The best advice for preparing for an accident is wear a helmet. If a car hits you, and you take the driver to court, be sure you were wearing a helmet. If not the first thing the drivers lawyer will try to bring out is that since you were not wearing a helmet, you are partly to blame. That could also include wearing bright colored jersey, and having a flag on your bike or trike.
Be prepared for an accident
- Thread starter rydabent
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
What a load of poppy cock. All a helmet does is stop a bit of gravel rash on your noggin, and also stop lots of questioned when you are wheeled into A&E with a broken spine, or suspected fractured hip - tried and tested. High vis, lights don't help drivers see you if they aren't looking.
Have you just grabbed that paragraph off google AI ?
Have you just grabbed that paragraph off google AI ?
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
PS I always wear a lid. Broken spine, shoulder, etc etc. Not hit my head other than MTB and when I smashed my shoulder, the lid stopped gravel rash.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Rusty Nails
We remember
- Location
- Living in the slow lane
Isn't Rydabent from the US?
It's a different world there as far as their insurance and legal systems are concerned, and he does appear to be talking about insurance/legal action risk rather than riding safety or injuries.
It's a different world there as far as their insurance and legal systems are concerned, and he does appear to be talking about insurance/legal action risk rather than riding safety or injuries.
Ajax Bay
Guru
- Location
- East Devon
Yup: lives in the "snow belt" and wears 'pants' (and a helmet).
I thought this might be 'carry paper and a pencil stub so you can note the details of the other party to the incident', or to carry details of your insurance.
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mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
*sigh*
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
This isn't America. They try the contributory negligence bit but it never sticks because our civil liability works differently to theirs.
cougie uk
Guru
By the same logic anyone venturing out of their house on foot should dress the same.
Probably a good idea in this weather ! Blumming ice and snow still here. Thank god for those spikes you strap on your shoes.
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Got knocked off my bike by an inattentive driver in 2018 when riding home from work. The key injuries were a broken neck and fractured skull, so quite serious.
I was completely blame free in the collision, was using adequate lighting, following the rules of the road and riding in a non-eratic, predictable manner.
As far as I'm aware, the fact I was not wearing a cycling helmet had no effect on the level of compensation I received for my injuries suffered as a result of the drivers negligence, and quite rightly so!
I was completely blame free in the collision, was using adequate lighting, following the rules of the road and riding in a non-eratic, predictable manner.
As far as I'm aware, the fact I was not wearing a cycling helmet had no effect on the level of compensation I received for my injuries suffered as a result of the drivers negligence, and quite rightly so!
classic33
Leg End Member
@tyred, I was hit by a car in 2005, the owners insurance company tried to use the not wearing a helmet or Hi-Vis bit. Pointed out via my solicitor that neither are legal requirements for cycling in the UK. Also could they point out which law required that either be worn whilst cycling.By the same logic anyone venturing out of their house on foot should dress the same.
And that if they could be bothered to read the claim submitted, then they'd see that one of the items they insisted I should have been wearing was included. They then argued over the cost of the replacement. Their quote for replacement turned out higher than mine.
In September last year, I split my skull open in two places, breaking the skin in three places. This in home, leaving the kitchen looking like a murder scene.
@rydabent, should we now be wearing them in the house?
I'm for freedom of choice on the use of helmets and Hi-Vis, and want it remaining that way. A personal choice, not something decided upon by people who I doubt even cycle.
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
"The best advice for preparing for an accident is wear a helmet. If a car hits you...."
This is written by someone who has never been hit by a car on a bike, if that's the best advice they can offer. I would suggest, try and prevent the accident to begin with maybe a better idea. Good lights, reflective clothes, high viz and good route selection would come before a helmet in my opinion.
A cycling helmet is often mistaken for a motorcycle helmet. But it will not take the same impact. I have had accidents on both bikes and motorbikes and I think a cycle helmet has little effect if you are in a collision with a car when it comes to impact injury. But from experience I know a bicycle helmet can prevent gravel rash.
I would rather break bones than have severe gravel rash any day of the week. I have had both.
Why are we discussing helmets? I thought we were grown ups. 😁
Yes. I was wearing a helmet when I was hit head on by the drunk moped rider. 😁
This is written by someone who has never been hit by a car on a bike, if that's the best advice they can offer. I would suggest, try and prevent the accident to begin with maybe a better idea. Good lights, reflective clothes, high viz and good route selection would come before a helmet in my opinion.
A cycling helmet is often mistaken for a motorcycle helmet. But it will not take the same impact. I have had accidents on both bikes and motorbikes and I think a cycle helmet has little effect if you are in a collision with a car when it comes to impact injury. But from experience I know a bicycle helmet can prevent gravel rash.
I would rather break bones than have severe gravel rash any day of the week. I have had both.
Why are we discussing helmets? I thought we were grown ups. 😁
Yes. I was wearing a helmet when I was hit head on by the drunk moped rider. 😁
