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Original poster

Is my cyclist relative likely to be sued?

92 replies

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:04

Evening all,

My mid-20s relative flew down a hill too fast on his push bike and smashed into a car. He admitted liability to the police who attended with the ambulance (he had a head injury). He did not have insurance.

The driver's insurance company has now sent him a letter asking him to confirm he will pay for the damage. He has written back to ask how much it is and to advise (truthfully) that he only has a very casual job and earns about £150/wk. (He lives with his dad).

What is likely to happen?

  • will the case be dropped
  • will he actually be taken to court
  • what is the point if he has no money?

Thanks

OP posts:
BioHive · 18/03/2024 22:32

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:31

@BioHive I don't have anything like that but for the purposes of the thread let's assume he is at fault.

When I say "get him out of it" I mean "make it go away". (Unfair though that is to the rest of us whose insurance premiums will go up).

thats understandable, i guess then its down to the insurance etc as previously detailed

Original poster
OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:33

Thanks @BioHive
I suspect what may happen is his dad will somehow pay it. And may or may not ever be paid back. Doesn't really seem fair.

OP posts:
Kinsella1 · 18/03/2024 22:36

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:31

@BioHive I don't have anything like that but for the purposes of the thread let's assume he is at fault.

When I say "get him out of it" I mean "make it go away". (Unfair though that is to the rest of us whose insurance premiums will go up).

Why? He did it, according to you.

Do stupid things, get inconvenient consequences 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

OP posts:
Attryn · 18/03/2024 22:41

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

Well, you do. I wouldn't.

BioHive · 18/03/2024 22:44

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:33

Thanks @BioHive
I suspect what may happen is his dad will somehow pay it. And may or may not ever be paid back. Doesn't really seem fair.

True, I need to ride more safely. However, drivers also need to focus. Coming from the supermarket the other night, I had lights on my bike and I had priority on the island. A driver almost sideswiped me. If I hadn't been focused on how close the driver was getting when they were in the wrong and should have waited, then I would have been in a pickle.

BigBoysDontCry · 18/03/2024 22:45

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

No you don't. You either have morals or you don't.

Your relative us an irresponsible fuck wit and should be made to be responsible. I wouldn't be helping to get him out of it, even if it was my own child. I might support them in having a solution though he would be paying one way or another.

He's mid twenties, not a teenager.

A car reversed into us at traffic lights, we are fully insured as are they, but we are still inconvenienced getting the car repaired, even with a no claims bonus we'll still have an increased premium and as we are currently about to renew insurance we are kinda stuck with our current insurer as we are mid claim. And we need to type it all out every time we want to get a quote for the next 5 years.

Stupidity has consequences for those who happen to get caught in the crossfire, why should this arsehole get away with it because he is a man child?

BioHive · 18/03/2024 22:49

BigBoysDontCry · 18/03/2024 22:45

No you don't. You either have morals or you don't.

Your relative us an irresponsible fuck wit and should be made to be responsible. I wouldn't be helping to get him out of it, even if it was my own child. I might support them in having a solution though he would be paying one way or another.

He's mid twenties, not a teenager.

A car reversed into us at traffic lights, we are fully insured as are they, but we are still inconvenienced getting the car repaired, even with a no claims bonus we'll still have an increased premium and as we are currently about to renew insurance we are kinda stuck with our current insurer as we are mid claim. And we need to type it all out every time we want to get a quote for the next 5 years.

Stupidity has consequences for those who happen to get caught in the crossfire, why should this arsehole get away with it because he is a man child?

Show quote history

or your Machiavelli or frank underwood ect and flexible morals

Kinsella1 · 18/03/2024 22:50

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

Really?

So what if he'd crashed into an elderly person? Or someone with brittle bones? Or a pram?

This is why "no one likes a cyclist".

BioHive · 18/03/2024 22:51

also no one likes drivers that either dont look and focus or to busy on their phones etc

Original poster
OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 23:02

You can all believe me when I tell you that no one has had a bigger go at him than his dad. We absolutely believe he is useless, careless, irresponsible etc. but thankfully it was only him who was injured on this occasion.

I'm really just asking about the legalities and practicalities of the claim.

I actually came down hard on him at causing stress to his dad who lost his wife a year ago.

OP posts:
boodlebeep · 18/03/2024 23:12

A lot of home insurance policies have personal liability cover which would apply to anyone living at the property. It would be worth getting the Dad to contact his home insurer (if insurance is held) to check and if so providing the driver with the policy details to give to their insurer.

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 18/03/2024 23:16

And this is precisely why insurance should be mandatory for every cyclist who uses a public road...

DangerMousers · 18/03/2024 23:33

I would claim this on my car insurance if I was the owner of the car, just like I would with an uninsured driver.

madeinmanc · 19/03/2024 00:59

Kinsella1 · 18/03/2024 22:50

Really?

So what if he'd crashed into an elderly person? Or someone with brittle bones? Or a pram?

This is why "no one likes a cyclist".

Show quote history

Nah, the reason some motorists don't like cyclists is that they are bigoted chauvinists who think that they own the road and they should be free to kill and injure other road users like cyclists with impunity. They've been influenced by rags like the Daily Mail to think that they are Gods of the road.

Motorists kill and injure thousands upon thousands every year. I think we all know who isn't "likeable" and it's not cyclists.

hellsBells246 · 19/03/2024 01:02

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:31

@BioHive I don't have anything like that but for the purposes of the thread let's assume he is at fault.

When I say "get him out of it" I mean "make it go away". (Unfair though that is to the rest of us whose insurance premiums will go up).

And especially unfair to the person he actually hit, who will have to pay for his carelessness in increased premiums. He sounds like an idiot.

hellsBells246 · 19/03/2024 01:03

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

Really??? So what if you were hit by an uninsured cycling twat you weren't related to. How would you feel then?

madeinmanc · 19/03/2024 01:09

Oh yes, those unlikeable cyclists. It's definitely cyclists that are unlikeable out of all road users. Definitely not motorists 🙃

Is my cyclist relative likely to be sued?
benjoin · 19/03/2024 05:40

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:38

@Kinsella1 yes I agree but as I say, it's likely to be his dad that suffers the consequences at least in the short term if a bill has to be paid. I'd rather avoid that if possible. It's all well and good being morally correct but when it's your own family, you do see it a bit differently.

That's up to his dad. And who knows maybe it will work out and he'll pay his dad back. Or if you're really worried about dad you be the one to pay the loan

benjoin · 19/03/2024 05:41

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 23:02

You can all believe me when I tell you that no one has had a bigger go at him than his dad. We absolutely believe he is useless, careless, irresponsible etc. but thankfully it was only him who was injured on this occasion.

I'm really just asking about the legalities and practicalities of the claim.

I actually came down hard on him at causing stress to his dad who lost his wife a year ago.

So you must he quite close to him then.

ForestBather · 19/03/2024 06:07

He needs to get a better paying job. Even if he doesn't or can't for some reason, he could be ordered to pay it back to the insurance company (who will sort out the car owner) at a minimal rate as a portion of his income.

HappiestSleeping · 19/03/2024 06:09

@OoohLovelySlippers I don't understand why you need to "get him out of it"? Your relative did something that has consequences. Surely those consequences are for him to deal with?

It's likely that the insurance company will take him to court in order to formalise a payment plan to recover their loss, but the outcome for your relative will just be to pay what he owes. They won't hang him, he won't lose a limb, it will just cost him money. It may impact his credit rating for a while, but that's about it.

Surely it is better for him to learn from his mistake? If you, or anyone else ball him out, you are just enabling him to do the same, or similar, in future?

VestibuleVirgin · 19/03/2024 06:15

However, for the purposes of this thread and given he's family, obviously if we can get him out of it, we will.

This is entirely what is wrong with society. Don't take responsibility for your actions, no matter how srupid or dangerous.
Would you be defending said relative quite so vehemently if he had ploughed into a child?

Duckinglunacy · 19/03/2024 06:16

My cycling 3rd party liability insurance costs me £1.50/month

VestibuleVirgin · 19/03/2024 06:18

OoohLovelySlippers · 18/03/2024 22:31

@BioHive I don't have anything like that but for the purposes of the thread let's assume he is at fault.

When I say "get him out of it" I mean "make it go away". (Unfair though that is to the rest of us whose insurance premiums will go up).

Those phrases mean the same thing
You and your family are facilitating his dangerous use of the road. Are you happy being that type of person?