Van reversed into me today

[Coxyzxr]

Following (not tailgating) a van today through country lane to work.
Van stops for big lorry, I pull in to a stop about a cars length behind the van, van starts reversing so I start walking the bike back, he gets quicker and quicker and I realise he's gonna hit me, blast my horn, shout... BOOM.

Hits me, the bike goes down he's still going I scramble and head for the nearest hedge.

WTF, first accident ever. Quite shaken up, leg hit up a bit but only bruising.

Think the front wheel is done on the bike, as hard to push and front brake is now squeeking when pushing, front mudguard gone, scratches all over the left side, fairing brackets bent, gear selector snapped, clutch lever snapped, everything you'd expect really.

Am I right in thinking he's liable? Even if he says he couldn't see me in mirrors?

It#s in hands of insurance company now, just posting to advise and look for a little advice.

Cheers ears
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**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[fatjames]

It's his fault, but you might need to prove it. The classic line (from him) will be that you rode into his rear.
Did anyone see this happen? Did he admit liability?

[Coxyzxr]

[fatjames]

[chris-red]

If the lorry driver saw him reversing into you and you have his details you should have nothing to worry about with the insurance
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Paullec]

Bad luck hope it goes through ok, next time remember if you cant see their mirrors they cant see you.

[Coxyzxr]

No excuse at all, said he just didn't see me even though I was following him for half a mile on a green white and blue zxr with a very loud pipe and headlights on...

Already been to a&e as leg was agony but pain didn't kick in till event was all over then it just got worse and worse.
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**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[goto10]

[CaNsA]

Glad you're ok dude.

Must be retard monday cos this is the 3rd RTA where a bike has been hit that I've heard about today, luckily no-one is seriously injured.

[Easter Bunny]

[lllN30lll]

Did you take plenty of pics at the scene, obviously if he hit you and kept going then there will be scuff marks on the road where he dragged your bike.

If he says you ran into him then there would be no marks because you'd come to a dead stop.
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Turbo R1
CRF450R

[Alpha-9]

Retard monday eh? Well i'm off out and the roads round here are pitch black, wish me luck!

In a situation like that witnesses are pivotal, hopefully as it was a company van the guy wont care and will just tell the truth. My mate used to drive a company van and he didn't really give a shit as it was company insurance so just told the truth when there was an accident. GL
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Fzr-600 1999

[Dave70]

[Irn-Bru]

Should be fine since you have a witness, but there has been a few stories of people in work vans lying their arse off to ensure they don't lose their job basically.

Reminds me of the late svengalie's video, although it's not him riding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqnRIeRT2hs
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[lozzypop1]

Was it a company van? If so have you spoken directly to the company?
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Funny, I used to hate being spanked as a child!
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.

[Stonefly]

I NEARLY had a transit driver reverse into me this afternoon. Middle of the road was not an option as it was outside a school at chucking out time. Fucking retard started rolling backwards to let a car through the gap in the double-parked chelsea tractors, and then his reverse lights came on. I was back pedaling as fast as i could but decided the horn was the only answer. Fortunately, the retard driver has the window open, having a ciggy, so heard me. It was pretty intense for a moment. I discovered that adrenalin is brown, too!!!
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Current......Kawasaki ZZR1200 C2H and Kawasaki ZZR600 E7
Previous....Yamaha FS1E, Honda SS50, Suzuki AP50, BSA Bantam D14, Honda CD175, Honda CB250N, Kawasaki Z250A3, Yamaha RD250E, Kawasaki Z400, Kawasaki Z500, Kawasaki GPz550, Honda NTV600, Kawasaki GT750, Kawasaki Z1000R, Kawasaki GPX250

[i.p.phrealy]

[J.M.]

[Vincent]

I had exactly the same thing happen to me a couple of months ago - small van reversed into me while trying to grab a parking space. He went right up onto my front wheel. In my case it was minimal damage and no witness so I just took £50 off him. He didn't hear me or the bikes horn because he had his stereo on full blast.
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Space Is Deep

[Rogerborg]

InB4 "I was in my van today..." thread:

"...driving to me next job, stopped to let a lorry through, looked in me mirrors, nothing there, reversed three feet and next thing I hear is a BANG and some weedy little horn and a chav in bondage gear yelling at me that I'd mullered his bike. Bugger must of been hanging two feet off me arse for miles, cheeky sod had the brass neck to say I should of seen him through the back door. Don't he know that if he can't see me, I can't see him?"

Might have a point there. Could you see him in his mirrors from where you were stopped?

How soon did you sound the horn, and was the lorry driver placed to hear that?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[owl10]

And this is exactly the reason I want an onboard, loop recording black box style camera for my bike (and car) which starts as soon as I turn the bike (+car) on.

Too many fuckwits about
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DanceLikeAMonkey says: "An infinte amount of web pages available
Yet I still end up reading crap like that"

[Llama-Farmer]

That's why I always leave a ridiculously huge gap between lorries/buses/coaches/vans etc. AT LEAST a gap big enough to park a LWB van in. Where possible I try to off-set where I stop too, so that I can see their mirror.

Been said before but if you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you. But even if you can see them, doesn't mean they'll get used, hence leaving a big enough gap to react, get on the horn and try to move out the way.


Hope it's sorted and you learn from it, even if you're not at fault.

[Coxyzxr]

[Red Devil]

[Alpha-9]

Stopping behind vans and buses and shit I tend to be right over in the centre of the road so I can see past them, it pisses me off following big vehicles and only being able to see their arse

I'll even be in the other lane if I have to, rather that than not being able to see wtfs going on down the road