Dd hit car whilst riding her bike

[Sfuandtired]

Dd 17 has collided with a car tonight whilst riding her bike, she was crossing the road and from what I can make out didn’t see the car turning, she hit the car with her wheel leaving a dent and was thrown over the handle bars banging her head on the window, the driver got out, asked if she was ok, took her name and phone number, then said he was late for work and drove of!
Dd has since had a text saying she will be sent a bill and bank details for the damage to the car! WWYD?

When these things happen shock takes over and it's difficult to remember what you need to do. But I'd think:-

Were there any witnesses (and did your daughter get their details?)
Did she take the car registration number (and the driver's details)?
She should get medically checked out asap, especially if she hit her head
It needs to be reported to the police (driver may well do so, and someone may have filmed it on their phone/dash camera - daughter needs to give her version of events)

Hope she's OK today.

In England, yes. In England you are legally a child until the age of 18.

The driver has not committed a crime.

He has to report the accident as he hit someone who banged her head on his car window and caused damage.

She banged her head on the windscreen, thats in the OP, helps if you read that before commenting.

The driver should have reported to the Police, regardless of who is at fault.

Maybe, maybe not. OP has not confirmed whether it was a shared cycle/foot path, if it was then the car driver was at fault for driving across the path before checking for oncoming traffic.

Loads of drivers aren't aware of the highway code and giving way to pedestrians at side roads. Now this does not apply here because she was on a bike, but nonetheless the driver should have proceeded towards the side road with more caution, even more so if visibility was reduced because of a hedge. The cyclist is also more vulnerable than a car, and drivers of cars should take more care at junctions.

I'm afraid the cyclist looks at fault.

She was on the 'wrong' side of the 'road.'

IF she had been using the road on her bike, she'd have been on the left hand lane in the diagram, clearly visible to a car approaching the junction because they would stop before pulling out to turn right.

The car driver would have had visibility approaching the T junction.

She was on the pavement, didn't stop when crossing the road, and she was 'unsighted' partly because of the hedge.

@Dguu6u You are missing something- she wasn't using the road. She was on the pavement and hidden from his view.
Legally, she's in the wrong as she was on the pavement.
And she didn't stop to look before cycling across the junction.

Block his number and call the police.
Although your daughter should not have been cycling on the pavement

The OP said she hit the car with her wheel leaving a dent and was thrown over the handle bars banging her head on the window not the windscreen, which I think is an important detail - she rode in to the side of him! What could he have actually done if she shot out of nowhere?

OP, don't assume the advice on this thread is correct. Have you posted in Legal?

Definitely report it to the police.

On balance, I am usually on the cyclist's side.

But here, the cyclist rode across a T junction without stopping.

If that was a pedestrian, the driver would not be considered at fault.
If someone runs out into the road in front of your car, whose fault is that?

This is no different.

The Police should be informed in the case of any accident and will usually attend in person if there is any potential injury. The same thing happened to my DS on the way to school when he was the same age. The driver was also en route to work. The only difference was that the driver stopped, and the Police and an ambulance attended and we were called. Luckily DS was wearing a helmet and escaped with minor bruising. DS was at fault (confirmed by CCTV). There was some damage to the car which was sorted but the driver was concerned only with DS.

First off yes 17 years old is a minor, she is not an adult and the law will see her as a minor.
She was injured and damage has been done - police should be called and the work it out via insurance

This is what I would do in your position - ensure DD gets checked out for unseen injuries, then get her to draw the accident / walk through the site of the accident. Take the drawing to your local police station and ask if a traffic officer can help advise who had right of way and whether they should have been notified. Based on the outcome - message driver and explain the outcome, request his insurance details and either notify insurance DD was not at fault or was at fault / next course of action - quotes / payments, etc.

A 17 year old is not legally an adult. If some moron drives off after my 17 year old flies over his windscreen, whether or not she hit him or he hit her, I will be contacting him.

If my 16 year old doesn’t turn up to school , school contact me, not him.

thats in the OP, helps if you read that before commenting.

oh, the irony! 😂

OP has left the thread and probably blocked the poor driver who will be out of pocket due OP's DD being a terrible cyclist and illegally cycling on the pavement.

I hope the DD stops cycling or learns how to become a safe cyclist. She could have easily hit a pram with a baby if she couldn't see a car!

after my 17 year old flies over his windscreen

That didn't happen.

She didn’t fly over his windscreen. She rode into the side of his car, and her forward motion caused her to bump her (helmet covered) head against his passenger side window.

Luckily the driver can go through insurance- AS HE SHOULD HAVE FROM MINUTE ONE.

A lot of 17 year olds look older, he probably didn’t realise she was a child, if she didn’t say then how would he know? Hes not going to ask her age. He was probably stressed / in shock. Would you ask an adult to let you contact their parents?

She said she was ok and gave her details.

There was an accident and he - the adult motorist - drove off. I would certainly be having a go at him for that and making sure the police know.

Fair enough, i hold up my hands but she hit her head on the car window & therefore is injured.

This is the main point & one would have to ask why? has he insurance? 2m drivers do not.

the law is the accident has to be reported, he didn't, therefore is in the wrong, as i said regardless of who is at fault for the original collision.