Advise needed fairly quick!

Just binned the bike on a roundabout. I was in the correct lane, going straight ahead, car pulls in front of me from the first turning, doesn't actually go right in front of me, but far enough and quick enough to make me think he hasn't seen me/so I panic braked and binned it. I've got witnesses, the guy (v. old- seemed early 90s, couldn't understand him talking) refuses to accept liability. Apparently he stopped a foot over the line (try 3/4). So, bike is (seemingly) only superficially damaged, I didn't actually his car at all. Is it worth pursuing a claim? What I don't want to happen is for it to be seen as 50:50 and me to have to take the insurance hit.

I'm fine, slight cut on my knee, but nothing serious. No one at the scene had a phone and as the injury was minor I didn't call the police. Should I ring them now?

Glad you are well. You have my fullest sympathy. Bummer but it happens to all of us (unfortunately)

Yes

If you decide to make a claim you will need to have an incident number.

But they won't actually be interested in the details!!

And take it easy you are in shock

nasty......I'd phone the police and get a reference or summit so its been reported, then phone my insurance company and ask their advice. If you've got witnesses might be worth getting in touch with them pronto to see if they are going to stand by their initial impressions or just tell you to f off. Sounds to me that he was in the wrong if he went over the line by a considerable margin, don't see why you should have to pick up the bill as well as your bike....good luck!

Bugger, I hope you are ok and the bikes not too bad.

As far as insurance goes, if you have witnesses then it may be worth claiming as it should be much easier to prove fault with witnesses. It's another difficult one as he didn't actually hit you but it may be worth speaking to your insurance company and seeing wha they say.

Originally Posted by creamerybutter

It's another difficult one as he didn't actually hit you but it may be worth speaking to your insurance company and seeing wha they say.

It shouldn't be a difficult one as the law that refers to this describes the situation as "owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road, an accident occurs"
Obviously his ins' co' are going to try to wangle out of it, but the law is quite specific in this case.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988..._8.htm#mdiv170

[Viney]

I had a similar incident a couple of years ago. I didnt bother to pursue it

Police didn't want to know. Took 5/6 minutes to get through to them. When they said it went straight to insurance, I said that I believed you had to contact them if there were any injuries. Apparently, "We used to, but we don't even do that any more, sir."

Well, contacted insurers and they're pretty confident it's clean cut, even though he didn't accept liability.

So, in under 2 weeks; clutch goes on bike, bike goes in to garage for 5 days. Car written off whilst parked outside my house by boy racer. Bike damaged (hopefully only superficially) courtesy of a SMIDSY. It cannot be said that God is without a sense of humour

Originally Posted by Carsick

It shouldn't be a difficult one as the law that refers to this describes the situation as "owing to the presence of a motor vehicle on a road, an accident occurs"
Obviously his ins' co' are going to try to wangle out of it, but the law is quite specific in this case.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988..._8.htm#mdiv170

Ahhh well you learn something new everyday, so Kate's one may be covered too but she doesn't have witnesses.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Police didn't want to know. Took 5/6 minutes to get through to them. When they said it went straight to insurance, I said that I believed you had to contact them if there were any injuries. Apparently, "We used to, but we don't even do that any more, sir."

Well, contacted insurers and they're pretty confident it's clean cut, even though he didn't accept liability.

So, in under 2 weeks; clutch goes on bike, bike goes in to garage for 5 days. Car written off whilst parked outside my house by boy racer. Bike damaged (hopefully only superficially) courtesy of a SMIDSY. It cannot be said that God is without a sense of humour

dear god thats a run a bad luck!!

good luck with the insurance claim and hope to hear you are back on the road soon.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

No one at the scene had a phone and as the injury was minor I didn't call the police. Should I ring them now?

IMHO call the police & claim