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Cycled into a Car for the First Time!
It happend last night, he pulled out of a side road, didn't see me and in a flash hit the front side at about 17mph and flew over the car landing on the other side in a lot of pain, fortunately it turned out to be lacerations and soft tissue injury. It is a wierd experience lying on the tarmac with folk looking down on you waiting for an ambulance. Talk about a little knowledge being dangerous, a guy with limited first aid training decided to put me in the recovery position when I had at the time a suspected fractured pelvis, o' the agony. In the end had quite an entourage with police, fire and ambulance surrounding me!
Scapula is painful which I think took the brunt of the impact on the ground. The right vastus medialus (teardrop above knee) and glutial muscles are helish sore making walking and especially stairs difficult - I think these took the impact on the car (at 15 stone would have made a dent!).
So what do I do next? I would hope that I could be cycling in a couple of weeks but my front wheel is ruined and having a carbon frame you have to worry about its road worthyness. LBS said that they can do a visual but there are specialist companies who carry out a more indepth assessment. Also I have a fantastic back pack from Edinburgh Cycles and the bloody fire service cut it off so I now need another.
Iooked into how to get the equipment replaced and did one of those 'chat' discussions with Bott & Co who claim to be cycling specialists. They said that I need to get the police reference number to start the process, which I will attempt to get tonight. Will get my bike dropped off to LBS on saturday.
So any advice on the following would be most appreciated;
1. Anyone who has gone through a similar experience?
2. Has anyone used a solicitor for a claim - any recommendations? Are Bott ok? In Scotland so should I use a Scottish based company? Do I need one?
3. Any recommedations on a replacement back pack? My old one had three fantastic features - there was an air gap between the frame on the back and the bag to limit overheating; a zip allowed the space in the bag to be increased and another zip revealed a waterproof yellow cover to protect from rain.
4. If I need a new bike, any recommedations? Requirements would be Shimano 105 group set, hydraulic disk brakes and carbon frame - do about 80 miles a week on road. Would need to fit someone 6'5".
I will try and keep you updated on the issues above. Cheers..... 
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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14 comments
Hi Lalentos
not sure if a Camera would help, but I have been using a garmin Virb since then. I've been happy with the footage so far, might look at a fly6 too!
Most BC membership packages come with insurance and free legal assistance. If you're like me and spend a chunk of money on cycling parts etc the 10% discount at CRC pays for the membership over a year.
One additional point on racks...
They are attached with 4 Allen bolts. It takes roughly one minute to de-mount or remount so if you don't want the extra weight of a weekend, its a quick fix.
Setting one up the first time takes a bit longer, but once that's done, they're easy to take on and off.
Thanks for the advice. Went to work today, felt groggy but it I'd have stayed off sick would have lounged about and stiffened up and as it's an office no big deal
Took the bike to LBS this lunch time....the frame appeared fine but the manager took a close look and picked out numerous locations where the lacquer had flaked away at high stress points and one where a slight split was evident. After an initial inspection he was mindful to condem the frame. For an appreciation of the impact, the front wheel rim had snapped in half.
Thanks for the info re Digby Brown Jack, I phoned them this aft and they confirmed the BS link. Should get a call next week from a solicitor. Madcarew, I haven't committed to DB yet and will speak to my home insurance tomorrow and see what advice they give. Lbdn123, yep as soon as I read Jacks post DB seemed to tick the boxes. My gut feeling is that the solicitors will be more attuned to getting me an equal/new bike (Giant frame and sram rival group set) but am happy to be proved wrong.
I used to ride an old steel 26" straight handle bars with panniers much more comfy than the backpack. But I was forever overtaken by road bikes. I take your point Jack and Watlena, panniers on a good road bike needs consideration. Gunswick I was looking into doing some 3 day credit card touring using a saddle bag and think that you've suggested a sound alternative, like you I like to do a 40+ mph at weekend ideally unhindered.
Unconstituted and Yorkshire Wallet, thanks for the thoughts. Brokenbootneck sorry to here of your unsuccessful claim - do you think a gopro like device would have helped?
Ktache, I hear you but you know he can't have been more than a few metres away when he turned from a side road onto my path with me having right of way. I whacked into his Prius as speed and shot over the bonnet. I was so lucky as if he'd gone a moment later he'd have gone into me and fortunate to have escaped with broken legs. I have the risk of PTS syndrome if I give it too much thought! I was clipped in using SL cleats. One came away with ease but the other had snapped in two as me and the bike flew thru the air!
Don't want to go on the road again without some insurance. Any thoughts re CTC/BC membership? Any other recommendations?
Cheers.....
dude, really sorry to hear this. The missus got hospitalised last year and hardly commutes on two wheels anymore. Am sure your confidence will be back though - cycling's just too much fun.
Best of luck.
Speak to your insurance company (this is almost always covered under your home and contents insurance) and they will then speak to his insurance company. Pretty simple. Everything you lost or got broken should be replaced like for like or cash value. I have been in this situation a few times (only once in England though) and that is how it has always settled.
This is good advice actually, as it is simple and low cost. A compensation claim could be handled separately potentially by a solicitor.
No advice to give but get well soon. Hopefully any injuries you have won't impact your cycling once they've started to heal.
In my experience, and this was back when lagal aid was available ('92), personnel injury claims complicate matters and replacing parts would be quicker.
I wouldn't be saying I cycled into the car, myself.
If it happened it Scotland it would need to be Scottish Solicitors as it would fall under Scottish Juristiction.
No experience here (crashed because of a driver pulling out yes, but didn't take it further), but I do hope you're successful in your claim. Good luck!
i had a driver turn accross me, whilst I was in a cycle lane. Killed my bike I was ok ish. Went through British cyclings insurance. Even though they had admitted to me it was there fault, the insurance company said as it was 50/50 (god knows how) and as I didn't have any independent witnesses, that they wouldn't pursue it.
I hope you have a speedy recovery and have better luck than I.
1. I haven't luckily * touch wood *
2. Use a Scottish firm, Scot's law is different to English law and it is important to get it right first time. If that firm seem decent on talking to them, seem to have a decent sized office in the city centre and seem legit I don't see an issue with them. Confirm their qualifications and registration are correct and in order though. It's similar to accountants etc, there are varied skills, but as long as the firm are of a reasonable size and age they should do a good enough job.
3. use a touring bag instead, I used to use a rack/panier but this year swapped to an Apidura saddle pack for daily commuting, it is excellent and means I can use my fun bike during the commute and at the weekend just use a small saddle bag instead.
4. GT Grade Carbon 105
Good luck with the case and your recovery, take your time and don't come back too soon before you are ready.
Just to echo Jack's comments about racks
If you end up with a new bike, get one that can take a rack. I commute about the same amount as yourself and started off with a backpack but after going to a rack and clip-on bag would never go back.
I went with a Topeak Super Tourist DX rack and MTX TrunkBag DXP. I can fit loads of stuff in. I manage to fold a shirt and trousers for work but also with the weather turning colder I can ride into work in bib-longs and a jacket and also have a set of bib-shorts and short sleeved top for when it's warmed up a bit on the way home. I don't use the drop down side panniers every day but they work very well when needed.
1 & 2
British Cycling use Digby Brown in Scotland.
I had a solicitor pull out in front of me earlier in the year. I was lucky enough to haul enough brake and turn with him to only hit at walking pace. We exchanged details and because the damage to me was minimal I gave him the opportunity to settle the bike repair costs amicably. Which we did.
3 & 4... Get a CX bike with rack mounts and panniers.
Best of luck for a full and speedy recovery.