Hit a cyclist....

[iaind]

Not really after any advice or anything, just thought I'd share!

Was turning right out of my road this morning onto a busy road, the traffic going left had stopped and someone had sensibly left a gap for me to get out. A van coming from the right saw me waiting and that the pedestrian crossing just ahead was going red, so slowed down and waved me out.

So I edged out slowly through the stopped traffic, checked to make sure it was clear on the left and pulled out - was literally crawling along as the crossing was red anyway. As I pull out, I hear a bang and a body flies across my bonnet and onto the floor.

He picked himself straight up and I pulled over to see if he was ok - fortunately he was fine and I was a lot more shaken up than him! He even joked that my bonnet was quite soft, said he didn't need any medical attention, didn't want my details, I even offered to chuck his bike in the boot and give him a lift to work but he wad adamant it wasn't necessary.

After talking to him and the van driver (the one who let me out), turns out he was flying down the slow traffic on the inside. On seeing that he couldn't get past the van on the inside, he swerved out behind it to pass it on the outside - which explains why I didn't see him coming. He was pretty apologetic and said it was his fault, which I'm inclined to agree with. Wasn't tempted to try and pursue any damage claims as obviously there's no insurance.

Damage to my car is minimal, cracked the bottom of the bumper and scuffed the wing a bit, will probably just tidy it up a bit rather than going for a full repair.

So if you're on a bike, be careful and wear a helmet (he wasn't) - I'm still a bit shaken by a situation that could have been a million times worse, like if the traffic had been moving faster.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[iaind]

A cyclist's worth 20 isn't it?

He had a Ginger beard, which I believe is double points

 

[iaind]

I would have got his details after he claimed it was his fault.

Wouldn't be worth the hassle, damage wasn't too significant and without insurance it sounds like a colossal ballache

 

[iaind]

I don't think it was his fault.

It was yours or the van driver.

He had the right of way and the van shouldn't have waved you out...he could have stopped and if you chose to go then your choice but I think, as you crossed the priority road, it would be your fault.

/dons fireproof coat

He had right of way, despite passing all the traffic on the inside down most of the road?

Amazingly, I'm not surised that after a full account where it wad clearly his fault, his own admission that he was at fault and an independent witness saying it was the cyclists fault that someone would still try and bend it the other way

 

[iaind]

Wow, good job all round. You sound like you acted really well and fair play to the cyclist that he wasn't a crybaby. I've been the cyclist in a similar incident and felt like an idiot so as long as nothings broken just wanted to clear off.

Glad you showed class not trying to claim off him like the previous right honourable gentleman may have been suggesting. Expect he'll be healing for a couple of months so not like he got off scot-free.

Cheers, I wanted do try and help him out if I could, whoever was at fault - can't have been pleasant for him regardless!

He didn't even seem to have any scratches so hopefully no real harm done

 

[iaind]

Sorry chum but the law just isn't on your side. If he had gone nasty and taken you to court, he would have won. You were lucky! I know what happened to you was frustrating, but you were going from minor to major, therefore you have to make sure the major road is COMPLETELY clear before entering it.

Would be interesting to know how he could defend that. He was passing stopped/slow traffic on the inside and only came onto the outside behind the van who let me out.

I'm well aware of the law, but without x-Ray eyes, I couldn't have seen him coming

 

[iaind]

This is most likely right to be honest - filtering, contrary to what most people believe, is not always (and not even that often) considered an 'own risk' maneuvre, and it certainly doesn't always find the motorcyclist/cyclist at fault.

If he had been passing down the outside of the traffic, I'd understand and in honesty I'd have seen him and not pulled out. But he was taking a clear risk by going down the inside and pulling out like that

 

[iaind]

In stopped traffic you should be aware of that possibility. I don't really think it's fair, but I am merely stating from experience that's the way the law is written in this country. Pedestrians and cyclists can do almost no wrong.

If you followed that to the letter you'd never be able to pull out of any road!

I know the law is relatively clear cut, but I think most courts have a bit of common sense about them to realise that he could be at fault here.

Still, its fortunate that he admitted liability, because if he did want to get arsey then it could get complicated, yes

 

[iaind]

I guess he could have remembered my reg, but I'm guessing he'd have to go to the police and claim a hit and run if his mates convinced him to be a ****

 

[iaind]

No one's feeling much cyclist love then!

 

[iaind]

Sounds to me like two agreeable people had an accident and came to a rational decision on the spot. One had the law on his side but recognised his actions were not necessarily the most sensible for the conditions and the other realised he could have done some harm to someone.

I think you both deserve a beer frankly; some of the people I encounter in the mornings I'd struggle to find the will to pee on them if they were on fire, they are that inconsiderate and wrapped up in their own pathetic, pointless little worlds.

Now there's a post to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside

Beers gratefully received

 

[iaind]

Too true, I'm very grateful that he was a decent bloke about it. Likewise, I don't think it's fair to tar all cyclists with the same brush - plenty of car drivers and motorcyclists are just as idiotic

 

[iaind]

You are a starts with p and ends with k.



I stand corrected - however I doubt the motorist would have won at court on the matter (or in insurers eyes)

As all have said sounds like good sport on both parties. I have seen far worse and over far, far less!

OP - out of interest, he wasn't riding a fixie or other low braked bike was he?

Not sure what you mean - I don't know much about bikes!

 

[iaind]

Some bikes have just one brake...that doesn't really work well and some have none for proper loons and they stop it by stopping pedalling.

Just wondering as with the right brakes you can stop a bike pretty quick as long as it's dry.

Looked like a pretty normal bike with "V" brakes but it did have microscopically thin "slick" tyres on it. In the wet, which it was, i can't see it having much stopping power