My first crash.

[nuttall1991]

So this morning, five minutes down the road, I get knocked off at a roundabout and i'm left with a grazed arse and a knackered bike. My question is...
What should be done in this situation?
As I've never been in a situation like this I wasn't sure what to do. The driver stopped, gave me a lift home, and gave me his name and number. Is this everything I need to get things sorted? I've read that I should have the number plate but have read that it is the driver's duty to give me the number.
Any help much appreciated.

Laurence

 

[ScotiaLass]

Oh no!
I can't advise but am sure someone who can will be along shortly.

Just wanted to say I hope you're okay!

 

[nuttall1991]

Yeah I'm ok just a bit shaken, more worried about the fact I only have this guy's name and mobile number and don't want to be fobbed off by the police when I say I don't have the reg...

 

[Biker Joe]

Really you should have called the police on the spot.
You should do this as soon as possible. The police will then handle it from there.
I do hope you recover well. It can be a shock to the system.
Get well soon.

 

[nuttall1991]

Oh really? I rang the police afterwards to report it but the office to report to isn't open till tomorrow! As if there aren't crashes today or something!
Thankfully the number I was given isn't a dud one, the guy's text me back so I think I'll be ok knowing it's the correct number
Fingers crossed I'll be back on the road soon...
Thanks for your concern

 

[vickster]

Are you a British Cycling / CTC member. Probably worth getting some advice from them if the driver doesn't cough up

Heal fast

 

[nuttall1991]

I was only thinking yesterday of joining British Cycling...
Thanks for the advice and support

 

[bikingdad90]

General idea for dealing with it is similar to claiming on car insurance.

• Report incident with police and get a reference number
• Go to GP and get your injury assessed and ask for a written report of the injuries obtained for evidence if it does go to court. Take regular pictures to monitor recovery time and lenght. Remember to date stamp each photo!
• Get your bike assessed by the bike shop and see what the damage is in a written quote which you send to the driver.
• Ask driver is this is satisfactory and how he would like to pay and then ask for repair to be carried out.
• Pick up fixed bike a few days later.

If the driver is arsey, remember that you could point out that you could also claim commuting expenses, money lost due to the injury etc and interest for non payment but are not at this point in time to be reasonable. If that still doesn't get him to pay up then you can pursue through the small claims court as a last resort.

 

[nuttall1991]

To be honest I'm not injured, I'm walking fine etc. It's the bike that's buggered... The driver has offered to pay for damage done etc. and I'm ringing him tonight to speak about this. If he agrees outright then I'm happy with that and if he refuses I'll go about getting a quote from my LBS and follow that route but, am I wise in doing this?
I'm reporting the incident anyway so i'm thinking if he doesn't agree to pay what I get the total to i'll go down the proper route of quotes, insurance and so on
What are peoples thought's on my plan of action?

 

[bikingdad90]

Don't agree a price and payment without agreeing with the shop first. If you say ah it is £100 for new wheels and it turns out the frame is bent, the driver has got off lightly as he is only contracted for £100 but you have to stump up say another £200 to get the bike right. It's then up to you to fight for this with no gurantee.

I would get a written quote from the shop, and check over any lights/accessories to see if they are usable and if not include them in the repair bill too. Once you have the full cost of the repair arrange for the driver to pay up not the other way round.

 

[nuttall1991]

that seems like really sound advice, just what I needed.
Thanks again, you're a star

 

[Kbrook]

You are not under any obligation to report it to the police even if there is injury. He is the only person under an obligation to report it and he only has to do that if he hasnt furnished you with details, name address, reg number and insurance. I would try and sort it out amicably first, if that doesnt work you can if you so wish report it, at this stage reporting it to the police seems unecessary, I am sure others will probably disagree.
Having not given you his reg number, strictly speaking( unless he has reported it, which I doubt) he has committed an offence ( needs to report asap) so he is in no position to be arsey, but from what you say it doesn't sound like he is going to be.

 

[Biker Joe]

From Citizens Advice:-
What must a driver involved in a traffic accident do
A driver involved in a traffic accident should stop whether or not the accident was their fault if:-

• anyone, other than themselves, is injured; or
• another vehicle, or someone else’s property, is damaged; or
• an animal in another vehicle or running across the road is injured; or
• a bollard, street lamp or other item of street furniture is damaged.

If you have to stop, you must remain near the vehicle long enough for anyone who is involved directly or indirectly in the accident to ask for details. This could be, for example, the owner of an injured animal, a relative of someone who is injured, or the police. The driver must then give their name and address, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle (if the driver is not the owner), and the registration number of the vehicle.

The driver may also have to report the accident to a police officer or at a police station, in person, as soon as practicable and in any case within 24 hours. This duty arises whenever the driver has not given their name and address at the scene of the accident, whether or not they were asked to do so.

If any personal injury is caused to another person, the driver must also produce a valid insurance certificate if asked to do so by a police officer, injured person, or anyone else directly or indirectly involved in the accident. If the insurance certificate is asked for, but not produced at the time, the accident must be reported to a police station as soon as practicable, or in any case within 24 hours, and the insurance certificate must be taken to a police station within seven days of the accident. However if the driver is asked at the time of the accident to produce insurance details and does so, there is no further obligation to report the accident to the police, as long as they have complied with the duties described above.

In the case of a damage-only accident, the driver must give insurance details to anyone who may wish to make a claim against them.

In all accidents, drivers should inform their own insurance company.
I hope that clarifies things a bit.

 

[Kbrook]

Biker Joe, not sure if you are saying that the OP needs to report, he doesn't as he is not the driver of a motor vehicle. The only person that needs to report if the car driver, I see little point in the OP reporting it at this stage, do you agree with that? And as I say the driver is in no position to be hard work about this.

 

[Biker Joe]

Biker Joe, not sure if you are saying that the OP needs to report, he doesn't as he is not the driver of a motor vehicle. The only person that needs to report if the car driver, I see little point in the OP reporting it at this stage, do you agree with that? And as I say the driver is in no position to be hard work about this.

I agree with that.
For myself I would report it to the police just to cover all options whether I need to or not. But that's just me.