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09-29-10, 05:20 PM
I live in Cambridge and was cycling through the city centre this evening. It was dark and wet so I was being cautious. As I came up to an intersection a taxi came up behind me, I could see he was driving aggressively so I kept to the centre of the road so he wouldn't over take me dangerously. I slowed down at the double broken line to see if there was any traffic coming on the right. At this point, despite there being no room, he tried to overtake me and his left wing mirror hit me from behind and dragged me a short way until I crashed into the curb.
He stopped, perhaps thinking I was seriously injured (as I very nearly was). I asked him what he thought he was doing, in so many words! I then pointed out that he had hit me with such force that his wing mirror had broken off, which he hadn't realised. He then, forgetting that he'd almost killed me, decided that damage to his wing mirror was more important and told me that he expected me to pay for it. I refused and took a photo of his number plate so I could complain to the company he represented and that I would also get into contact with him via his company.
I began to walk away when he grabbed my bike and refused to let go. I realised he was becoming aggressive so went along with it to avoid things getting physical. He then phoned the police because he seemed to think that, bizarrely, I had committed some kind of offence.
When they arrived they made us exchange details after having a few harsh words with him. I wasn't injured and there was nothing on the cctv so they told me that we would have to resolve the situation between the two of us as it was not a police matter.
They told me his insurance company would have to contact me to asses the situation.
This is where I need help. I'm presuming the company will pay for his mirror if they think I am liable. If they don't I presume that if he wants me to pay for it he will have to take me to court. I have heard that motorists seldom win such cases against cyclists in the uk which is nice to think but I can't rely on it and I certainly don't want to pay for his mirror. A broken mirror is the least he deserves for being so reckless.
Please tell me where I may be wrong and let me know your own experiences.
He stopped, perhaps thinking I was seriously injured (as I very nearly was). I asked him what he thought he was doing, in so many words! I then pointed out that he had hit me with such force that his wing mirror had broken off, which he hadn't realised. He then, forgetting that he'd almost killed me, decided that damage to his wing mirror was more important and told me that he expected me to pay for it. I refused and took a photo of his number plate so I could complain to the company he represented and that I would also get into contact with him via his company.
I began to walk away when he grabbed my bike and refused to let go. I realised he was becoming aggressive so went along with it to avoid things getting physical. He then phoned the police because he seemed to think that, bizarrely, I had committed some kind of offence.
When they arrived they made us exchange details after having a few harsh words with him. I wasn't injured and there was nothing on the cctv so they told me that we would have to resolve the situation between the two of us as it was not a police matter.
They told me his insurance company would have to contact me to asses the situation.
This is where I need help. I'm presuming the company will pay for his mirror if they think I am liable. If they don't I presume that if he wants me to pay for it he will have to take me to court. I have heard that motorists seldom win such cases against cyclists in the uk which is nice to think but I can't rely on it and I certainly don't want to pay for his mirror. A broken mirror is the least he deserves for being so reckless.
Please tell me where I may be wrong and let me know your own experiences.