Driver who hit me on my bike wants me to pay for repairs to his car?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sarah F
  • Start date Start date
S

Sarah F

Guest
About 3 weeks ago I was crossing the road on the pavement on my bike when a car turning left ran into me. I was fine but suffered delayed shock and some bruising. Yesterday I got a letter from the driver trying to get me to pay £400 worth of repairs on his car. At the time of the accident the car appeared to have no damage to it at all save a little bit of the window trimming, not the window instead. Some of the quotes of damage include the inside of the car.
Should I have to pay anything, I was hit and have no cycling insurance?
The letter is just from him not a solictor, is he just trying it on?
I was crossing the road just coming off of the pavement when I was hit. I had looked left then right then crossed.
I also gave him my address, I was in shock though so I can barely remember what I did. I think there may have been a witness, it's a bit of a blurr.
I did go to the doctors the day after though so that should be recorded.
 
Sounds like he's trying it on to me hun. I had a guy hit my car and tried to do just he same. Take pictures of your bike and of the road were he hit you and go to a solicitor and they should be able to see if he has a case against you but i suspect he's just trying to pull a fast one. Did he admit fault when he hit you? because that would be a very important issue and try to find any witnesses hun.

I hope things work out for you hun X
 
Tell him it'll be a cold day in hell before you pay him a penny and if he wants to take it further he should contact the police.

In the meantime make sure you write down in diary exactly what happened as the longer it goes the more you will forget. There will not be a lot the police can do and I would be surprised if they even bother to investigate it with any real effort apart from asking for your version of events.

The only way he will be able to pursue any cost then is through a small claims court which will be a tiresome process for him to go through.

Personally I would take his letter back to him, rolled up real tight, turned side ways and I would inform him of where he can place it. Maybe if you really wind him up by being, smarmy and cocky he may punch you which will totally undermine his whole case.
 
I would think it is a try on. When drivers are in the wrong they often put a case against you to protect themselves from prosecution.
If you get a solicitors letter. Apply for legal aid and get your own solicitor. But Its my guess he is probably just going to be a nuisance!
 
Why shouldn't you pay? Why do cyclists seem to think that the rules of the road don't apply to them, and that they have no responsibility? It's always motorists who get blamed, but I'm sure most of us have witnessed cyclists whizzing through red lights, going around parked cars without looking back first, taking stupid risks etc. It's about time they were made to pay insurance, be identifiable and take some damned responsibility on the road.

If you were to blame because you were being careless, then pay up! If you think the motorist is trying it on, get some free legal advice from a legal clinic.
 
if the letters from him dont pay it i wouldnt especially if you wasnt in the wrong id go and speak to the police about it and see what they say
 
Just ignore it. Who was in the wrong though? if it was you, you should pay, if it was him, then dont pay.
 
This is fraud, through the exaggeration of damage. You are lucky that there did not turn out to be ten Passengers in the car, all claiming whiplash!
I'm not clear how you can "cross the road on the pavement" though. How did the Driver know where to write to you?
 
Hi Im sorry that the car hit you but I think that legally you are not allowed to cycle on the pavement.. Dont shout me down if Im wrong but Im sure UK legislation makes it wrong to cycle on footways. It sounds like you were both in the wrong (you for cycling on the pavement and him for not looking properly) and without witnesses it would probably be a case of your word against his. It does sound like he is trying it on so you could either ignore the letter or respond by saying that you dont believe you were at fault but would be happy to discuss it at the local police station. I would also try to get some legal advice - either from the local police or citizens advice.
 
he is trying it on with you!! he basically isnt covered for his car to be repaired by his own insurance.. or just doesnt want to make a claim..

if the letter doesnt demand a reply from you.. ignore it.. if it does speak to someone at citizens advice (CAB) a free agency who will tell you what to do next.

you should not have to pay out if it was not your fault. its a shame that you didnt have a witness or report being hit by the car at the time of the accident
 
Back
Top