So I got knocked off my bike this evening

[Theala]

By a car that was turning, didn't see me, and cut in front of me. I braked hard but not enough, and fell off.

My side is badly scraped and I'll probably have bruises tomorrow, but nothing more serious, I think. My bike seems ok. The young couple in the car that knocked me off stopped immediately, helped me up, offered to bring me to hospital, and were very very apologetic. I think they got as much of a fright as I did, tbh.

So, it was fine. No harm was done, we were all very lucky, and we all realised how lucky we were. I made the young lad promise to look in his side mirrors properly in future. He promised he would. We all went home.

DP is furious with me. Furious. I should have got their reg, I should have done this, I should have done that. I think he thinks I've been suckered. I don't think I have been. AIBU?

I think you were there and he wasn't and you are better placed to judge the impact on them. The vast majority of people are going to feel bad enough after that, that they will be checking and checking their mirrors for cyclists.

It sounds like a genuine mistake and if they were apologetic and you're overall ok, I think I'd have done the same in your position.

Glad you're ok!

Your DP is scared witless which is manifesting itself in shouting a lot.
He is right though, you should have taken their number. They have committed a crime if they don't report the accident to the police. Also, what if you wake up tomorrow and think that actually you are a lot sorer than you thought? You have no avenue to pursue compensation.

Having said that, I am very glad you are ok! It is hard to think of everything at the time it hqppens, particularly if the couple were so kind and apologetic. Don't forget to be vigilant for shock this evening.
Take Care of yourself.

I'm sure the scare was enough for the driver and is worth more than any telling off by the police. If you are happy with the outcome then your dp should leave it, although in his defence he is probably just concerned on your behalf. Very glad to hear you are ok.

Yanbu.

But I expect your dh is just feeling protective. I would prob be the same if something similar happened to dh!

I'm a cycle commuter and have had near misses which absolutely terrified the drivers (who could easily have killed me) so I think YANBU because that will have been an experience he will never forget. DP is probably being protective, y'know, like men like to be!!

Probably should have got the reg and their details, in case any further medical complications develop later on.

It does sound like the driver got off easy, assuming you weren't dressed all in black in dark conditions, any driver who crashes into a cyclist shouldn't be on the road.

I hope he's also concerned that you were hurt and frightened.

And by compensation I don't mean those cheesy accident company. Dh had a 'minor' accident one morning (not his fault) - by the afternoon his neck and back were very sore and when he was checked over the dr said he had whiplash.

I don't think the couple will make the same mistake twice. What an awful shock for you and the driver, glad you're ok.

I probably would have done the same thing, no broken bones, nothing bleeding, let's all go home and chalk it up to experience.

That's what I thought. They seemed to be a really nice young couple and genuinely apologetic/freaked...and it was an accident. Yes, they should have been paying more attention, but...accidents happen.

You would think I was encouraging them to start a life of crime from DP's reaction.

ImTooHecsy... Not so you'd notice actually, no.

The police probably wouldn't do anything anyway. I witnessed a similar incident recently except that the cyclist's bike was actually damaged, the driver tried to drive away and the passenger got out of the car and pushed a woman knocking on the door saying "You need to get out and deal with this". The police were called and we all hung around, police turned up and spoke to people and then decided not to pursue it further. So even if you had the reg etc it probably wouldn't help you.

Sorry to hear you've been through it though - it's a massive shock when something like that happens. You'll probably be rather sore over the next couple of days. And your DP is just being protective and also angry with the people that hurt you, but because they aren't there and you are, you're getting the brunt of it.

Lovely of him.

Well, I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt anyway. x