Personal Injury Claim

UnhappyJim

I have recently recieved a letter from a personal injury specialist informing me that their client wishes to pursue a claim against me.
The letter states that I knocked a cyclist over in a cycle lane & tried to flee the scene of the incident, however a third party prevented my 'escape'.
In actual fact the cyclist spead up the inside of my vehicle (in a blind spot) whilst I was making a left turn (there was no cycle lane)& to avoid collision fell off his bike. I did stop & provided details & immediately after reported to nearest police station.
I have just spent 5 months defending myself to the police, who eventually dropped proceedings due to the cyclists two 'independent' witnesses actually being husband & wife in collusion, inaccurate description of events (proven by 'detailed' sketches of road layout convieniently missing two lanes), statements being more subjective than factual & the cyclist admitting there was actually no collision, but he fell off to avoid a 'near death' incident!
I feel I am being targeted as an insured motorist (no win:no fee) & I am sick to think my insurance company will roll over & my premiums will go through the roof when I am 100% sure I am not at fault...
What now?

Quentin

If you haven't done so, inform your insurer about the incident.

Then just pass the correspondence on (unanswered) to your insurer to deal with, along with any more you get.

Strider590

Was it anything like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaVHUrSvx-o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q34_pSHrDbU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyej_uGviYY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYB-UY1cHG0


Perhaps the guys been cut up so many times that he decided to get his own back?
Unfortunately the minority tar us all with the same brush.

skiddlydiddly

Some of those cycle lanes seem to just put the cyclist in more danger.That 3rd clip, where the astra van turns left and drives over the pavement is a good example.Not many people check their inside mirror before turning left.That's something that's not going to change really so the only alternative would be to make the cycle lane a give way on junctions such as that.Not ideal, but safer IMO.

Strider590

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Some of those cycle lanes seem to just put the cyclist in more danger.That 3rd clip, where the astra van turns left and drives over the pavement is a good example.Not many people check their inside mirror before turning left.

I agree, but I could also argue that if it were a bus lane, would they check? They'd be stupid not to :rotfl:

Its all about the BIG theory, the smaller you are the less valuable your life is

skiddlydiddly

Yeah, good point about the bus but as it would actually do more harm to them than they to the bus they would probably more likely to check.
I live in a largish town and there isn't really that many cyclists about but I still see some complete loons in cars with no respect for their safety.A favourite seems to be when there is a little pedestrian refuge island in the middle of the road and cars "must" overtake the cyclist before it even when it means totally cutting them up in the process.

Strider590

It's a war zone out there and disgruntled cyclists are taking no prisoners.

cyclonebri1

Strider590 wrote: »

It's a war zone out there and disgruntled cyclists are taking no prisoners.

Which is what makes them fair game :money: