Bike Accident.

[Chops45]

I was knocked off my bike by a car,
I was cycling in a cycle lane as I approached some traffic lights, the lights were on red.
About 50m from the traffic lights there was some "keep clear" road markings the traffic had backed up past the markings, a medium size wagon had stopped on my right in front of the road markings.
The car travailing in the opposite direction that I hit was turning right through the gap in the traffic but not being able to see me in the cycle lane because of the wagon.
I was cycling in the cycle lane towards the lights with the wagon on my right I saw the car appear in front of me traveling from my right to my left, I braked as hard as I could trying  to avoid the collision,
I hit the car and fell onto my right I sustained a fractured jaw that my need surgery.
The bike has got a bent frame.
Unfortunately I did not have my phone with me so was unable to take any photo's and take details of independent witnesses.


What is the possibility of calming directly from the drivers insurance company, or should I go to one of these no win no fee company.


The attached photo shows the junction, the wagon was were the red car is the impact was just in front of the red car I was in the cycle lane.

[rastapasta]

Chops45 said:

I was knocked off my bike by a car,
I was cycling in a cycle lane as I approached some traffic lights, the lights were on red.
About 50m from the traffic lights there was some "keep clear" road markings the traffic had backed up past the markings, a medium size wagon had stopped on my right in front of the road markings.
The car travailing in the opposite direction that I hit was turning right through the gap in the traffic but not being able to see me in the cycle lane because of the wagon.
I was cycling in the cycle lane towards the lights with the wagon on my right I saw the car appear in front of me traveling from my right to my left, I braked as hard as I could trying  to avoid the collision,
I hit the car and fell onto my right I sustained a fractured jaw that my need surgery.
The bike has got a bent frame.
Unfortunately I did not have my phone with me so was unable to take any photo's and take details of independent witnesses.


What is the possibility of calming directly from the drivers insurance company, or should I go to one of these no win no fee company.

The attached photo shows the junction, the wagon was were the red car is the impact was just in front of the red car I was in the cycle lane.

First of all sorry for your accident.

Did you report it to the police?? were they present and did they make a report?? I would approach your own Solicitor and ask them, via letter to approach the insurance company in question with a First Notification of Loss (FNOL) and an estimate as to Damages (they will help you but usually includes actually medical costs, loss of business, pain and suffering, bike details, details of bike damage and a report on same, cost of replacement etc etc) together with details of the accident itself including time date injuries medical reports police reports all attached.

I know this business having been a claim handler for liability claims in a prominent Insurance Company in the past. However ambulance chaser Solicitors were not the norm in those days so people usually used their own Personal Injury solicitors to send the first notification of loss. So perhaps this is a good route to go down.

Please be aware that there are timebars within which you must advise of your claim which run from, in this case the date of accident (ie when the loss/injury first transpired). In the UK I believe this to be one year but I am open to contradiction. What you should not do is still on your right to claim in definitely. Do not put this on the long finger,

I am more than 13 years out of that business but if you need any further advice I can still perhaps help.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Please feel free to PM me if you need further.

Edited by rastapasta on Monday 15th October 15:13

[Chops45]

rastapasta said:

First of all sorry for your accident.

Did you report it to the police?? were they present and did they make a report?? I would approach your own Solicitor and ask them, via letter to approach the insurance company in question with a First Notification of Loss (FNOL) and an estimate as to Damages (they will help you but usually includes actually medical costs, loss of business, pain and suffering, bike details, details of bike damage and a report on same, cost of replacement etc etc) together with details of the accident itself including time date injuries medical reports police reports all attached.

I know this business having been a claim handler for liability claims in a prominent Insurance Company in the past. However ambulance chaser Solicitors were not the norm in those days so people usually used their own Personal Injury solicitors to send the first notification of loss. So perhaps this is a good route to go down.

Please be aware that there are timebars within which you must advise of your claim which run from, in this case the date of accident (ie when the loss/injury first transpired). In the UK I believe this to be one year but I am open to contradiction. What you should not do is still on your right to claim in definitely. Do not put this on the long finger,

I am more than 13 years out of that business but if you need any further advice I can still perhaps help.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Please feel free to PM me if you need further.

Edited by rastapasta on Monday 15th October 15:13

Thanks for your sound advice, yes I have reported the accident to the police I will wait till I have gathered my thoughts.

[Paul Drawmer]

I think that if there is an RTC involving personal injury, a driver has a legal requirement to report it to the police?

So the collision should have been reported anyway; if it hasn't then you are in a stronger position just so long as you have some evidence.

[Sa Calobra]

Do you have a witness?

Did you slow when approaching the junction? If I'm ever in that situation I slow right down (over or undertaking) simply for this reason.

[smifffymoto]

I think you might struggle with a claim if you fill it out like you have written your account.Twice you admit you hit the car,which also sounds like the car was stationary when the collision happened.
Wording really matters when making a claim.

[cheesewotsit]

smifffymoto said:

I think you might struggle with a claim if you fill it out like you have written your account.Twice you admit you hit the car,which also sounds like the car was stationary when the collision happened.
Wording really matters when making a claim.

And if the driver couldn't see you, could you see the driver? If I read your statement as it is, I'd end up at a 50/50.

[FredClogs]

Hope you make a speedy recovery. I don't know about the chances of making a claim but it sounds like an accident to me. Poor visibility and road layout no doubt a factor but I suspect the driver was as shaken as you by the experience, although no doubt they'll recover physically quicker.

Filtering through stationary or slow moving traffic on the left is a very dangerous thing to do.