Hit by a car

Me too, I'm fed up with having to constantly watch out for drivers pulling out in front of me, opening doors in front of me, turning left across me, lorries pulling into me making me jump with bike onto the footway or get crushed, etc., and that's despite wearing hi viz and using flashing leds

Some drivers appear to look straight through cyclists before driving into them, and that's based on personnel experience.

 

I'm not defending cyclists or anyone else for that matter. I'm talking about this specific case, based on my interpretation of the info presented. I'm not going to generalise, because I think there is already a very sad situation of cyclists vs motorist contemptuous attitude and I'm not interested in propagating that attitude. This is about the specific case presented to us, and no other.

 

Agreed.
I'm also sick of cyclist cutting me up as a driver and pedestrian.

Absolutely. 50/50 as I see it.

 

OK OK everyone let's get a few things straight.

First of all the car could see me as I can remember seeing the car in its drive before it pulled out. The car wasn't moving when I approached it as it was in a very short drive, probably just over the length of the car, so me stopping before seeing it moving wasn't possible. I don't even remember seeing people in the car the windows were very dark I think. But I could be wrong here. Also the road/pavement I was cycling down was sloped, this increased my speed and also my braking reaction.

I've spent most of the afternoon fixing my bike. The front wheel was taken to the local cycle shop where my front wheel is currently being trued at the princely sum of £30.

Meanwhile my brakes (which I was going to have a look at as soon as I got back from my trip out Saturday before the accident happened) I finally had a look at today. My brakes were still working but not to my satisfaction. This was one of those incidents (and people will have to take my word for this) that it happened so quickly that the brakes whether working or not would not have prevented this accident.

I have had a good long think about what to do and have decided not to contact the police as others have said I could be fined £30 for riding on the pavement and even if the driver did pay for the repair I would still run the risk of having to shell out £30 in a fine anyway. As others have said the stress incurred isn't worth that amount of money. I am still deeply unsettled by the incident and am still shaken by how close I could have come to much more harm than I did. This will stay with me for a long time. I thought I would have been safer on the pavement than the road but I was proven wrong Saturday. I'm still shocked by the passenger's reaction but its good that other members on here have explained that this may have been a coping mechanism for her and this gives me slightly more peace of mind for the human race. There were also no witnesses from what I can remember as no one really came over to help etc. So no one would back up the story.

I am unsure about the driver's responsibility, I agree with others who say that he was at fault because he wasn't paying attention but this all happened too quickly for a clear judgement to be given. The driver from what I can remember was pretty much in as much shock as I was, if not more. So I'm assuming he will be a lot more careful in the future as a result.

I haven't been to the doctor yet and have been taking it easy the last two days. My back has been better today and I still feel a bit tender but am on the mend.

So in conclusion I think we will both be more careful as a result. Lessons I have learnt here from what happened but I still think it wouldn't have prevented the accident.

 

The driver did say to me (from what I heard in between this screaming swearing woman passenger) he admitted he should have been looking where he was going.

 

Hi Keith, I do notice you say the Highway Code 'used' to say ... does it not do so now? We are not talking about 'major' or 'minor' thoroughfares here, but a private driveway and a pavement between it and a road where the cyclist should not have been in the first place!

Sorry, I know I am 'old' and may sound like everyone's granny ... but it has been mentioned here that ... 'I've seen other cyclists do this' ... goodness, does that mean that if they put their head inside a hot oven that it is okay for me to do the same thing, be it right or wrong ...

And, just for what it's worth, whose insurance would even contemplate paying for this mishap ... possibly on private property, possibly on a public pavement where cyclists are not permitted ... da, da, da ...

 

Hi JJ, pleased you are perhaps feeling better and a hard lesson was learned. Take care of yourself.

 

Am I right in thinking that in some strange, far away counties, (it might be france), the motorist is always considered at fault when a car and a bike collides, regardless of the circumstances?

 

This is my view on it. Firstly I think you have done the right thing @Jungle Jane
I have to admit that I too have ridden on a footpath (but only ones which aren't busy, and at the risk of being fined, purely because it feels safer).
However, I am 'extremely' careful and would even get off if passing a pedestrian. To me, it is 'their' path. Cyclists have their own, just unfortunately not as many.
If I were to be hit by a reversing car (highly unlikely because I am very aware of possible dangers), I would blame myself. I shouldn't be on the footpath.
I would blame myself despite any responsibility the driver may have too! Its an accident to which both of us have responsibility for.
I would only ride a 'path' on a busy 'main' road though, not an estate road with driveways.
I think some of the views are a sign of changing times. Years ago we would just get up, dust ourselves down, the driver would ask if we were ok, and we would just get on with the rest of the day . Broken bike, and dented car.
These days there is a lot of blame and claim culture, which does my head in.
I am not aiming these comments at anyone in particular. Just my own personal view on todays lifestyle.

 

I will have to take a pic of my driveway, my neigbours van, and my neighbours bush. I have no chance. If you edge out......people who can see you, assume you have seen them and you are letting them go. Driving out is as difficult as reversing out. The bonnet of the car is across the path before I can see anything.

 

I will ask first

 

Except: JJ *has* been injured

While people posting that JJ was "cycling on a pavement" are quite correct, and, by definition must incur some culpability, the greater offense here lies with the driver of the vehicle. Hence my post that while she does have a claim for damages, it would be of a lesser amount due to her own misdemeanour. But, it wouldn't make her claim totally invalid.

Ultimately, it is up to JJ to weigh up the pro's and con's of the scenario and how far to take it. Equally, it is up to her constabulary and their protocols as to what the outcome may, or may not, be in her particular case.