Anyone been knocked down before?

Neal_B

Anyone been knocked down before? What did you do?
Take legal action or just ask for your bike to be fixed and doc bills etc?
I was hit this morning and I'm still a bit shook up. Just looking for some opinions
Thanks

Caroline_ie

A cab knocked me down a few months back, totally his fault and admitted it. he took me to the gardai and gave me enough cash to cover the damages on the bike. Sound man, very honest. I was lucky.

cosmic

I got hit about a year ago by an idiot taking a right turn. Have a permanently rickety hip and dodgy ankle now as a result.

Go to the Gardai and report it.

I hope you're ok! Bear in mind though, you could encounter injuries or porblems later down the line.

Neal_B

Is there a time limit regarding the reporting of incidents?
I just don't feel like headin up to the garda station at the moment

bcmf

Many moons ago a van swung open his door straight into me on the old North Road at Finglas. Arse over tit and ended up in the middle of the road.Badly shaken up and a mashed front wheel. The only reason why I didnt sue the hole of him was that his missus was 9.5mnths pregnant and looked like she was about to into labour with the shock. Needless to say a cash settlement was agreed.

bcmf

Neal_B wrote: »

Is there a time limit regarding the reporting of incidents?
I just don't feel like headin up to the garda station at the moment

I know its the last thing you wanna do but get yourself down to the Garda asap.get it on file.

Beasty

Were you injured (presumably so if you anticipate doctors bills)? If so, the accident should be reported to the Gardai if you have not already done so.

If the driver was at fault, their insurance should cover any claim you have. Do you have the driver's details?

I appreciate you are shaken up, and hope everything is OK, but you need to try and get as much down in writing about the accident as you can, while it is still fresh in your memory. Once you have had a bit of time to reflect on exactly what did happen, and where any fault lay, you will be able to think more about whether to take this further.

It may be that you did not suffer any physical injury, but it's worth checking it out at the doctors anyway. Sometimes there can be a delay in the symptoms of injury.

As Caroline indicated, if you are uninjured, but just have some repair costs to cover, it may be possible to avoid getting into any dispute (which can be time-consuming, and potentially stressful) if the driver is happy to simply pay you for the damage

DOC09UNAM

bcmf wrote: »

I know its the last thing you wanna do but get yourself down to the Garda asap.get it on file.

if you don't go to the station immediately, make sure to write everything down in case you forget anything about it...

Gillo

I got knocked down years ago by a bike, broke my leg and got two months off school. It was two weeks before my fifth birthday I cleaned up on presents!

Caroline_ie

Go to the garda, you will feel better afterwards.
You will be sore this weekend though ... take it easy.

Beasty

Gillo wrote: »

I got knocked down years ago by a bike, broke my leg and got two months off school. It was two weeks before my fifth birthday I cleaned up on presents!

Funny that, but exactly the same happened to me, but I was already 5 at the time, and it happened the day we broke up from school, so the first week of "injury" was wasted - still got 6 weeks off in total. The GOB (girl on bike) in question was rather large, and managed to break my leg in 3 places (accident was entirely my own fault though - I wasn't looking where I was going - she didn't sue me though:))

Gillo

Strange that, it was also my fault I ran out between two parked cars, I was going to my house to pick up action men for a friend. I hadn't wanted to go but eventually gave in, I always wondered if I'd gone at first when my friends asked or just stayed and put my foot down.
Broke my leg in two places and had to have three operations in the end.

Neal_B

Cheers guys, I think 'll venture down to the gardai today just to be sure.
And Gillo, I'm 22 in a couple of weeks but I somehow feel ppl will be less sypathetic at this stage!

bcmf

Neal_B wrote: »

And Gillo, I'm 22 in a couple of weeks!

So you are only 21. Why are you whinging. Get back on your bike and stop whinging. I remember when I was 21.........ahhhhh the good old days. No punctures.We used to ride on solid tyres.

Neal_B

Nice bit of perspective there!! Ha!

blorg

I have been knocked down more than once.

Only took it to court once, broken elbow, driver 110% at fault and he was being a wanker about it. If there are only superficial injuries I would only be looking for bike to be fixed and doctor's bills, if applicable. But get it all written down now and report it in case there are complications you don't yet realise.

Legally you have two years to bring a case although the sooner the better if you think you are going to need to.

Maybe post more details of exactly what happened.

Caroline_ie

blorg wrote: »

I have been knocked down more than once.

But Blorg has also knocked cars down a few times too.

Neal_B

Basically I was on a roundabout(in the cycle lane) and the car pulled out in front of me, so I smacked into the side of it. I've just been to the garda station, the driver was in there about an hour before me reporting the incident, which makes me feel better. The driver's been real sound about the whole thing and I feel alright now.
Cheers for all the replies folks

cosmic

Neal_B wrote: »

I've just been to the garda station, the driver was in there about an hour before me reporting the incident, which makes me feel better. The driver's been real sound about the whole thing and I feel alright now.
Cheers for all the replies folks

I'm glad it's working out for you. Take it easy for the next few days though because you will be sore. Maybe go for a long hot bath later, it should ease the oncoming pain.

Beasty

Neal_B wrote: »

Basically I was on a roundabout(in the cycle lane) and the car pulled out in front of me, so I smacked into the side of it. I've just been to the garda station, the driver was in there about an hour before me reporting the incident, which makes me feel better. The driver's been real sound about the whole thing and I feel alright now.
Cheers for all the replies folks

Has the driver admitted responsibility? If so, you should be in a position to recover any costs (and seek compensation for any injury)

The driver may also be stressed by the incident, and may (hopefully not) alter their position when they have had time for reflection.

trad

Nip down to where it happened and take a few photos of the scene. If it goes down the legal route it can take years and roads / road markings can change in the interim.

blorg

Neal_B wrote: »

Basically I was on a roundabout(in the cycle lane) and the car pulled out in front of me, so I smacked into the side of it. I've just been to the garda station, the driver was in there about an hour before me reporting the incident, which makes me feel better. The driver's been real sound about the whole thing and I feel alright now.
Cheers for all the replies folks

What are your injuries? Personally if the injuries are trivial and the driver is being good about it I would just look for my basic costs (which he will probably be happy to pay out of pocket.)

BostonB

I didn't do anything about mine, but I wish I had in hindsight. When it happens you are shock, but at least register it with the cops, and if any injuries get them checked and on file. I was fine for a couple of day, just battered. But whiplash set in for a few weeks afterwards, and I've a few aches and pains now a year later that I didn't used to have. Still have the scars from the cuts! In hindsight me doing nothing meant the driver learnt nothing by his mistake. I could easily have been killed. Cost me the price of a new helmet and visit hospital to get checked out. I was also of the bike for a month or more.

cdaly_

Also take note of weather / road conditions at the time. Wet/dry road (grip, spray), raining/not (for visibilness), visibility (misty or not), wind (blown off course), temperature (cold, frost etc), sunshine (for glare). These are things that would be used to support a case (where you should have been seen)...

BostonB

Check out the local shops for CCTV pointing at the accident too. They might wipe them after 48 hrs or a week.

bobtjustice

When I lived in town a few years ago. Got smacked in the back of the head by a bus wing mirror outside the Olympia. He was flying and way to close to me. Wrong time to stand up on the bike I suppose.

Went into the back of a taxi in Smithfield too, he didn't like the fact that i was able to keep with him (or close behind him) traffic calming and all that....so he stood on the breaks. Kinda my fault maybe as i was cycling way to close to him, made sh**te of my front fork though.

Tawny

Any advice for a hit and run?

Got knocked down a few weeks ago, made a statement to the Gards but they don't seem to think it will amount to anything. I didnt see the car, witnesses have given the first couple of numbers of the registration plate but also different makes of car.

I have got a bill from the hospital, which I havent paid yet, and need to go and see my own doctor next week. Need to get bike checked as well, brakes fixed etc.

Citizens Advice said to speak to a solicitor, but I havent yet as I dont know any here and am afraid that the bills will not justify it.

blorg

Well if the Gardai don't catch the driver a solicitor is not going to be much use to you, no-one to sue. That is the sort of case where if he is found I would sue for as much as you can no matter how minor the injuries; the Gardaí should also bring a criminal case as it is a hit and run.

Pay the hospital bill, the way it works anyway even if his is found is you pay your expenses and get them refunded as part of any settlement.

Make sure you document any injuries in detail, take photos and get a full doctor's report.

kincsem

Beasty wrote: »

Has the driver admitted responsibility? If so, you should be in a position to recover any costs (and seek compensation for any injury)

The driver may also be stressed by the incident, and may (hopefully not) alter their position when they have had time for reflection.

Years ago I had a motorbike accident. I was passing a line of stationary cars in traffic when one car, fed up with waiting presumably, pulled into my lane as I was going past. He visited me in hospital and admitted he was wrong. When it got to court he claimed I drove into his car. I did, but only after he put it in my way. Plenty of legal discussion, and the judge said it was 50/50. I think the driver only contested it to protect his insurance. The costs were small.

JJ

When I get knocked down, I get up again. You're never going to keep me down.

mikemac

Going down a cycle lane in Baldoyle in Dublin 13 past stationary traffic. Passenger on an SUV (always the SUV's :rolleyes:) decided to hop out and door me, sent me flying over the handlebars and skidding up the road.

The driver was a true gentleman over it.
Got a new wheel, bike repair and service, two doctors visits and a taxi paid for nay bother.

But all the same I made a report to the local garda station that evening and this is what you should do OP

blorg

JJ wrote: »

When I get knocked down, I get up again. You're never going to keep me down.

Damn you now that is in my head.

biomed32

back of the ford transit van for me, he pulled in to answer a call, didnt do anything about it, bike and myself were fine, he didnt know what happened