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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DC knocked over a cyclist

363 replies

blueirishues · 31/01/2017 16:33

The situation was that I pulled up and dc opened the car door, a cyclist went into it and over the top. My door is damaged and cyclist shouting all sorts about going to sue Shock what are the rights and wrongs here?

OP posts:
Servicesupportforall · 31/01/2017 16:48

Sounds like a lucky escape for all.

I have seen some disgracefully dangerous cycling but obviously in this case your dd was at fault.

Hope all ok now. Accidents do happen.

GinIsIn · 31/01/2017 16:50

A friend of mine ended up needing surgery for a brain haemorrhage after someone did this to her. If the child isn't old enough or sensible enough to check you need to keep child lock on.

specialsubject · 31/01/2017 16:51

Tell the mother to give the kid hell. Cyclists can be left with life long troubles by going 'over the top' . I know.

And put the child locks on in future.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2017 16:53

Were you parked?

BoBo90 · 31/01/2017 16:53

You and dc are absolutely at fault. I hope you swapped details as although the cyclist initially thought they were fine some injuries don't become apparent for a few hours due to the shock. My dh was hit off his bike by a car (hit and run) and it wasn't until the next day he was in a lot of pain with his knee.

JanuaryMoods · 31/01/2017 16:54

How old is the DC? That makes a difference as to if she is liable.

Catsize · 31/01/2017 16:55

What struck me about your OP is that you clearly think the cyclist was in the wrong and was 'shouting all sorts'. You are lucky the cyclist was still able to shout all sorts.
There seems to be zero concern or admission of liability.

Grilledaubergines · 31/01/2017 16:55

Tell the mother to give the kid hell

Do you not think the poor child is not suffering enough already?

Op, did you indicate to pull in/have your indicators on whilst pulled in?

Topseyt · 31/01/2017 16:55

How old is your child. If very young then why are child proof locks on the car doors not activated?

If older then are they old enough to be trusted, and if so why did they not look first? That is vitally important and I really would be reading them the riot act. The fact that it was an accident would not stop me.

Assuming you had pulled over to the side of the road, cyclist was passing you on the road and your child opened the door straight into cyclists path, I'm afraid you are at fault and liable. As the driver and presumably also the parent you were in charge, but you were not in adequate control of your child.

Waffles80 · 31/01/2017 16:57

Was the cyclist on the road or the pavement?

Totally agree with teaching the Dutch reach. All children should be taught this. And all learner drivers.

My mum was awfully badly injured by a driver who opened his door on to her while she was cycling.

donajimena · 31/01/2017 16:58

I always look when my children open the doors even at 13 and 11

SoupDragon · 31/01/2017 16:58

What struck me about your OP is that you clearly think the cyclist was in the wrong and was 'shouting all sorts'.

What struck me is that the cyclist was clearly "shouting all sorts" at a child.

That's not all that "struck me" but I didn't get the same impression as you so it's not "clearly"at all.

Original poster
blueirishues · 31/01/2017 16:59

Sorry Catsize, I didn't mean it to sound like that. Just still a bit shocked. DC is nine, ten in April. I agree and I'm sure she would too, we were both at fault. I didn't remind her to check, she didn't check. We all swapped details and as I've said, couldn't apologise enough.

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 31/01/2017 16:59

It sounds as if the cyclist is well within his rights to sue, if he was on the road

Catsize · 31/01/2017 16:59

Fair enough OP. Sorry Wink

diddl · 31/01/2017 16:59

I do think that the child should have looked.

Equally, if a car has pulled over, why would a cyclist undertake/not consider that a passenger might get out?

savagehk · 31/01/2017 17:00

This is sometimes fatal to people riding bikes.

Absolutely not the cyclist's fault. Highway code confirms. And as someone who has been knocked off their bike before - luckily not by an opening door though - I'm not surprised the cyclist was shouting all sorts, that's what adrenaline does to you when your life is threatened.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2017 17:00

Totally agree with teaching the Dutch reach. All children should be taught this. And all learner drivers

The Dutch reach is pointless. What all children and drivers should be taught is to look properly. all the gimmicks in the world will do nothing if you don't bloody look.

User1234567891011 · 31/01/2017 17:00

This happened to my brother.

The driver overtook him, pulled over to the side and still opened the door right into him, he had just seen him like 0.5 seconds ago and somehow he forgot he was there?

Kiroro · 31/01/2017 17:00

Do you not think the poor child is not suffering enough already?

How the fuck has the child suffered???

Either the child is old enough to know better rand deserves to be in serious trouble and have some real consequences for being so careless, or the door should have a child lock on and parent takes ultimate responsibility.

youarenotkiddingme · 31/01/2017 17:00

My sister did that once. DF was dropping her at school and me college. He stopped at traffic lights by school and she announced "I'll jump out here" opened door and a cyclist went over it.

My dad took him to wore and took his details and paid for bike to be fixed. Luckily he wasn't injured. In fact he was very thankful I said I'd get out there and get bus to college so dad could help him.

It was the bloody least we could do.

tiggytape · 31/01/2017 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 31/01/2017 17:03

People are so bad at this - not only with cyclists and pedestrians - but also with car drivers. I was driving down a road a week or two ago and a car was facing me with two people in it. As I got up to the car, the person on the passenger side flung their door open! I was fortunately a reasonable distance away but honestly.

LOOK before you open your door! And preferably do not do so at all if someone is coming - whether on foot, two wheels, or four. It does not matter.

I tell my son to do a wide berth around parked cars on his bike if he can see people in them.

We need the Dutch Reach in this country. I did not know that there was a section in the Highway Code on it.

HappyFlappy · 31/01/2017 17:05

I hope that if the cyclist does contact you for damage to his bike that you accept responsibility (if he was on the road, obviously).

My son was recently involved in an accident as he was cycling to work, when a driver, without signalling or giving any warning, did a U-turn in front of him. He struck the front to the car and went over the bonnet. His bike was trashed, but worse than that he broke his front teeth (which have to be removed) and split his mouth open. His helmet was in two (thank God he was wearing one).

The driver was so apologetic and "Oh there's no reason to involve the insurance - I'll pay for your bike etc." Then when he rang up to give the cost of bike repairs the bastard turned round and said it wasn't him, he had been stationary at the side of the road and my son "must have caught the edge of his wheel because he was riding to close."

DS has had to get a lawyer - bike cost £350, and it will cost over £2,000 for dental work, not to mention the lost earnings. The stress on him - on all of us - has been tremendous.

All I can think of is that this f*cker could have killed my son and all he is worried about is his no-claims bonus.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 31/01/2017 17:06

If the cyclist was on the pavement I suppose they wouldn't have much of a case

I suppose not, but opening a door suddenly could injure a pedestrian as well.

The Dutch reach is pointless It does what you want it to, it teaches people to look before they open a door. Why is it pointless?