and wave (if it is safe). People will react with out thinking and smile and wave back. The smile makes them feel good and are less apt to do something mean. My theory and don't dissuade me, it makes me feel safer.
I would, however, encourage you to pursue even if you don't win hopefully it will make this person think twice before doing something like that again. I've been thinking about a helmet cam, maybe I should get one.
Another good one - if they do get out of the car, smile and remove any eye-shades - one of the first things you learn is that proper Eye Contact is pretty much impossible with the typical mirror/iridium finished human-fly glasses most of us tend to wear in brighter conditions...0 -
We have a 3 foot law here in NC, but you wouldn't know it.
... also 3ft isn't enough if they're flying past you at 60+mph... 3ft is hardly enough at 30mph!0
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