Cyclist crashed into my car

shot2go

.

ba_barabus

I'd be informing you're insurance company.

What did the Gardai say?

Is he claiming injury or loss?

shot2go

Apologies if this is in the wrong section.

Im looking for advice on an accident.
Cyclist lost control of bike on dual carriageway - he said he got confused by the roads that he only got the bike the previous day and would cycle/drive on opposite side in his home country.
Called ambulance and guards and he seems to be ok, got 2 witness contact details who back up what happened and cyclist admitted liability at scene. My question now is who pays for damage to my car? And there is a few thousand worth of damage done - guards say as he has no insurance they are unsure. Im glad he's ok but i really can't afford to be out of pocket either or have to pay a higher insurance rate if i go through my own insurance.

amcalester

If the cyclist was at fault he should pay regardless of if has insurance.

Have you taken the car for a quote or are you guessing that it's a few €k to fix?

enricoh

I wish you luck getting paid in that situation. Better chance of him claiming off you unfortunately.

ba_barabus

enricoh wrote: »

I wish you luck getting paid in that situation. Better chance of him claiming off you unfortunately.

That's what I'd be thinking.

shot2go

Sorry my post repeated itsself several times. I reported straight away to my insurance and got a mechanic to look it over. Fair bit of damage done to bumper and door, wing mirror, light. Window.

peteb2

If he has household contents cover his public liability section will pick it up.

shot2go

Thanks pete, the guards are going to call me today. I really need my car fixed asap - its used to transport my disabled child so i really am housebound without it. Its not safe to drive it the way it is.

Homer

What was he cycling that caused enough damage to immobilise your car???

shot2go

I have no idea what type of bike it was, guards took it away. I never taught a bike could do so much damage to a car.

Voodoomelon

Thank the lord the Gardai showed up at least, you'd be up the creek otherwise.

You can only hope that their presence and knowledge of the incident will scare him into paying, otherwise you could have to take legal action and sue him.

iwillhtfu

Sorry but how did a bike manage to do 2k worth of damage to your car? Is it a Ferrari you're driving?

shot2go

We rang them ourselves and an ambulance to be safe. The 2 witnesses waited also and gave details to the guards and us. The guards were very helpful but did say they rarely come across accidents like this where the cyclist is at fault so they think a civil case is our only option. I just hope he doesnt turn around and try and claim from me even though he admitted liability when it comes down to bike vs car i dont see how we would win

Toyotafanboi

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Sorry but how did a bike manage to do 2k worth of damage to your car? Is it a Ferrari you're driving?

€2k of damage is very easily clocked up.

shot2go

Well the bumper is hanging off, light smashed. Wingmirror completely destroyed, window damaged. Door very badly damaged and trim. Second door is very badly scratched. Garage estimates more than 2 grand of damage. Have u any idea what a wingmirror alone costs ?

Isambard

the chances are high that he won't have any assets to sue for and you'll have to claim from your own Insurance. It doesn't seem fair but actually it is why you have insurance.Lets just hope you have Fully Comp otherwise you are going to have to take the hit yourself.

shot2go

I do have fully comp thankfully.

Isambard

in the case you have to weigh up how much a hit on your NCB will cost you. It may be better for you to pay the bill yourself. Maybe you have NCB protection?

Toyotafanboi

shot2go wrote: »

Well the bumper is hanging off, light smashed. Wingmirror completely destroyed, window damaged. Door very badly damaged and trim. Second door is very badly scratched. Garage estimates more than 2 grand of damage. Have u any idea what a wingmirror alone costs ?

An entire wing mirror for a modern car could easily be €500 alone before any other panel damage.

amcalester

Isambard wrote: »

in the case you have to weigh up how much a hit on your NCB will cost you. It may be better for you to pay the bill yourself. Maybe you have NCB protection?

NCB protection won't stop the premium rising at renewal time.

iwillhtfu

shot2go wrote: »

Well the bumper is hanging off, light smashed. Wingmirror completely destroyed, window damaged. Door very badly damaged and trim. Second door is very badly scratched. Garage estimates more than 2 grand of damage. Have u any idea what a wingmirror alone costs ?

What make/model car is it? In what way did he hit the car that he managed to smash the front light yet still managed to damage the rear door. Both cyclists and bikes are relatively brittle. He must have been travelling at some speed and received some serious injuries.

iwillhtfu

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

An entire wing mirror for a modern car could easily be €500 alone before any other panel damage.

Appreciate that but I find it hard to believe the damage listed was all caused by a cyclist. It must be one of those has to be seen things.

Sam Kade

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

€2k of damage is very easily clocked up.

Rarely from a cyclist though.

beechwood55

Couple of years ago we were hit by a cyclist. We were stopped at the lights at the bottom of Christchurch Hill, waiting to cross over the Liffey. The next thing we were hit from behind. He was very shaken up and the front wheel of the bike was buckled. He had been coming down the hill, head down, never even noticed the lights were red. Absolutely no point in even trying to claim damages from him. Rear lights smashed and grand big dent in the back of the car.

alchemist33

Insurance really is a bit of a con. The OP could well end up paying for this, either himself for repairs or through higher premiums in future, when he hasn't done anything wrong.

A Law

shot2go wrote: »

Thanks pete, the guards are going to call me today. I really need my car fixed asap - its used to transport my disabled child so i really am housebound without it. Its not safe to drive it the way it is.

Could you put up a picture of the damage? Must have been some smash to make it unsafe to drive.

shot2go

He was going very fast weighed down by bag of shopping and seemed to loose control. Car was due to be traded in next week so im sure the 2 dealerships i went to can vouch for condition of the car prior to the accident and also there is cctv everywhere. I have that car 2 years and there wasnt any damage done prior to this, i mind my cars and as its used to transfer my disabled child along with his wheelchair and very expensive adapted car seat i am a very careful driver because of the car being adapted i already pay crazy insurance. People can doubt the damage i say is done but i have pictures of car and bike and witnesses to back up what happened. It just seems to unfair even when you do everything by the book and accident is someone elses fault il still be the one paying for it. The cyclist is ok too and thats the main thing.

Karangue

Panel beaters generally get out the big dildo in these situations and just pick a nice big figure.

shot2go

A car missing a wing mirror is unsafe to drive

padser

beechwood55 wrote: »

Couple of years ago we were hit by a cyclist. We were stopped at the lights at the bottom of Christchurch Hill, waiting to cross over the Liffey. The next thing we were hit from behind. He was very shaken up and the front wheel of the bike was buckled. He had been coming down the hill, head down, never even noticed the lights were red. Absolutely no point in even trying to claim damages from him. Rear lights smashed and grand big dent in the back of the car.

It's all to common unfortunately.

No requirements for cyclists to have even a basic understanding of rules of the road. Situation is worsened by the complete lack of enforcement by An Gardai for fundamental breeches of rules by cyclists (e.g. red lights)

@OP, there will generally be an assumption that the car is at fault. That assumption will often be strengthened by the human sympathetic reaction to the person lying injured on the road (ie the cyclist). If you have multiple witness and am admission from him that it was his fault you are likely OK, but the chances of getting money from him are slim to none. Id take a civil case against him - but accept from the outset that you are unlikely to see money from it.

theteal

amcalester wrote: »

NCB protection won't stop the premium rising at renewal time.

sickening really when not the OP's fault

zig

theteal wrote: »

sickening really when not the OP's fault

More like sickening that we pay insurance (by law) , pay for protection of that insurance and still have to pay more for availing of the service when we need it.

jive

padser wrote: »

It's all to common unfortunately.

No requirements for cyclists to have even a basic understanding of rules of the road. Situation is worsened by the complete lack of enforcement by An Gardai for fundamental breeches of rules by cyclists (e.g. red lights)

Is it that common? My car is riddled with marks from people slapping their doors off it in car parks, that's common. Cyclists causing any significant damage to cars by breaching rules of the road must be <1% of all damage caused.

DonegalBay

shot2go wrote: »

Well the bumper is hanging off, light smashed. Wingmirror completely destroyed, window damaged. Door very badly damaged and trim. Second door is very badly scratched. Garage estimates more than 2 grand of damage. Have u any idea what a wingmirror alone costs ?

I too would be interested in the details of the accident. I find it odd that a cyclist could do damage to a few different places on a car, bumper, lights, window, two doors. They must have been going at some speed to do that much damage and thus must have incurred some serious injuries to themselves. Were you stopped at the time? What angle was the cyclist coming from? Was it from a downhill? I just cant imagine a cyclist damaging different parts of a car as you have described, usually when a cyclists hits something, they go straight down, not hit the same thing multiple times.

BarryD2

Regardless of what side of road cyclist was on, did he literally crash into your car? From description of damage, it reads like he hit the front of the car and scrapped all down one side? Were you moving at the time? Lucky if he wasn't badly injured.

BTW, cars back in the 1970s often only had a standard drivers mirror. Wing mirrors on both sides only came in recent decades. Whilst they are very useful, they are not essential to drive a car safely. Use the mirrors you have and look over your shoulder as required.

Not related, but I'm always 'amused' when I hear news headlines of cyclists colliding with lorries etc. As it's nearly always the other way around.

A Law

Could you get a wing mirror from a breakers to get you by for the time being? What car is it and where are you based?

flatty

He may have insurance. I have third party insurance up to 10 million for the bike.
I cycle a lot, and don't necessarily obey every rule of the road, but honestly, I think it's irresponsible not to have insurance as an adult if you are cycling on the roads. It's dirt cheap.

shot2go

He came off the footpath and flew into the side of the car. Il have to draw a diagram of where he came from to explain properly. he wing mirror is just hanging by wires id be worried it would fall off completly while driving. Im just going to go through my insurance and get it fixed and hope it doesnt go up much more.

rodneyTrotter.

flatty wrote: »

He may have insurance. I have third party insurance up to 10 million for the bike.
I cycle a lot, and don't necessarily obey every rule of the road, but honestly, I think it's irresponsible not to have insurance as an adult if you are cycling on the roads. It's dirt cheap.

Where did you get that insurance .? I cycle a lot and want something like this .

shot2go

joefuss1986 wrote: »

Could you get a wing mirror from a breakers to get you by for the time being? What car is it and where are you based?

Its a honda, i just rang the only approved garage in my insurances list and they will take it monday and give me w replacement thankfully

Masala

rodneyTrotter. wrote: »

Where did you get that insurance .? I cycle a lot and want something like this .

Also interested.......is it the Cycling Ireland cover??

happywithlife

Just be mindful when claiming off insurance even if you have NCB protection because you will fall into the "any claims in the last 3/5 years" category you will be severely limited when ringing round for renewal quotes as a lot of mainstream insurance companies won't quote - given you are already limited with an adapted car just be mindful you aren't putting yourself into a situation whereby you will get screwed at renewal time

shot2go

happywithlife wrote: »

Just be mindful when claiming off insurance even if you have NCB protection because you will fall into the "any claims in the last 3/5 years" category you will be severely limited when ringing round for renewal quotes as a lot of mainstream insurance companies won't quote - given you are already limited with an adapted car just be mindful you aren't putting yourself into a situation whereby you will get screwed at renewal time

Thats what im worried about.

Karangue

Why would you be using your own insurance since the cyclist admitted liability?

__..__

You wont want to hear this.
A few years ago we were stopped slow moving traffic.
A bike came flying out of a side road turning onto the main road we were on the opposite direction to us.
He lost control and kept coming to our side of the road and hit us at an incredible clip.
Huge dents and scrapes in the door and wing. Wing mirror and wiper torn clean off.
We got out and called an ambulance and they came and took him away. He had a broken collarbone and cuts and bruises.
There were loads of witnesses including a woman and a child who he missed by inches.
A few days later we were still trying decide whether we should go after him for the €1300 worth of damage to the car and a letter dropped in the letterbox.
He was suing us.
The insurance company said he was totally in the wrong but they werent going to fight it and paid up. We lost our no claims bonus, which cost a lot more than the damage.

Just be thankful he hasnt come after you instead.

shot2go

__..__ wrote: »

You wont want to hear this.
A few years ago we were stopped slow moving traffic.
A bike came flying out of a side road turning onto the main road we were on the opposite direction to us.
He lost control and kept coming to our side of the road and hit us at an incredible clip.
Huge dents and scrapes in the door and wing. Wing mirror and wiper torn clean off.
We got out and called an ambulance and they came and took him away. He had a broken collarbone and cuts and bruises.
There were loads of witnesses including a woman and a child who he missed by inches.
A few days later we were still trying decide whether we should go after him for the €1300 worth of damage to the car and a letter dropped in the letterbox.
He was suing us.
The insurance company said he was totally in the wrong but they werent going to fight it and paid up. We lost our no claims bonus, which cost a lot more than the damage.

Just be thankful he hasnt come after you instead.

It only happened yesterday and his facebook page is public and he is talking about insurance on it so he may be planning on doing that.

Cocobongo

Upsets me to bits... and then cyclicts are wondering why are they so dislikes on the roads (not all are bad)

TheAnalyst_

This is why I will never stop if I hit a cyclist. If they don't have insurance or are willing to pay for their fault then neither am I.

Voodoomelon

On the other side of things, when I was 18 I was cycling on the footpath parallel to a garage forecourt, a woman opened her door over the footpath and I smashed into it, I went flying off into the middle of the road and broke my collarbone.

Gardai came to see me an hour later in hospital and told me I was liable, which I was. But there was never any thought of not paying, €970 for a new door. Suppose things are different now regards claiming, that was 15 years ago. Sickens me to the core that the bollix cyclist in this thread is already talking about insurance publically, unbelievable.

Karangue

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

This is why I will never stop if I hit a cyclist. If they don't have insurance or are willing to pay for their fault then neither am I.

If I hit even a dog I would stop.