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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

SURELY DH didn't "run over" this cyclist??

364 replies

justanotherburd · 09/02/2017 21:02

I've namechanged

DH got into an accident with a cyclist this evening.

We live in a house with a cycle path going along in front of it- it goes driveway, path, pavement, road but the drive is at a sort of angle not directly in front of the house and we live next to a corner so the visibility is poor.

DH was going down the drive and road was clear. Looked right- clear, looked left, moved off of drive and then a cyclist smacked into the right of his car! He fell off his bike and DH jumped out to see if he was OK. Cyclist started yelling at him but DH thought he'd just got a shock, tried to calm him down and pick up the guy's bike. He then offered to drive the man to the hospital, cyclist refused, and the front of his bike was bent so he just walked away dragging the bike along.

DH then realised that the side panel of the car is quite scratched, but it's an old car and obviously that wasn't the first concern. Wrote it off to "life" and went off to work (he works evenings)

I had a phone call from police on the land line asking for DH though they wouldn't say why, gave them his mobile and he's just rung me saying they want to speak to him about leaving the scene of an accident after injuring this man!!! SURELY this isn't DH's fault?? He did everything he could and the man refused his help!!

I'm now angry as actually I think it WAS this cyclist's fault- and surely it was HIM that left the scene of him damaging our property! I saw what happened after the initial "bang" and then looking out upstairs window but was feeding DC and by the time I'd got downstairs the man had gone.

OP posts:
walruswhiskers · 09/02/2017 21:03

Can't tell from your description who is at fault. But your DH should have rung and reported accident to the police.

PotteringAlong · 09/02/2017 21:03

So your DH hit a cyclist on a cycle path and didn't report it to the police? I think he was in the wrong here.

TheMythOfFingerprints · 09/02/2017 21:04

Your dh didn't see the cyclist and pulled out though.

Hercules12 · 09/02/2017 21:05

I'm pretty sure your dh is at fault plus he should have reported it to the police straight away. Youre meant to look right again before pulling out.

trinketsofgold · 09/02/2017 21:05

Your DH was reversing off a drive way, if it was a car not a bike who's fault would it be?

Your DH is in the wrong. You can't just reverse out in the path of someone.
Look, look and look again.
Poor visibility isn't really an excuse.

Friendinneed2016 · 09/02/2017 21:05

Your she crossed the cyclists path so surely he is at fault and not the cyclist? Technically he should have reported it to the police and his insurance company. It's not your fault the cyclist walked off though.

BWatchWatcher · 09/02/2017 21:05

It sounds like the cyclist ran into the car and not the car into the cyclist.

VocalDuck · 09/02/2017 21:06

I think your DH was at fault. It is no different to a car driving along and your DH pulling out in front and causing a crash.

Didyoumeantobesorude1 · 09/02/2017 21:07

I think they were both at fault. Your husband should have looked right, left and right again. And the cyclist should have been going more carefully, and shouldn't have alleged that your husband left the scene. But your husband will probably get the blame, sorry.

Hercules12 · 09/02/2017 21:07

How can it be the cyclists fault. Surely he was cycling along and your dh suddenly came into his pathway. Plus as the injured party I can see why he left.

LadyintheRadiator · 09/02/2017 21:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

trinketsofgold · 09/02/2017 21:07

Unless the cost was travelling at the speed of light your DH did not look properly

gamerchick · 09/02/2017 21:08

Yeah you're supposed to look again before pulling out. At least that's what I've learned after decent sized lectures while learning.

trinketsofgold · 09/02/2017 21:08

Cyclist, not cost ffs

HughJarss · 09/02/2017 21:08

Not at all fair that cyclist left the scene. But will probably go down as being your husband's fault.

MagicMoments22 · 09/02/2017 21:08

Either way your DH should have reported to the police and insurer as someone was injured whether they wanted to take it up or not. Cyclist was probably in shock immediately after the accident

DizzyFizzyLizzy · 09/02/2017 21:09

Where does it say he reversed?

BestZebbie · 09/02/2017 21:09

He ran over the cyclist (not literally).
But it sounds as if he didn't leave the scene, because the cyclist left first, after speaking with him.

Hercules12 · 09/02/2017 21:09

Why didn't your dh report to police?

bobberybobble · 09/02/2017 21:10

If this happened to me I probably would be the same and I probably wouldn't have rung the police either like PPs have said.

Likelyhood now is your going to have to claim off your insurance as he went to the police first and it sounds like a he said she said sort of thing.

Hopefully the police believe your DH though, because that kind of offence can get a bit serious.

Rainydayspending · 09/02/2017 21:10

It's look right, left then RIGHT AGAIN precisely because a cyclist is easily hidden in the cars blind spot. Looking again means they will have moved hopefully to be outside the blind spot.

PurpleDaisies · 09/02/2017 21:10

If you've been in an accident where you know someone's been injured or something's been damaged and you haven't swapped details, you have to report it to the police.

Original poster
justanotherburd · 09/02/2017 21:11

He wasn't reversing he was driving forward. Who doesn't reverse onto their drive!? The cyclist wasn't there when he looked and obviously he had to look both ways. Cars usually slow right down coming round the corner as it's basically a blind corner. He actually did offer to phone police as well as ambulance and take the man to hospital and the man shouted at him and refused all. Are you still meant to phone the police if the other person refuses!?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 09/02/2017 21:11

Cyclist shouldn't have left and then reported it to the police.
BUT your husband reversed into the path of a cyclist. You can't blame the visibility. You don't pull out of you can't see it is safe.

PurpleDaisies · 09/02/2017 21:12

Are you still meant to phone the police if the other person refuses!?

Yes, you are supposed to report accidents where people/property have been damaged if you haven't swapped details.