You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I typed out a long post and can't seem to find it now so if I'm repeating myself don't worry it's not a head injury!
I'm on holiday in France and have no idea how things work over here, so I'm after advice. At around 13h today on a straight-ish road I was hit from behind and knocked off the road bike. The car driver stopped to check I was OK as did a coach driver that was driving the other way and saw the whole accident. I got the coach driver to write down her name and mobile number and the car driver's name and mobile number along with the cars number plate. I refused to go to the hospital or have the fire brigade called as I didn't hit my head and apart from sore buttocks, I hit the road bottom first, I'm fine. TBH I was pretty shuck up and just wanted to go home and have a shower. The car driver gave me a lift home via her house as we need to swap cars for something bigger, apart from knocking me off she was really nice.
The bike is a Ritchey road logic steel frame with a carbon fork. The bike looks fine, marks on the chain stays where the rear wheel has made contact and a ruined rear wheel seem to be the only issues, maybe the headset bearing are a little noisy. I presume I can take the bike to a French bike shop, get it checked and a bill for replacement part and then bill the driver? I don't need to involve the police unless they refuse to pay up do I?
TBH I just want the bike working again, not to be out of pocket, and forget the whole thing as TBH it was pretty frightening.
I’d ask the driver what they think you should do to get it sorted… it gets them onside from the start! They might even know a bike shop.
Hope it all works out. Glad you’re not hurt. This kind of thing is scary when it happens to you. Don’t feel bad about being shaken up, everyone is when it’s them.
You were lucky in a way regarding the driver and the location, I know this sounds like it should be common sense but over there if there’s an accident then the next car that is on the road has to stop by law.
Likely why the coach stopped and thank god you got a driver that was albeit a bad driver but had a conscience.
Glad you’re alright anyway, i bet it was bloody scary!
The driver should have done a constat, to record the incident with her insurance.
There's no obligation to do a constat or inform the insurance company, the only obligations are adresse and number plate.
I presume I can take the bike to a French bike shop, get it checked and a bill for replacement part and then bill the driver? I don’t need to involve the police unless they refuse to pay up do I?
That's it.
The lady has 5 days to declare it to her insurance but doen't have to and can choose to cover your costs herself, I'd be very surprised if she doesn't.
If you do have any medical issues appear within five days get to a doctor and inform the driver so she can let her insurance know.
Hope you recover and enjoy the rest of your trip.
Madame was hit from behind on a roundabout which did some damage to the bike but not her, the next people along were two gendarmes on motorbikes. They just observed the negotiations between Madame and the driver and when he handed over the cash she reckoned would cover the repair everyone went their way.
when he handed over the cash she reckoned would cover the repair everyone went their way.
Blimey, how civilised 👍