RTA with cyclist

[Listey]

I was involved in an RTA with a cyclist a few months ago. I was driving up a road, indicating to turn right onto a side road. Ahead a vehicle stopped, flashed their lights to let me turn. I had almost turned onto the side street when a cyclist travelling a some speed came down the left hand side of the stationary vehicle and appeared just to the left of me, i was too late in my reaction to brake before I hit him.
The cyclist suffered a shattered knee cap and spent 1 week in hospital. As I have only been driving for 16 months I could lose my license if I receive 6 or more penalty points.
I am 22 year old female. I do not believe I was solely responsible for this collision. Can anyone advise me as to what penalty I should be expecting??

[mr rusty]

Sounds as if you are both responsible- a cyclist should be aware that a car may turn into a turning ahead, you definately need to keep your wits about you on two wheels and be aware that you are hard to see, and you should not have responded to a flashed headlight.....flashing the lights means only one thing to the law, its a warning, which means 'look out, I'm here'...it doesn't mean 'thank you' or 'please turn before me'.

It's meaning is ignored in this country and it's a shame, as if you're on a motorcycle it's often your only means of warning that you are there, but abroad they DO flash their lamps as a warning.....and Brits often get in accidents with the locals as they think it means go ahead.....

Check the highway code-for you, rule 90 & 91, for the cyclist,

rule 57-59.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/index.htm

[Cockney_si]

Know your left from right, hoe can your car turning right his a cyclist on your left side, surely you were moving away from the cyclist coming up on the left if you were turning right.

Was the cyclist coming towards you on the other side or up the inside of you from behind?

This could have serious implications if you were prosecuted and you confused left from right.

[Cockney_si]

If the cyclisty was coming towards you and run into you then it was their fault for not looking far enough ahead.

[mr rusty]

It's pretty clear from listey's post what happened; no left/right confusion...........oncoming car stops and car flashes lights for listey to turn right, Listey turns right and cyclist coming up on left of halted oncoming car runs into left of Listey's car.

Both at fault.....cyclist should have been a lot more switched on and road aware, and Listey should have been more observant and ignored the flashed headlight and made her own judgement on wether it was safe to proceed, but unfortunately accidents do happen, and regardless of fault, it hurts more on two wheels!

[Graham Jnr]

Unfortunately you will be held responsible. The flashing of headlights is not a lawful signal it merely indicates that the particular driver is giving way to you. But it is your duty to ensure that it is safe to contine before you cross in front of the vehicle that has "invited you to cross" The cyclist is presumed to be on his correct side of the road and is complying with necessary legislation and he would be unlikely to know that the vehicle in front had flashed his lights to let you cross, But the general rule in law ids to make sure that the vehicle was flashing his lights to let you cross rather than at a friend coming the other way.

I dont think that you would lose your licence but you could recieve a heavy fine and penalty points. If you are worried about losing your licence consult a solicitor who is EXPERIENCED IN HANDLING SUCH CASES" that way if your licence is in danger you could claim extenuating circumstances

Good Luck

[chevrolet1.8]

interesting this one. you should only undertake a vehicle if it is turning right, so with the absense of the other drivers indicator flashing should the cyclist have stopped behind the vehicle or does this still not apply to cyclists? was there a cycle lane? what everyone says about the flashing of headlights is right so perhaps it's better not to mention that. perhaps it would be better to say that the driver indicated to you by means of a hand signal that he was letting you turn. whatever happens i'm sure we'd all like to know the outcome. good luck.