Knocked off my bicycle

Wenlock

Hi

Earlier this week I was riding my bike home from work. I was about to take the 2nd exit off a roundabout when a car coming from the 1st exit ploughed into me from my left hand side. I was briefly on his bonnet before being launched across 2 lanes of traffic. Other drivers stopped and helped me out of the road. The Police were called but the offending driver left the scene before they arrived. Witnesses memorised part of the registration and believe they know where he works.

My injuries are not severe, thanks to a high quality helmet that is now dented. My bike was badly damaged.

I have an expensive bike that is insured; unfortunately the older bike I was riding is not insured. If the driver had stopped and given his details I would presumably be able to claim the cost of a new hemet and bike from him or his insurers?

The Policeman who took statements said they might prosecute for failing to stop at the scene etc. Assuming they have traced him; does anyone know whether I would be informed of his details so that I could seek the cost of replacing my damaged equipment?

Thanks

Yorkie1

If the police have traced the person and you request their information for the purposes of legal proceedings, they are obliged to give them to you (although you might find they would like to withhold them until the conclusion of any criminal proceedings). It's one of the exceptions in the Data Protection Act.

Must have been a nasty incident.

dacouch

You can find his Insurers here https://www.askmid.com for a fee.

If he cannot be traced, you can claim injuries only from the MIB http://www.mib.org.uk/Customer+Services/en/Accidents+in+the+UK/Untraced+Drivers+Agreement/Untraced+Driver+FAQs.htm

If he can be traced and is uninsured, you can claim for property damage and injuries from the MIB

Wenlock

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. At present I don't have the full registration number to enable me to check the insurance details. I will have to wait to hear back from the Police.

I suppose incidents like this happen many times a day but for me it was a shocking and traumatic event. I am not sure whether I actually want to cycle again. I only started cycling because my car was taken out by a large deer that jumped through a hedge and landed on my bonnet! I may have to start walking the 11 miles to work!:)

Sgt_Pepper_2

Yorkie1 wrote: »

If the police have traced the person and you request their information for the purposes of legal proceedings, they are obliged to give them to you (although you might find they would like to withhold them until the conclusion of any criminal proceedings). It's one of the exceptions in the Data Protection Act.

Must have been a nasty incident.

If the police have traced him, you can request details. They should provide you with them when they get them to comply with the road traffic act.

There is no reason why you can't have them even if there are criminal proceedings and the data protection act does not come into it.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Wenlock wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. At present I don't have the full registration number to enable me to check the insurance details. I will have to wait to hear back from the Police.

I suppose incidents like this happen many times a day but for me it was a shocking and traumatic event. I am not sure whether I actually want to cycle again. I only started cycling because my car was taken out by a large deer that jumped through a hedge and landed on my bonnet! I may have to start walking the 11 miles to work!:)

Don't pay askmid the police will give you the details for free.

forgotmyname

I had someone bump my car and drive off, Luckily someone spotted him and got his number.

I reported it and heard nothing for ages, Then some months later i got a letter saying they had prosecuted him, 6 points and a fine. Gave me his details and insurance company information..

It was only a small scrape on an older car. If he had left his details £20 would have sorted it.

Wenlock

To update this; I have been told by the Police that it will be at least several weeks before they write to the witnesses for full statements and only then will they consider attempting to trace the driver involved. They quoted DPA when I asked what information they currently held.

By chance I spotted the offending vehicle today and followed it back to the address that the witness suggested. So I have the entire registration and intend to check if it is insured.:)

There is a (very) slim possibility that the Police will follow this up and prosecute. Does anyone see any problem with me writing to the insurers to notify them of a potential claim? Any better ideas?

Quentin

Just go ahead and put in your claim to the insurer and take it from their reply. It will cost £4 to find out who the insurer is (though free to first find out if the car is insured at askmid)

If you want to claim compensation for your injuries then consider instructing a specialist PI firm.

somethingcorporate

Quentin wrote: »

Just go ahead and put in your claim to the insurer and take it from their reply. It will cost £4 to find out who the insurer is (though free to first find out if the car is insured at askmid)

Of you want to claim compensation for your injuries then consider instructing a specialist PI firm.

Bolded the important part here.

Something similar happened to me when I was 16 (12 years ago), knocked off by a stupid driver, over bonnet, landed on helmet etc etc.

The issue was picked up by the legal guys appointed from our home insurance cover and I was awarded something like £2k for the injuries and my expenses (new bike, helmet, travel to work etc).

It'll be worth doing, plus hopefully the police will prosecute for failing to stop.

Alternatively, a bit of vigilante revenge now you know where they live may not go amiss (joking, I am !!).

dalesrider

Wenlock wrote: »

By chance I spotted the offending vehicle today and followed it back to the address that the witness suggested. So I have the entire registration and intend to check if it is insured.:)

There is a (very) slim possibility that the Police will follow this up and prosecute. Does anyone see any problem with me writing to the insurers to notify them of a potential claim? Any better ideas?

I take it that you have informed the police of these new details.

Might just make them sit up and take some action. If they don't then I would raise a complaint againt the police for failing to act on information provided after a hit and run.