More Cycling Shenanigans.....

[DangerUXD]

Strangely topical, anyway last night my mate's daughter hit a cyclist crossing a main road from pavement to pavement on a pedestrian crossing, no lights on the bike of course.The lights where green for the traffic. He just darted across and she clipped his back wheel. He went flying and of course when he got up started shouting abuse at her. After he calmed down he demanded £100 for a new wheel. She refused and they exchanged numbers, The guy is now demanding £180 for a new wheel and wants her insurance involved. My advice was to ignore him, 100% his fault. Has he got a leg to stand on?
PS. I am a keen cyclist myself, I cycle legally at all times, these idiots give us a bad name, I just thought I'd point that out before some start to believe I have some sort of vendetta going.

[ummmm]

Any witnesses?

[woofgang]

by pedestrian crossing do you mean one with lights or a zebra?

[DangerUXD]

yes plenty of witnesses, it was a main road.

[ummmm]

In the OP he said the lights were green.

[DangerUXD]

see above woof gang "...the lights were green for traffic.." ie not a zebra.

[woofgang]

sorry I am having a hard of thinking day......

[murraymints]

I'd ignore him he must know he is at fault...did you get witness statements..car insurance pay out for pushbike ???

[Gromit]

Cycling across a crossing is illegal. I would suggest she gets a solicitor to write a letter saying she will not pay. The insurance company may just cave in over £100-£180 and then whack up her charges, costing more in the long run.

[DangerUXD]

didn't get statements, got some numbers, I think the bloke is trying it on, I doubt th eold bill would be interested so I donlt know what he does from here.

[DangerUXD]

I would advise not even mentioning the insurance company, that always costs the innocent.

[ummmm]

Phone the local police station and ask them what to do.

[murraymints]

Just ignore if he persists point out his illegal manoeuvres ...you could always counter claim ..??

[mrs_overall]

Unless injury was involved, the police will not be interested.
I suggest she writes to the cyclist pointing out that he was in the wrong and she has obtained the details of witnesses who can verify this.
Has her car sustained any damage - even a scratch? If so she could ask if the cyclist has insurance as he is responsible for the damage to her car.

[magsmay]

I think your original advice to your daughter is the best -just ignore him -he is trying it on - I doubt the Police will not be the least bit interested -if he contacts your daughter tell her to advise him that she will not be drawn into conversation but will give details of her solicitor should he want to take the matter further -that should shut him up.

[DangerUXD]

I advising leaving him to do that ummmm, I think she should just ignore the bloke.

[TheOtherHalf]

It is cyclists like that who give us a bad name, I agree. I think as suggested just ignore him, I wouldnt have thought he had any rights in this particular case as he was totally in the wrong to cycle across the crossing anyway and without lights, well thats 2 things against him already. good luck

[Anngel]

Any photos? If she can prove he was cycling across the crossing then he has not a leg to stand on. It is quite possible that there was a camera above the lights...might be worth checking. Do not involve the insurance company as that will be a claim. He has no rights in this. Unfortunately, unless you have a number of someone who saw, he can say whatever he likes.

[TheOtherHalf]

why the need for photos ? Surley the car wouldnt have hit him if he had been walking across which he shouldnt have done anyway, if the lights were in favour of traffic so he would still be in the wrong

[jake-the-peg]

I'd agree in general bear in mind that you're getting the story from your friend who's getting it from his daughter who was doublessly upset at the time.

Some of these details may be unreliable - maybe the lights were not green for example.

I'm not saying you shouldn't take their word for it, just bear in mind they could be mistaken in some aspects

[johnk]

It is mandatory to report any accident to your insurance company or they may use it as an excuse not to pay out on any future claim, this has happened in the past. Was the cyclist walking or cycling?