Accidents on the bike
On a bike you are going to get into Scrapes whilst out and about, it just happens!
This could be with other bikes, Buses, Pedestrians or more often than not in my case, Car drivers not paying attention!
Now don’t get me wrong, I drive a car, in fact I have 2, a car and campervan so always try to keep an eye out for cyclists but sometimes the cyclists just don’t help themselves! Dodging cars, riding on the pavement and my pet hate Going through red lights. If you want to be treated like other road users then please act like one!
I started cycling in 2014, my job moved and commuting by car was a no-no due to time and costs and the train and bus was a pain to rely on, so off I went and bought a bike!
I commuted October through the worst weather you can imagine, big bright light, hi viz, flashy things to get you seen. All was going well, cars were giving me space, and I was arriving at work unstressed and quicker than any other method. Then in February it hit me (literally!!) Just any normal day for a Feb in Yorkshire, cold, wet and rainy! I had my Hi viz jacket on, front light so bright I’m surprised planes didn't mistake me for a run way and was pedalling away.
I looked up from the driving rain in my face and saw a car indicating to turn right (across my path) I’m sure we made eye contact, him laughing in his warm car whilst I was cold and damp. Then without warning he pulled out to make the right turn, I had nowhere to go, I was doing 20mph and the chances of stopping so quickly are slim to none!
I braced for impact, BANG! As I hit the front wing of the car, bike coming with me as my feet were clipped into the pedals like superglue. I was like superman 6 foot in the air and flying, the main difference is humans can’t fly and what goes up must come down!
As I descended to towards the ground, my mind was stuck with two choices, brace my arms forward to protect me from the ground or upwards as the bike was about to land on my head! I decided concrete was harder and took this option.
It all seemed to happen to slowly, I lay on the ground making noises like a dying animal! I’ve never broken a bone before but the pain and numbness I was feeling was what I imagined this would be like! The driver stopped (relief) and was in shock, he repeated over and over he didn’t see me, "I’m sorry" , "ill call an Ambulance"
I sat at the side of the road, with the driver bike bent and snapped, and me battered and bloodied for what seemed like an eternity until the blues and twos arrived.
I was seen by a paramedic, then the police came and took everyone’s details, I told them I didn’t want to press charges as it was an accident and being a driver I know what points on your license does to Car Insurance policies!!
I went to hospital for a check over my bike joining me like an injured friend. The x-rayed me, prodded and poked and turns out no broken bones just swelling, muscle damage and a chipped elbow! The bike didn’t fair as well!!
I did what most people would do, rang their number 1 helper in their phone contacts, I was single at the time and my friends all at work so who could come to my rescue? Yes that’s right my Mum!
I sat and waited for what felt like an eternity for her to arrive, she took me home we put my bike away then I went to her house to make sure I was ok and do the British thing of a nice cup of tea (Yorkshire of course!) and try unwind. Id rung my boss to explain and say I wouldn’t be in for a few days.
A few days after the accident I took the bike to my local shop, he advised it was likely a right off, but told me I needed to make a personal injury claim as it was likely to affect me later in life. I’d never done anything like this, where do I start?
Luckily (at the time at least) he gave me the details on a good solicitor who specialised in personal injury and I rang them when I got home, if you don’t know one, Google search Cycling injury Lawyers there are a few national firms and quite likely a few with offices near you .
After my call they invited me down to their office explained the procedure and advised me the next steps. It was all very easy; I signed a few forms explaining about the no win no fee way they operate and how if successful they would take 20% of the pay-out to cover costs.
The next process was A health check and psychological questions to check how much id been affected. To be fair I was a little scared of getting on the bike again it had knocked my confidence!
After this the medical reports and hospital information was sent back to the solicitor to proceed. No this for me is where it all went a bit wrong!
The car driver had admitted Fault at the scene to the police, the insurance had accepted liability and my medical reports had been submitted but I had to constantly chase my solicitor for an update, if you are planning on making a claim I really recommend using a larger based firm with more than a few solicitors. Mine went on maternity for 6 months and my case was static in that time it appears!
Eventually 2 years down the line I was offered £x amount settlement, this covered the cost of my bike and injury but they were disputing the expenses such as travel. I strongly recommend holding out for the best offer and don’t accept the first one, I did this and 3 months later they upped their offer by £1000, I accepted and received my cheque a few weeks later.
If you’ve been injured and it wasn’t your fault and could lead to damage later in life I recommend making a claim, that’s why we pay insurance. If however a cars hi you with their wing mirror and you grazed your knee maybe just write it off that accidents happen, there’s a difference between flying and landing on your face and a sore knee!
This could be with other bikes, Buses, Pedestrians or more often than not in my case, Car drivers not paying attention!
Now don’t get me wrong, I drive a car, in fact I have 2, a car and campervan so always try to keep an eye out for cyclists but sometimes the cyclists just don’t help themselves! Dodging cars, riding on the pavement and my pet hate Going through red lights. If you want to be treated like other road users then please act like one!
I started cycling in 2014, my job moved and commuting by car was a no-no due to time and costs and the train and bus was a pain to rely on, so off I went and bought a bike!
I commuted October through the worst weather you can imagine, big bright light, hi viz, flashy things to get you seen. All was going well, cars were giving me space, and I was arriving at work unstressed and quicker than any other method. Then in February it hit me (literally!!) Just any normal day for a Feb in Yorkshire, cold, wet and rainy! I had my Hi viz jacket on, front light so bright I’m surprised planes didn't mistake me for a run way and was pedalling away.
I looked up from the driving rain in my face and saw a car indicating to turn right (across my path) I’m sure we made eye contact, him laughing in his warm car whilst I was cold and damp. Then without warning he pulled out to make the right turn, I had nowhere to go, I was doing 20mph and the chances of stopping so quickly are slim to none!
I braced for impact, BANG! As I hit the front wing of the car, bike coming with me as my feet were clipped into the pedals like superglue. I was like superman 6 foot in the air and flying, the main difference is humans can’t fly and what goes up must come down!
As I descended to towards the ground, my mind was stuck with two choices, brace my arms forward to protect me from the ground or upwards as the bike was about to land on my head! I decided concrete was harder and took this option.
It all seemed to happen to slowly, I lay on the ground making noises like a dying animal! I’ve never broken a bone before but the pain and numbness I was feeling was what I imagined this would be like! The driver stopped (relief) and was in shock, he repeated over and over he didn’t see me, "I’m sorry" , "ill call an Ambulance"
I sat at the side of the road, with the driver bike bent and snapped, and me battered and bloodied for what seemed like an eternity until the blues and twos arrived.
I was seen by a paramedic, then the police came and took everyone’s details, I told them I didn’t want to press charges as it was an accident and being a driver I know what points on your license does to Car Insurance policies!!
I went to hospital for a check over my bike joining me like an injured friend. The x-rayed me, prodded and poked and turns out no broken bones just swelling, muscle damage and a chipped elbow! The bike didn’t fair as well!!
I did what most people would do, rang their number 1 helper in their phone contacts, I was single at the time and my friends all at work so who could come to my rescue? Yes that’s right my Mum!
I sat and waited for what felt like an eternity for her to arrive, she took me home we put my bike away then I went to her house to make sure I was ok and do the British thing of a nice cup of tea (Yorkshire of course!) and try unwind. Id rung my boss to explain and say I wouldn’t be in for a few days.
A few days after the accident I took the bike to my local shop, he advised it was likely a right off, but told me I needed to make a personal injury claim as it was likely to affect me later in life. I’d never done anything like this, where do I start?
Luckily (at the time at least) he gave me the details on a good solicitor who specialised in personal injury and I rang them when I got home, if you don’t know one, Google search Cycling injury Lawyers there are a few national firms and quite likely a few with offices near you .
After my call they invited me down to their office explained the procedure and advised me the next steps. It was all very easy; I signed a few forms explaining about the no win no fee way they operate and how if successful they would take 20% of the pay-out to cover costs.
The next process was A health check and psychological questions to check how much id been affected. To be fair I was a little scared of getting on the bike again it had knocked my confidence!
After this the medical reports and hospital information was sent back to the solicitor to proceed. No this for me is where it all went a bit wrong!
The car driver had admitted Fault at the scene to the police, the insurance had accepted liability and my medical reports had been submitted but I had to constantly chase my solicitor for an update, if you are planning on making a claim I really recommend using a larger based firm with more than a few solicitors. Mine went on maternity for 6 months and my case was static in that time it appears!
Eventually 2 years down the line I was offered £x amount settlement, this covered the cost of my bike and injury but they were disputing the expenses such as travel. I strongly recommend holding out for the best offer and don’t accept the first one, I did this and 3 months later they upped their offer by £1000, I accepted and received my cheque a few weeks later.
If you’ve been injured and it wasn’t your fault and could lead to damage later in life I recommend making a claim, that’s why we pay insurance. If however a cars hi you with their wing mirror and you grazed your knee maybe just write it off that accidents happen, there’s a difference between flying and landing on your face and a sore knee!