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?

Call the police.

Driver left the scene of an accident after colliding with a child on a bike.

Fault hasn't been assigned yet.

Exactly. Driver claims on their car insurance. Cyclist is probably uninsured.

they will have to claim on their own insurance through a non-fault claim.

That’s impossible. A no fault claim is dependent on a successful claim from the other party’s insurer otherwise it’s considered the driver’s fault. Even if they’re not actually in the car at the time.

No he didn't.

a) the "child" (who it transpires is a grown adult) rode into him
b) he got out to make sure she was OK despite having his car ridden into by an idiot cyclist
c) they exchanged contact details.

Which of the multiple bits of the OP stating that he did not leave the scene of an accident were you unable to read, exactly?

She should pay him for the damage. She was at fault. She was riding on the pavement. She was not keeping a good look out at the junction.

The OP said that she didn't notice the driver turning. Which suggests driver was turning into the road that she was cycling along. If the driver and the cyclist were travelling towards the same point, its very easy for both to hit sideways.

I've been driven into sideways on a cross roads before, and it was not my fault.

I'm also saying that its not likely an easy task for the driver (however right or wrong you think it is) to claim money against an individual (minor) without going to court with evidence and paying for solicitors. Accidents happen sometimes, and lessons should be learned both ways.

She was on the pavement, for some reason. Which is also the wrong side of the road

Me too. That’s fabulous.

If I were the car driver I would have called the police and ambulance which is what you are supposed to do in collision with a cyclist, even if the cyclist rides straight into you. In this case the cyclist went over the handlebars and hit her head, she is under 18, ND and vulnerable. You cannot tell if someone has a head injury from asking them if they’re ok.

The OP said that she didn't notice the driver turning. Which suggests driver was turning into the road that she was cycling along. If the driver and the cyclist were travelling towards the same point, its very easy for both to hit sideways.

Exactly.

It is - but its happened - clearly not intentional - the OP is not obliged to pay for anything. They can decide to out of good will, but the driver would need to claim via civil courts, with a solicitor or self representation, plus cctv or witness statements.

The OP could also speak to police as whilst you don't think the person left the site of an accident, its good practice, especially if someone is injured even slightly, to report this sort of thing. Have a google of it and it will show. In the eyes of the law, the person is a child until 18 in the UK as well.

I appreciate that its frustrating and I would be angry at the damage too - but it doesn't appear intentional, appears to be an accident.

The vast majority of road traffic accidents are exactly that but they’re still judged to be somebody’s fault. How is riding on the wrong side of the road not intentional?

Accidental damage is exactly what most payouts are for.

very few car accidents are intentional.

tge cyclist needs to take responsibility

No, that is what OP said:

from what I can make out (she) didn’t see the car turning

That is what she deduced from what she was told about the incident, and what she put in her OP, she THEN asked her daughter to draw a diagram, which she did and that shows him approaching the junction and her approaching from his left on the pavement, the daughter also said that he (and she) was hidden by the hedge so they didn't see each other.

At no point did the daughter say she saw him turning, I think that is just what OP visualised when she was first told.

I hope that your daughter is ok and it doesn’t put her off cycling.

The accident should be reported to the police and your daughter seen by a Doctor. Police can make the decision re;fault/responsibility.

It’s highly unlikely that they’ll insist that your daughter pays for damages to the car, more likely the driver will back off with his claim and have a word with himself re; leaving an injured minor by the road following a collision (regardless of fault, OR him being “late for work”).

If your daughter is struggling to get back in her bike, Life Cycle are just one of the great charities that support people to find routes that are safe and legal, and will take them on three rides free of charge to show them. It may be worth finding a local charity to you that does this, so that her confidence isn’t too damaged, and she can safely get back on her bike.

SO do you get from that, that the car wasn't moving at all? And she just went full pelt into him from the pavement?

It’s not up to the police to decide if a claim is made for damages, it’s up to the driver’s insurers. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they pursue a claim.

That’s my take.

As the driver didn’t report the incident to police at the time he should have reported it within 24 hours.

Against a kid? I’d be surprised

She was on the pavement.

I wouldn’t.

Op do the right thing and pay ! No wonder cyclist get such a bad name . I’m both a car driver and cyclist and your daughter by what you say is 100% in fault . I could never simply damage someone’s car and block them . What are you teaching your daughter !

OK understood- I don't take that from it. Or from the diagram. So I guess its subjective.

If the vehicle is stationary, waiting at a junction, and just gets flown into by a cyclist at full speed, essentially T-Boned -then I understand your viewpoint.

My take on it is what I drew, he approached the junction as she approached on her bicycle, he got there before she did (we know that because she hit him not the other way round).

Imagine where your car door is when you are stopped at a junction.. that seems to be where OPs daughter hit him, so he was either completely stopped at that point, or just finishing rolling to a stop.

She wasn't intending to stop at the pavement, she was going to go straight over until he appeared in front of her, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and OPs daughter made a wrong assumption that it was clear to cross when it wasn't.