Collision!

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Rollon

Well-Known Member
Location
Chorley, Lancs
Having taken on board lots of information on this forum, read the books about road positioning etc and beggining to gain in confidence, yesterday I set out to ride my longest distance so far, a 36 mile round trip.
I really enjoyed the outward journey from my home to Southport. I was using minor roads as much as possible, but was still unimpressed by some drivers giving hardly any room as they overtook.
Anyway, on the return leg on the busy fast road out of Southport and heading for the start of the cycle path that runs alongside from a large roundabout. Turning right at the roundabout, I checked behind as I approached. Nothing behind, I moved to the centre of the outer lane, nothing coming round from my right I carried on round. Indicating left with an outstretched arm (High viz long sleeved top) as I came round and gradually moved more to the left lane towards my exit. I noticed 2 cars approaching coming onto the roundabout just before my exit. They were both slowing. I went past the front of the outer one and just as I was almost in front of the inner cars drivers side and just to the right of the lefthand lane, it suddenly accelerated. Before I knew it , it clipped the back end of my bike and flipped me over. Bruised and grazed knee and shoulder I picked myself up, my bike, and got onto the grass verge The driver approached full of appologies, he somehow hadnt seen me.
After recovering from the initial shock my first instinct was take his details and get back on my bike and carry on. However when I tried to walk my knee was very stiff, so I told him I thought I had better get a police report. The police turned up advised on an ambulance, and I spent 3.5 hours in the A&E. Patched up I got a taxi the 18 miles home. Although I couldnt see anything wrong with my NEW bike the police officer said the rear wheel was not freely rotating. It was taken to a nearby police station.
The officer said she was considering a 'Without due care' charge against the driver, however I was later informed that she had instead decided to send him on a driving improvement course.
Well thats taken my confidence back to square one now, I mean I was unlucky but lucky it wasnt as bad as it could have been. Im self employed with a physically demanding job, so I have had to put off my jobs for a couple days, untill the whiplash and bruising settle down.
Dave.
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
Glad you were treated well, someone I know had a smash on a roundabout recently and the coppers blamed it on them!

How is your knee doing?
 

NormanD

Lunatic Asylum Escapee
I hope you recover soon Dave and that you can put this behind you and get back out there, I think you were just very unlucky mate.

make sure you put in a claim against the driver (as already admitted their fault) for the repairs to your bike and the loss of earnings, why should your pocket also suffer because of others un-attentiveness.

good luck
Norm
 

The Jogger

Legendary Member
Location
Spain
That was bad luck, at least he did stop some bastards would just drive on. Hope you get better soon and a settlement that covers all your costs.
 

Tharg2007

Veteran
Location
Manchester
classic case of not looking before entering the roundabout or entering without a clear view. The police were right.
If you are self employed then you will have lost earning, maybe even lost customer loyalty if you had to let people down due to illness, make sure you are adequately compensated. Get a solicitor to check the case, there are cycle specific ones.
 

Joe24

More serious cyclist than Bonj
Location
Nottingham
Leave more room on the exits just in case!

Someone i know, who i have cycled with in the winter on sundays and spoke to while ive been out training on week days had a car come out on his on Lowdham Round about.
His helmet had broken in the week ding phil and friends, so was out without a helmet.
Old man in a can hit him, old man coming out of the round about, he was going around
Bad head injuries, in an iduced coma, and will be/has had a metal plate fitted in his head.
It happened 2 weeks ago today.
Dont think your doing so bad!

Get your bike repaired then get back out:becool: Dont let the idiot driver put you off
 

Tharg2007

Veteran
Location
Manchester
its difficult to get the position right on dual lane roundabouts, I shoot myself every time on the one outside the appolo theater in Manchester, its dual lane so when you take the right hand lane you get idiots trying to undertake you, or when you get in the left hand lane you get idiots cutting you off. Best you can do is take them like you would in your car, make sure the lane is yours though, primary all the way.
 

purplepolly

New Member
Location
my house
Tharg2007 said:
its I shoot myself every time on the one outside the appolo theater in Manchester, its dual lane so when you take the right hand lane you get idiots trying to undertake you, or when you get in the left hand lane you get idiots cutting you off..

I was on one near wilmslow yesterday with two lanes on the approach - left and straight on. I was going straight on. First someone goes past the right of me, cuts across and takes the first exit. Then another goes past on my left and goes straight on. Then when I was past the first exit and about to pull left I checked behind and another one came past on the inside. :ohmy:
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
Oh, since nobody else has suggested it, get CTC membership and get in touch with the CTC solicitors on this matter (just incase).
 

Joe24

More serious cyclist than Bonj
Location
Nottingham
Just ride faster, shouldnt have anyone cut you up then.
I go through big round about and dont have people cutting me up.
Actually, the only time i can remember was when i was on my was to a tt, i got to a big roundabout, van on my right, it accelerated off, i went off slowly and he went from being on the right to taking the left exit, i didnt have to brake but it was pointless.
When i go through round abouts i try and go at either just under the traffics speed, or about the same, or faster.
Makes it much safer.
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
purplepolly said:
I was on one near wilmslow yesterday with two lanes on the approach - left and straight on. I was going straight on. First someone goes past the right of me, cuts across and takes the first exit. Then another goes past on my left and goes straight on. Then when I was past the first exit and about to pull left I checked behind and another one came past on the inside. :ohmy:

If traffic is dominant going straight on, I'd stay in the left hand lane. There's an amusing one round here which is labelled left and has a bus lane leading up to it and goes to a single lane on exit which means you can have buses ready to total you off as you go straight on or taxis and cars ready to cut you up on from the other side. Overall I think it's probably safer to stay left if it is traffic dominant going straight on.
 

Joe24

More serious cyclist than Bonj
Location
Nottingham
I had to hold myself back from telling a few people on a club ride what i thought of them
We went around the island by the hoby horse pub on the A46.
I wasnt sure where we were going, and the guy put us in the left lane, theres 2 lanes for left, 2 for straight on/right i think.
We wanted to go straight on:eek:
Caused mayhem and one car that was going about his busines did a left like he should do, and cut a cyclist up, which a guy didnt like.

I was pretty ashamed then:sad: Not only did a guy have a go at a car driver who was int he right, but we brought those 2 lanes to a stop as everyone sorted themselves out:sad:
 

marinyork

Resting in suspended Animation
Location
Logopolis
Well that'd be another good thing as well as speed, clarity and confidence of where you are going. I agree in general that with speed large roundabouts can be a lot less dangerous than some people think (I think minis are overlooked on danger stakes because motons do some extremely silly things on them) but there are a few nasty ones.
 
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