Serious accident after hitting pothole
Discussion
My wife hit a serious pothole whilst out on a ride earlier today. Looking at the absolute mess of the road it’s been neglected for years.
She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.
She’s currently being seen in A&E. She is in an absolute state, with deep lacerations all over her face, she looks like she’s gone ten rounds with Tyson.
I’m absolutely fuming. Had the roads been busier or the traffic that was behind her not alert, it’s not remotely exaggerating to say she could have been killed today.
Obviously the most important thing is that she’s ok, but I of course want to discuss what’s happened with the local authority. Who would I even ask to talk to about this? Should I be seeking legal advice?
Aside from the injuries and trauma that she’s sustained (I fully expect that she’ll never want to see a bicycle again after this) she also has broken glasses, a damaged bike and a smashed Apple Watch to show for it.
Absolutely fuming, and totally heartbroken for her after finding something she was loving doing.
Look at the absolute state of this road and depth of the pothole
She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.
She’s currently being seen in A&E. She is in an absolute state, with deep lacerations all over her face, she looks like she’s gone ten rounds with Tyson.
I’m absolutely fuming. Had the roads been busier or the traffic that was behind her not alert, it’s not remotely exaggerating to say she could have been killed today.
Obviously the most important thing is that she’s ok, but I of course want to discuss what’s happened with the local authority. Who would I even ask to talk to about this? Should I be seeking legal advice?
Aside from the injuries and trauma that she’s sustained (I fully expect that she’ll never want to see a bicycle again after this) she also has broken glasses, a damaged bike and a smashed Apple Watch to show for it.
Absolutely fuming, and totally heartbroken for her after finding something she was loving doing.
Look at the absolute state of this road and depth of the pothole
Edited by OriginalFDM on Monday 25th May 13:20
Sorry about this. Hope your wife is bearing up OK.
It’s usually the county council or equivalent who is responsible for maintenance - larger roads are Highways Agency but I assume it’s not one of those.
The bottom line is - they are not responsible if they have maintained the road to the correct standard.
That means
- they inspected the road at the required intervals (these depend on the classification of the road), and
- any defects were categorised and repaired within the correct period of time
Basically a small pothole on a rural road could be put down as repair within 14 working days; a major subsidence on an A road would be emergency/24hr
So the usual procedure is
- report the pothole, with photos etc so that they can get the ball rolling to repair it
- ask the council for the road maintenance records for the road in question (you’ll probably need to put in a FOI)
- determine whether the road was inspected in the right timescale for the type of road
- check whether the pothole she hit was already reported and assessed
- check whether they repaired it within the right amount of time
It can take months and months unfortunately, and that’s without COVID.
It’s usually the county council or equivalent who is responsible for maintenance - larger roads are Highways Agency but I assume it’s not one of those.
The bottom line is - they are not responsible if they have maintained the road to the correct standard.
That means
- they inspected the road at the required intervals (these depend on the classification of the road), and
- any defects were categorised and repaired within the correct period of time
Basically a small pothole on a rural road could be put down as repair within 14 working days; a major subsidence on an A road would be emergency/24hr
So the usual procedure is
- report the pothole, with photos etc so that they can get the ball rolling to repair it
- ask the council for the road maintenance records for the road in question (you’ll probably need to put in a FOI)
- determine whether the road was inspected in the right timescale for the type of road
- check whether the pothole she hit was already reported and assessed
- check whether they repaired it within the right amount of time
It can take months and months unfortunately, and that’s without COVID.
Thanks guys for the input. Took plenty of photos at the scene of the state of the road and the injuries sustained, damaged caused.
Have messaged the council on twitter and asked for the contact details of someone to speak to just to get the ball rolling on at least getting the bloody road repaired.
Looking at the state of it it’s hard to conceive how this could have been maintained to an acceptable standard.
Have messaged the council on twitter and asked for the contact details of someone to speak to just to get the ball rolling on at least getting the bloody road repaired.
Looking at the state of it it’s hard to conceive how this could have been maintained to an acceptable standard.
It's unfortunate what has happened to your wife. But what would you consider an acceptable outcome?
Repaired pothole?
Compensation?
Something else?
I'm not trying to be confrontational but practically every road in my local area looks like that and worse. I'm personally fed up of my suspension bushes and drop links taking a beating, but road repairs seem to be such a low priority right now that I'm not sure it's worth any effort. I'm sure dealing with your council will be like banging your head against a brick wall.
A bump like that should be easily negotiated on a bike. Maybe she just needs a bit more training to get her skills up.
Repaired pothole?
Compensation?
Something else?
I'm not trying to be confrontational but practically every road in my local area looks like that and worse. I'm personally fed up of my suspension bushes and drop links taking a beating, but road repairs seem to be such a low priority right now that I'm not sure it's worth any effort. I'm sure dealing with your council will be like banging your head against a brick wall.
A bump like that should be easily negotiated on a bike. Maybe she just needs a bit more training to get her skills up.
witko999 said:
It's unfortunate what has happened to your wife. But what would you consider an acceptable outcome?
Repaired pothole?
Compensation?
Something else?
I'm not trying to be confrontational but practically every road in my local area looks like that and worse. I'm personally fed up of my suspension bushes and drop links taking a beating, but road repairs seem to be such a low priority right now that I'm not sure it's worth any effort. I'm sure dealing with your council will be like banging your head against a brick wall.
A bump like that should be easily negotiated on a bike. Maybe she just needs a bit more training to get her skills up.
I would consider an acceptable outcome the repair of a dangerously neglected patch of road and a discussion around making right the financial losses we’ve suffered as a result, as a starter for ten. Repaired pothole?
Compensation?
Something else?
I'm not trying to be confrontational but practically every road in my local area looks like that and worse. I'm personally fed up of my suspension bushes and drop links taking a beating, but road repairs seem to be such a low priority right now that I'm not sure it's worth any effort. I'm sure dealing with your council will be like banging your head against a brick wall.
A bump like that should be easily negotiated on a bike. Maybe she just needs a bit more training to get her skills up.
I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.
I get where you’re coming from, and I hate the compensation culture mindset of trivial things like ‘my coffee’s hot’, but the sole cause of the accident was the state of the road.
It could well leave my wife with permanent facial scarring, and we’ve had c. £1200 of equipment damaged to boot, so am I meant to just accept that it’s no big deal?
OriginalFDM said:
I would consider an acceptable outcome the repair of a dangerously neglected patch of road and a discussion around making right the financial losses we’ve suffered as a result, as a starter for ten.
I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.
I get where you’re coming from, and I hate the compensation culture mindset of trivial things like ‘my coffee’s hot’, but the sole cause of the accident was the state of the road.
It could well leave my wife with permanent facial scarring, and we’ve had c. £1200 of equipment damaged to boot, so am I meant to just accept that it’s no big deal?
I'm not a big fan of compensation culture but in this case it seems completely justified to claim back any costs you have been subjected to. I'd make sure of the medical situation as well first as there may be costs to come there.I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.
I get where you’re coming from, and I hate the compensation culture mindset of trivial things like ‘my coffee’s hot’, but the sole cause of the accident was the state of the road.
It could well leave my wife with permanent facial scarring, and we’ve had c. £1200 of equipment damaged to boot, so am I meant to just accept that it’s no big deal?
Wishing your wife all the best - sounds horrible.
Believe you me i hate the state of some of our roads compared to some of the lovely silky smooth roads ive ridden in France etc. The problem is that the budgets just aren't there. Local government / highway maintenance has taken a kicking and no doubt it'll only get worse. I feel some sympathy for those balancing the budget books - there isn't enough money and we'd all love fantastic services but on the whole don't want to pay extra for it.
On the legal thing though perhaps just read through your posts when things calm down and she is back home and safe:
'She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.'
'I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.'
I honestly wish her all the best and am similarly claims adverse but horrible things like this start making you consider it.
Believe you me i hate the state of some of our roads compared to some of the lovely silky smooth roads ive ridden in France etc. The problem is that the budgets just aren't there. Local government / highway maintenance has taken a kicking and no doubt it'll only get worse. I feel some sympathy for those balancing the budget books - there isn't enough money and we'd all love fantastic services but on the whole don't want to pay extra for it.
On the legal thing though perhaps just read through your posts when things calm down and she is back home and safe:
'She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.'
'I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.'
I honestly wish her all the best and am similarly claims adverse but horrible things like this start making you consider it.
Pot Odds said:
Wishing your wife all the best - sounds horrible.
Believe you me i hate the state of some of our roads compared to some of the lovely silky smooth roads ive ridden in France etc. The problem is that the budgets just aren't there. Local government / highway maintenance has taken a kicking and no doubt it'll only get worse. I feel some sympathy for those balancing the budget books - there isn't enough money and we'd all love fantastic services but on the whole don't want to pay extra for it.
On the legal thing though perhaps just read through your posts when things calm down and she is back home and safe:
'She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.'
'I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.'
I honestly wish her all the best and am similarly claims adverse but horrible things like this start making you consider it.
All fair points. But someone’s going to get very seriously hurt there if it’s not sorted, and given some of the absolute nonsense our council have wasted money on in recent years it’s damn poor that it’s in the state it’s in.Believe you me i hate the state of some of our roads compared to some of the lovely silky smooth roads ive ridden in France etc. The problem is that the budgets just aren't there. Local government / highway maintenance has taken a kicking and no doubt it'll only get worse. I feel some sympathy for those balancing the budget books - there isn't enough money and we'd all love fantastic services but on the whole don't want to pay extra for it.
On the legal thing though perhaps just read through your posts when things calm down and she is back home and safe:
'She is a relative beginner cyclist who was just getting into it, and her confidence was growing by the day.'
'I should have added that this is a steep hill (we were travelling down it). High speed and badly neglected road. She was travelling behind me and I was travelling behind a car so had the added difficulty of assessing the road with traffic in front.'
I honestly wish her all the best and am similarly claims adverse but horrible things like this start making you consider it.
She was well used to travelling up and down hills where the roads were in better condition. She’s been down much faster and busier roads in recent days/weeks without any issues whatsoever.
PrinceRupert said:
Why was a beginner cyclist bombing down a poorly surfaced steep hill so close behind a car so you couldn't see the road surface?
‘Bombing it’ is a bit of an overstatement. She’d have been riding her brake a little no doubt. The state of the road wasn’t apparent until we got to it, the road was in good condition on the approach to the descent and with traffic in front it’s just not always possible to examine every inch of the road surface before corrective action is necessary. She had traffic to her rear so was probably also concerned about going out too wide into the road not knowing whether the traffic would be trying to pass
Hope she recovers.
Do you have any pictures of the actual road. All I can see is the very side of the road, with damage to the left of the Yellow Lines.
The part I would never ride over.
As said, travelling at speed ,downhill, inexperienced and what sounds like keeping up with a car.
Shes behind you, so you didn't see what happened.
It's really s
t.
But it doesn't sound great for a claim to go your way going on the facts in your post and your photos.
The council will have big legal guns.
Appreciate your furious at the moment, and yes she could have been killed. Fortunately she wasn't.
Do you have any pictures of the actual road. All I can see is the very side of the road, with damage to the left of the Yellow Lines.
The part I would never ride over.
As said, travelling at speed ,downhill, inexperienced and what sounds like keeping up with a car.
Shes behind you, so you didn't see what happened.
It's really s
t. But it doesn't sound great for a claim to go your way going on the facts in your post and your photos.
The council will have big legal guns.
Appreciate your furious at the moment, and yes she could have been killed. Fortunately she wasn't.
mickyh7 said:
Hope she recovers.
Do you have any pictures of the actual road. All I can see is the very side of the road, with damage to the left of the Yellow Lines.
The part I would never ride over.
As said, travelling at speed ,downhill, inexperienced and what sounds like keeping up with a car.
Shes behind you, so you didn't see what happened.
It's really st.
But it doesn't sound great for a claim to go your way going on the facts in your post and your photos.
The council will have big legal guns.
Appreciate your furious at the moment, and yes she could have been killed. Fortunately she wasn't.
Yeah get all that. Perhaps I’ll feel differently when the dust settles. I’m just livid at the state of the road and so upset for her that she had finally found something she was absolute loving, a bit of positivity in an otherwise sDo you have any pictures of the actual road. All I can see is the very side of the road, with damage to the left of the Yellow Lines.
The part I would never ride over.
As said, travelling at speed ,downhill, inexperienced and what sounds like keeping up with a car.
Shes behind you, so you didn't see what happened.
It's really s
t. But it doesn't sound great for a claim to go your way going on the facts in your post and your photos.
The council will have big legal guns.
Appreciate your furious at the moment, and yes she could have been killed. Fortunately she wasn't.
t time and now she’ll probably never want to see a bike again let alone get out on one. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff