Where There's Blame There's A Claim?

[TallAndy]

In 2005 I was unfortunately hit by a cyclist when getting out my car at work. The door was a few cm's open and the cyclist hit the door end on. I quickly attended to him phoned an ambluance, kept him warm and offered to repair his bike.

The ambulance arrives and checks him over, just a few bruises nothing serious *phew* I offer to give him a lift home or to work, but he wanted to goto hospital to get checked out (fair enough). Police arrive and were very good and said it was just an accident these things happen.

Anyway... a few months later I get a call from Churchill saying he's claiming against me Its now 2007 and its still not over, I phoned up to see where we are upto and so far he's had £3608 for *minor injuries* What a load of crap, why can't we just help each other out an sort it between us when its such a minor incident instead of trying to obtain this so called FREE money which acually isn't and costs all of us more in our premiums.

The phrase "Where There's Blame There's A Claim" is so stupid and is all about greed.

What do you all think, has anyone else been on the receiving end of this?

[KPKalle]

That's just disgraceful Definitely one of the worst American imports into the UK

[TallAndy]

Well especially seen as though its £3608 so far, think they're trying for even more money!

[Robboc]

I know a guy who will pay him a visit for half that cost.

[Malin Dixon]

If you opened a car door into a cyclist, and didn't get prosecuted for it, think yourself lucky.

My brother is a keen cyclist. I also cycle some times, but not as often.

We've both been taken down by car doors. It isn't nice. Car doors have killed cyclists. I got away with a bent bike, and somehow I managed to somersault to the side and end up standing on the pavement. The car driver said sorry and drove off.

I would have liked to have rode away but I had to try to get my bike working first. The 70 miles the next day on a bike with a bad pull to the left was a pain.

Anyhow, you had a car crash, your fault, no prosecution, and your insurance company (not even you) has had to pay about the cost of the repair of say, a front wing and a door of a car.

How is it that you think you are unlucky?

I know this is a bit off thread. £3600 is a lot more than my bike, but less than the cost of some of my brother's bikes. It looks like it is a small personal injury claim.

Would you want to be thrown to the road without warning at 15 mph for just £3600?

Maybe I'm looking at this from the angle of a cyclist. There is some absolutely appalling driving around cyclists, and I do try to stick to the rules of the road, like stopping at lights. The chicanes that have "Give way to on coming traffic" are ignored by about half of all drivers when it is "only" a bike who has the right of way, and I could go on and on.

[TallAndy]

I'm an avid mountain biker at the weekends and totally appreciate where your coming from. However I opended my door a fraction to be as careful as possible >> a few cms and he came along very quickly (close to the cars) and hit the door end on. If I had wrecklessly swung my door completely open and he had hit the inside of the door I would have some sympathy.

A. My point is it was an accident
B. Why can't people sort out minor injuries between them without screwing ppl over for money

I would have happily paid for his bike repairs but no it has to go to some blood sucking company that gets £1000's of pounds out of it.

[northandy]

every story is different, my sister was involved in an accident in a taxi, she had called a local cab firm, and a minibus arrived to take her on her trip, however during it one of the front wheels came off and it hit three parked cars... she suffered cuts and bruises and whiplash... the taxi was founf to not be insured, not be a registered taxi, had not MOT etc etc... 2 years on shes still not had a penny despite the taxi firm being prosecuted

[TallAndy]

Sods law someone with some bruises gets a wedge of cash, and some who his hurt gets nothing...

Sorry to hear about that.

[KPKalle]

If I was a cyclist and ran into an opening car door I would consider it my fault. As a cyclist and motorcyclist I'm always very wary of passing too close to parked or slow moving vehicles. Same with passing between vehicles stuck in a traffic jam.

They advise you to use your eyes and consider the potential danger in all situations. For instance, if there is someone in the parked car ahead then be prepared for them opening the door.

[:: Jon ::]

Cyclists should be banned off the road well they should.. they dont pay road tax.. they dont have insurance.. why should they be allowed on the road...

this is my worst nightmare when in cambridge as its like bike central.. cars are the odd ones out..

the cyclist should always be prepared for car doors opening also.. so its not just a drivers fault in these cases.. its a bit of a 50 / 50..

but in andys case he offered the guy everything he could.. but the cyclist is obviously a grabbing b*****d

[Fin]

I know of a case recenlty where an individual who's job it was to clean the kitchen of a restaurant slipped on some grease and put his forearm down on a hot cooker surface to break his fall. The result was he had a bad burn to his forearm. The whole point of him being there at that point was to clean up said grease so the chefs etc could continue to move around the kitchen. They got him there specifically to clean up that patch of grease. The end of the story is that he got roughly £2000 compensation for not doing his job properly, which resulted in him being injured.

You hear adverts on the TV: 'Mr X climbed an unsafe ladder at work and had a bad fall. He received £3000 compensation....' If it was an unsafe ladder what was he doing climbing it in the first place?!

Before long it will be the situation similar to that of a South Park episode, where the case in court is 'Everybody vs Everybody Else', and the only people who get richer are the lawyers.

As for this cyclist, if you only opened your door a few cms he was cycling too close to your car if he ended up hitting the door end on and the whole blame can't be left with you. He's seen a way to earn a few months wages in a few minutes and gone for it.

I heard this joke the other day: What's the difference between a dead lawyer lying in the road, and a dead poisonous snake lying in the road? There will be skid marks in front of the snake

[bubblegoose]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonmorgan (original)

Cyclists should be banned off the road well they should.. they dont pay road tax.. they dont have insurance.. why should they be allowed on the road...

this is my worst nightmare when in cambridge as its like bike central.. cars are the odd ones out..

the cyclist should always be prepared for car doors opening also.. so its not just a drivers fault in these cases.. its a bit of a 50 / 50..

but in andys case he offered the guy everything he could.. but the cyclist is obviously a grabbing b*****d

i'm with you Jon...
it really is a bit of 50/50.

Money grabbing bar steward!

[GR33NIE]

Quote: Originally Posted by Malin Dixon (original)

Would you want to be thrown to the road without warning at 15 mph for just £3600?

Call it £4K and ill take my chances

[TallAndy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

I know of a case recenlty where an individual who's job it was to clean the kitchen of a restaurant slipped on some grease and put his forearm down on a hot cooker surface to break his fall. The result was he had a bad burn to his forearm. The whole point of him being there at that point was to clean up said grease so the chefs etc could continue to move around the kitchen. They got him there specifically to clean up that patch of grease. The end of the story is that he got roughly £2000 compensation for not doing his job properly, which resulted in him being injured.

You hear adverts on the TV: 'Mr X climbed an unsafe ladder at work and had a bad fall. He received £3000 compensation....' If it was an unsafe ladder what was he doing climbing it in the first place?!

Before long it will be the situation similar to that of a South Park episode, where the case in court is 'Everybody vs Everybody Else', and the only people who get richer are the lawyers.

As for this cyclist, if you only opened your door a few cms he was cycling too close to your car if he ended up hitting the door end on and the whole blame can't be left with you. He's seen a way to earn a few months wages in a few minutes and gone for it.

I heard this joke the other day: What's the difference between a dead lawyer lying in the road, and a dead poisonous snake lying in the road? There will be skid marks in front of the snake

Good point Fin, and i'm loving the joke

[Mike Clarke]

Quote: Originally Posted by KPKalle (original)

If I was a cyclist and ran into an opening car door I would consider it my fault. As a cyclist and motorcyclist I'm always very wary of passing too close to parked or slow moving vehicles. Same with passing between vehicles stuck in a traffic jam.

They advise you to use your eyes and consider the potential danger in all situations. For instance, if there is someone in the parked car ahead then be prepared for them opening the door.

I was knocked off by a motorist opening his door, I was being careful but it was a very narrow laneway with pedestrians walking on onew side. The motorist simply didn't look before he opened his door.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonmorgan (original)

Cyclists should be banned off the road well they should.. they dont pay road tax.. they dont have insurance.. why should they be allowed on the road...

this is my worst nightmare when in cambridge as its like bike central.. cars are the odd ones out..

the cyclist should always be prepared for car doors opening also.. so its not just a drivers fault in these cases.. its a bit of a 50 / 50..

but in andys case he offered the guy everything he could.. but the cyclist is obviously a grabbing b*****d

Most cyclists are also motorists so do pay taxes and many do carry insurance. Try and do a little research and find out a few facts before posting please.

Funny that drivers rarely open their doors in the path of other cars or trucks. If you open your door without checking that the road is clear then you are clearly at fault.

We have not been given sufficient information about why the cyclist is making a claim for anyone to start calling him names.