Not a flippin happy bunny

Wyvern971

Wyvern971

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George
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On my way into work this morning on my motorbike I had a child run out into the side of me from behind a bus. As in he actually ran into the side of the bike, I didn't even have time to brake. He then ran off before I had even got up. He then reappeared with the mother when an ambulance turned up (someone on the bus called them). Apparently the mother claimed I, "Accellerated into her child" which wasn't really entertained by the police officers, or the ambulance crew.

BEFORE anything else is said the kid is fine, other than a couple of bruises.

The bike slid a good few feet down the road, the panniers got thrown off the bike. Fortunately I wasn't carrying any of my photography gear other than my Powershot G9. I was planning on taking it in so that I could take some photos at my martial arts class, fortunately I managed to get them done last week.

The bike is going to cost about £2k to fix up as new (or a bit less for to a ridable level). I don't really want to claim on the insurance as it'll push my premiums up, but I might not have a choice. Especially if the mother decided to try to push a claim, which wouldn't suprise me based on her previous statement.

Not going to risk carrying my photography gear on the bike without a peli case now.

Anyway, the main thing is I never realised how stupid kids are, why aren't they taught how to cross the road safely, instead banging on the speed kills message?

If he'd run out 1/2 a second earlier I'd have hit him straight on at about 20-25mph and seriously injured him, or potentially killed him if the bike had fallen on top of him.

All I can say for now is I am a bit sore where I hit the deck, and it's going to cost me a small fortune come what may to fix the bike. Any other bikers out there commuting, be bloody careful, kids are flippin stupid.
 
There's a flyover in Poole and I nearly had some little oik on roller skates in through my side window as a I drove under it. Then he blames me...*****. Kids are stupid, and maybe it's the mother who needs to be questioned as to why she wasn't watching her kid who is obviously not responsible enough to be near a road unsupervised?
 
Is there not a way you can claim from them, if the Police side with you ?

I am not a fan of 'Where there is blame there is a claim' but in circumstances like this it may be worth trying to get your excess paid and then maybe liasing with your insurance provider with reference to future premium increases caused by the claim ?

Glad you are both OK, bikes mend, one way or another !
 
You'll have to declare it to the insurance as it's on Police records so you may as well claim :(

I had a kid on a pushbike swerve out in front of me many years ago, he ended up with a (possibly) broken arm :(. Luckily for me he ran off before anybody could get his name/ details otherwise the crowd was going to lynch me (it must have been my fault as I was on a motorbike)
 
It's never the parent's fault. I had a kid run out in front of me about 20 years ago, fortunately I'd just set off from a set of traffic lights, so I wasn't going all that fast, but he ran out, passed the front of the car, panicked and turned straight back into my path and ended up going under the car.

Being it was a Metro with a low gearbox, I was convinced he's be at least seriously injured, but there wasn't a mark on him and luckily there was a policeman standing on the corner who had witnessed the whole thing and a car full of nurses behind me.

Still ended up having to pay for a bleedin' ambulance for the wee eejit though and he didn't even go to hospital :bang:
 
dseered said:
Is there not a way you can claim from them, if the Police side with you ?
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Why would you do that? It's an accident. This is what makes me sick to the back teeth. The whole litigation culture that America has exported to the UK.
 
KayJay said:
Why would you do that? It's an accident. This is what makes me sick to the back teeth. The whole litigation culture that America has exported to the UK.
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Nothing to do with that it's not like I want to try and get an injury claim, I'd just rather it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get my bike fixed for something that wasn't my fault, both in getting it fixed and hiked premiums.

EDIT;
And no I can't put a claim in against a pedestrian, even if it's not my fault
 
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Bloody new generation kids (man that makes me sound old)

Never think twice before crossing the roads.

It is the games like grand theft auto I swear. There like oh wow he cant get hurt that much when hes hit by a car "I AM INVINCIBLE" :lol:

But they nark me off kids like that. You just nudge them and they go off crying to mummy!
 
KayJay said:
Why would you do that? It's an accident. This is what makes me sick to the back teeth. The whole litigation culture that America has exported to the UK.
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I hate it aswell but trust me, if you had walked off the kerb and made me put my Ducati down the road I would be taking a civil action against you.

Many children do not respect anything anymore, riders have enough to worry about without the added hazard of lose kids, OP says about 25mph, riders at 25mph are easily visable.

Parents should ensure the kids know that roads are dangerous places, yet many don't and things like this happen.
 
Wyvern971 said:
Nothing to do with that it's not like I want to try and get an injury claim, I'd just rather it doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to get my bike fixed for something that wasn't my fault, both in getting it fixed and hiked premiums.

EDIT;
And no I can't put a claim in against a pedestrian, even if it's not my fault
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I hope you have taken note of post 4 by mrgubby because if you do not declare it to your insurance company your insurance effectively becomes void.
 
well have they changed the code?...

road = Things with wheels

pavement = Things with legs

parents = responsible for their kids

Green cross code?...
 
Galaxy66 said:
I hope you have taken note of post 4 by mrgubby because if you do not declare it to your insurance company your insurance effectively becomes void.
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I don't know enough about it really but a Police report will become vital as they will try to claim for mental trauma or something silly, also the I would guess the insurance company will want to asses the damage.

In fact if you have legal cover, just pass on the details of the Police person and let the insurance company do the dealing !
 
sportysnaps said:
well have they changed the code?...

Green cross code?...
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Naw that all went tits up when David Prowse started
prancing around in all the black gear pretending to be one evil SOB :D

Seriously though It winds me up!
The recent TV ad about the child "if you hit me at 40 I'll most likely die
Hit me at 30 and I'll most likely live ( para-phrasing a little)
FFS look where the hell you are going child and don't walk out in front of moving vehicles

And of course its always the motorist ( or bikers) fault when a kid
runs across the road in front of you.

I also hate the litigation culture but would certainly put in a ( counter) claim
if there is a better than even chance that the kids Mum will try and sue
you!
 
I detest the compensation culture as much as most, but this isn't like claiming damages from your employer because you're a fat ****er who's too fat for you chair and broke it. It's actually a case of someone being directly responsible for the damage to your bike.
 
Can't you claim on their House insurance, same as you would had the kid been riding a bike?
 
Something similar happened to me about 2 yrs ago and I had to claim on my insurance.

A young girl, about 7, was racing along on a pavement on her push bike. She was racing her older sister who was on foot. She did a sharp right off the pavement and into the road to avoid a woman and a vacuum cleaner on the pavement. Due to an old abandoned caravan in the line of parked cars on my off-side, she didn't see me approaching nor did or could I see her. She shot out from behind this old caravan into the front offside wing of my Jag. The mother called an ambulance and insisted on the Police being there. Mother seemed disappointed when the medic cleared her daughter and said there was no need for her to see a doctor, let alone a hospital. The police officer took all the details and, effectively, told the mother to wind her neck in. It was so obvious to all, including multiple witnesses, that the girl on the bike hit me - not the other way around. I was so angry at the mother the police office 'escorted' me out of her house.


/edit - whether you intend to claim or not, notify your insurers NOW!
 
Jordie said:
Bloody new generation kids (man that makes me sound old)

Never think twice before crossing the roads.

It is the games like grand theft auto I swear. There like oh wow he cant get hurt that much when hes hit by a car "I AM INVINCIBLE" :lol:

But they nark me off kids like that. You just nudge them and they go off crying to mummy!
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That seems like an incredibly dumb generalisation. Flash In The Pan said it happened to him 20 years ago. Are you going to blame Mario for that? I remember running across a road as a kid like 25 years ago. I got told off and learnt my lesson. Fairly sure it wasn't due to playing Frogger. Kids are kids. They do silly things and they hopefully learn.
 
Galaxy66 said:
I hope you have taken note of post 4 by mrgubby because if you do not declare it to your insurance company your insurance effectively becomes void.
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Already done, at least reported it, though I haven't decided to claim yet. I'm getting it looked at by a garage. I'd rather someone I've used before does the work on it, but it's looking costly.

I reported it as it's been reported to the police anyhow, and I'd rather have it on record just in case the mother decided to try to press for damages.

Claiming on thier house insurance I have been told by my insurers and rider support services is the only chance, even then it's a slim chance.

I'm half tempted not to put in a claim due to how much it will cost me in the long run, but if the mother has decided to then I might as well as it's a claim on my policy anyway then. :(
 
Trouble is, she doesn`t even have to do it immediately. I had a coming together with a biker (I ride them myself, so I know how vulnerable they are..) He was clocking about 60 in a thirty, I edged out of a turning due to a big van on the corner, saw him and stopped. Only trouble was, he thought I was still pulling out and effectively dropped the bike.

Never heard a word off of him until the summons for due care came through the post six months later. Then all of a sudden the insurance claim came in.

Needless to say when I was found not guilty, it put paid to his claim as well.

I feel for you, because you`re kinda stuck in the middle. If you spend your money and she sticks in a claim, as you say, you might`ve well claimed for the lot.
 
Wyvern971 said:
Already done, at least reported it, though I haven't decided to claim yet. I'm getting it looked at by a garage. I'd rather someone I've used before does the work on it, but it's looking costly.

I reported it as it's been reported to the police anyhow, and I'd rather have it on record just in case the mother decided to try to press for damages.

Claiming on thier house insurance I have been told by my insurers and rider support services is the only chance, even then it's a slim chance.

I'm half tempted not to put in a claim due to how much it will cost me in the long run, but if the mother has decided to then I might as well as it's a claim on my policy anyway then. :(
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George, are you aware that you do not have to take your bike to the insurers designated repairers, this is a myth that all insurance companies would have us believe. You do not even have to supply 3 quotes and if your chosen repairer is expensive it is up to the insurance company to agree costs with them. My last claim for a replacement Honda wing was done at a BMW garage because I knew their bodyshop had a good reputation, as you can imagine they were expensive.
In 3 claims I have always used my own chosen repairer, and in another two claims that were just for glass I insisted on the windscreen and side glass being replaced with OEM Honda glass not Autoglass branded replacements.

Not a lot of people know of this right.
 
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petemc said:
That seems like an incredibly dumb generalisation. Flash In The Pan said it happened to him 20 years ago. Are you going to blame Mario for that? I remember running across a road as a kid like 25 years ago. I got told off and learnt my lesson. Fairly sure it wasn't due to playing Frogger. Kids are kids. They do silly things and they hopefully learn.
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Mate your younger than me even if only by 3 years or something which when you were 15 you had Driver2 and even... yep GTA

Doesnt mean your out driving like a lunatic because the game said so. Blaming video games is the easy way of not blaming bad parenting and peer pressure...
 
Slightly related/slightly unrelated, there was a story on the news last night of kids and motorists doing equally stupid things. Take a look at this video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7878211.stm

I hate to say I'd have no sympathy for these people if they did get run over but really.. they're just asking for it. Same with your little guy.. I can't feel sympathetic to idiots.
 
Crazy, the dude that gets his shoe clipped off by a train, now that was lucky.
 
KayJay said:
Why would you do that? It's an accident. This is what makes me sick to the back teeth. The whole litigation culture that America has exported to the UK.
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No it wasn't an accident, it was someone's thoughtlessness that has caused an innocent party injury and loss.

I'm against compensation culture but this incident is a genuine claim

House insurance usually has 3rd party public liability cover, what you need to find out is do they have this cover on their policy
 
shame you didnt break the little t***s legs.
i ride a bike too.
wonder if you can claim on your insurance, and get them to sue her for the amount.
and definitely tell your insurers straight away.
you might even invalidate your insurance, if you dont.
watched that train crossing video too, jeeeeez.
once had a conversation with a train driver. he reckoned ,chances are every train driver will actualy hit, or see another train hit someone during their career.
scary.
 
mad at both of em.obviously more the parents.
maybe the kid will be a little more carefull in future too.
so if a biker gets knocked across a road, hits an oncoming car and gets killed (which incidentaly happened to a freind of mine some years ago), would they feel sorry for him.
amasing that the parents should think they'd have a right to claim damages for their own lack of attention.
 
inaneredstripe said:
shame you didnt break the little t***s legs.
i ride a bike too.
wonder if you can claim on your insurance, and get them to sue her for the amount.
and definitely tell your insurers straight away.
you might even invalidate your insurance, if you dont.
watched that train crossing video too, jeeeeez.
once had a conversation with a train driver. he reckoned ,chances are every train driver will actualy hit, or see another train hit someone during their career.
scary.
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Many,many years ago when we were but lads we were out in my mate's car (a Hillman Imp, so that'll give you a clue as to how long ago it was :lol:) with another mate in his Imp in front of us.

It was just after school out time and both cars were approaching a bus at a stop when this kid walked backwards off the pavement into the path of the lead car, causing him to be thrown clean over the bonnet, breaking the windscreen wiper and mirror off the Imp.

The lad in the front car got out and, after checking the boy was uninjured (which he was) took him by the scruff of his neck to his parent's house and demanded they pay for the damage to his car.....which they did :lol:
 
Well this is interesting, I got a call from a representative from my insurance company;

They want to interview me as to what happened, though I'm not sure why, there is a police report which states exactly what happened.

I also got a letter stating they need to visit the scene of the accident

I've not even put in a claim yet!
 
The mother is seeing $$$$$$ before her eyes after being encouraged by friends and relatives to make a claim maybe.
 
:agree: Certainly sounds like someone (the mother) is trying to put a claim in :(

Glad both you and the kid are OK btw.
 
Post traumatic stress after the incident?.
I was involved in a not at fault head on collision, car was a right off, I was not injured but the thought of how my family would have coped if I had been killed had one hell of an effect on me, I would have recurring thoughts of the accident and would break down spontaneously.

My insurance company successfully fought for an award of £3000.
 
inaneredstripe said:
amasing that the parents should think they'd have a right to claim damages for their own lack of attention.
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Unfortunately thats the way it goes now days :( with all this US based litigation culture and no win no fee leaches I mean solicitors

Wyvern971 said:
, I got a call from a representative from my insurance company;
I also got a letter stating they need to visit the scene of the accident

I've not even put in a claim yet!
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Well there goes your no claims bonus even if you don't claim ( I hope you have protected no claims)
Happened to me years ago, a bit of a bump, the other guy admitted it was his fault and paid up no problem,
I was strongly advised to report the accident, "just in case"
which I did. I found my no claims bonus deminished at the next renewal when I queried, as you would,
I was told that I had an accident!
No amount of reasoning would make them see sense, that I hadn't made a
claim. So therefore my no claims shouldn't be affected.
Unfortunately Insurance companies do not use the same logic as us mere mortals :(
Anyhow good luck :thumbs:
 
KayJay said:
It was a child right, that walked onto the road?
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Ran out from behind a bus according to the OP, children have responsibility for their actions as well as adults, I'm glad the child wasn't injured but the OP should still claim from them if they have insurance, it's what insurance is for, not for the **** that claims whiplash in a 5mph crash
 
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