Hit by a Lorry (warning cyclist thread)

[2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney]

I am so pissed off at the moment. So much I have to ask myself if IWBU. On Tuesday I was hit by a lorry whilst riding my bike. The bike is a mess, I was lucky to get away with bruises. Won't go into details as the police are involved, suffice to say the witnesses have said undue care and attention is a possibility. She has told the insurers she doesn't accept full liability which means a whole raft of additional hoops to jump through . Then googling I discover this young girl only passed her HGV less than 2 weeks ago.
I was so angry about her not admitting liability I have posted on that FB page - the company congratulating her on her success (easy way of achieving test through minimum training) that it is a shame she doesn't know how roundabouts work. WIBU by posting on that site?

To be honest I am more taken back by her audacity of saying not liable than the accident itself! It was a near miss and extremely lucky I didn't actually end up under the lorry myself and only have the bruises I have.

Sweeping statement, much?

I haven't seen a motorcyclist yet who isn't a dangerous speedster. Overtaking on blind bends, Double white lines, etc. Cutting people up, being generally reckless.

Oh, wait a minute....no that's a load of bollocks. I have seen a number of motorcyclists behave like that but I realise that there are plenty of sensible motorcyclists.

You do like to exaggerate!

I would put money on the fact that you've never seen anyone wait 20 mins at a roundabout.

And in the OPs case it certainly sounds like the lorry driver should have hesitated longer.

We haven't enough details of the OP's incident to know who should have done what.

Technically it was his fault but because I was driving it would've been me who got in trouble.

Are you sure Umbongo? My husband hit and badly injured a woman who had crossed to half way in the road and stepped back into his path. The police took all the details but did not proceed against him because it was not his fault.

OP, delete your comment. I understand your anger though.

The FB post is not a good idea for all the reasons previosuly mentioned.

We don't know the facts. You of course don't think you were to blame but we don't know so cannot comment. We can support you on here as someone who is hurt but not as a "victim" because we have no idea what the facts are.

The driver is right not to accept liability - as PPs have said.

I hope that you feel better soon OP.

We all have to start somewhere ?????!!!!

Fucking hell, would you say that if the Op had died? Bloody hell.

OP I'm glad you are okay. Be careful posting on line with it being with the insurers. I don't want you to have a claim denied because of posting on line.

There is no easy way to pass your LGV! I should know as I have mine it's a 3 part test plus a full medical.

The "we all have to start somewhere" comment was not made as an excuse for the driver's hitting the OP - it was made as a counter to the "she was a new driver" being used as a reason for the accident.

The point is everyone is a new driver at some point - there is no other way to become an experienced driver - so it is not a reason to attack either the driver or the company.

PikachuSayBoo

Op said she was already on the roundabout and the lorry pulled out infront of her.

The OP hasn't said that at all.

Sweeping statement, much?
I haven't seen a motorcyclist yet who isn't a dangerous speedster.

This made me laugh, complaining about a sweeping statement then following up with the same.

Boney, did you not read the rest of my post where it was very obvious that I was being sarcastic with the motorcyclist statement.

And technically you're right, the OP hasn't said she was in the roundabout and the lorry pulled out infront of her. I asked her if that's what happened and she said yes?

I do wish people would read things thoroughly.

I haven't seen a motorcyclist yet who isn't a dangerous speedster.

I'd agree with this.

But only because you don't remember the ones riding sensibly, you only remember the twats :)

Actually OP's second post said she was on the roundabout first

Still doesn't mean they were right.

PikachuSayBoo

You posted

"Were you on the roundabout and she pulled out?"

its still not a clear indication of what happened.

Was the OP moving around the roundabout, or did she pull on to the roundabout from the blind stop and then the lorry moved on to the roundabout.

Without the OP giving full details its all speculation.

Yes YWBU to post on the site - there is absolutely no point to this.

With the accident, most HGV drivers are told not to admit liability after an accident - they usually need to refer it all to their boss who will deal for them.

The accident is exactly that - an accident. I don't think for a second she did anything on purpose and knowing she injured you is likely to be a shock to her too.

I work in motor claims and I never understand the anger after an accident. It's not don't intentionally and whether you're liable or not, they're horrible things to go through - anger doesn't help in any way at all.

Handbag

Really?

When DH was a student, a driver cut across him turning right, sending him over her bonnet. She then tried to claim for compensation for the damage did to her bonnet

Another friend had life-changing injuries after a driver went onto the wrong side of the road round a bend

Neither of these people meant to hurt them, and in this case, you have no idea whether the deriver was culpable or not

I think anger is a pretty normal emotion (amongst others) after an "accident2, when you, the cyclist are so vulnerable

lots of typos there! you get the gist

I do agree that posting on FB is not a constructive thing to do with that anger

I think Rosie made a very good point.

I would delete the FB comment if I was you.

I don't think RosieThorn has made good points at all. Many cyclists will also be car drivers or hold other licences so the silly point about her training is bizarre and victim blaming. Whilst cyclists do not have to have training to be on the road I don't know anyone who doesn't take the time to make themselves safe. After all as cyclists we are more vulnerable because we are not encased in metal.

The op stated she was on the roundabout, therefore she had right of way, priority and the lorry driver if looking should have seen her. My husband was hit on a roundabout by a car that pulled out into the middle/back of him. She claimed not to have seen him and video footage indicates she looked through him. She broke his wrist and over a year later he is still struggling. So OP you have my every sympathy and I hope you are ok.

Regarding Facebook post - remove it now if you can. It will not affect a claim as it does not change her behaviour at the scene or in the run up to the accident. It just doesn't look good and looks like you are slinging insults, although understandable when angry.

Do you have a camera on your bike? If not I would invest in a helmet cam and back mounted cam. Take care of yourself

She then tried to claim for compensation for the damage did to her bonnet

In what way did she try to claim apart from filling in the form describing the accident and the damage to her car NotYoda?

Argh don't call it an accident Handbag it's not it is a collision. They are different. An accident is just that and cannot be predicted or prevented. A collision can, if the driver looks properly etc.

She took my husband to court. He was represented by a student barrister. I can't remember the details, sorry limited. I think she tried to claim that he was negligent in some way. She lost

... I'll ask him when he gets home

I mentioned it because I remember being very very angry on his behalf at the time

NotYoda I feel your rage! I was furious for my husband when he was hit. He was also hit on Monday by a car that undertook him at a junction and then turned diagonally into him. This is the shit that cyclists have to put up with, and when sharing their stories the inevitable rubbish about red light jumpers is chucked out.