Hello all.
A few weeks ago I was hit by a bicycle when turning right and now my insurance company are saying that I am fully responsible. Any opinions on who is at fault would be very helpful. Thank you for reading.
I was turning right into the oncoming lane to go into a side road. At the bottom of the oncoming lane there is a junction and traffic lights, so there was a line of traffic in this lane. Two cars had left a gap where it is possible to turn into a side road. I was turning right into this gap. As I was completing the turn, still in the oncoming lane but my car was perpendicular to the cars in the oncoming lane, a bicycle that was undertaking in the oncoming lane hit my passenger side. I did not see this bicycle (because he was undertaking and therefore hidden by cars) but witnesses told me he was going at great speed. I was hardly moving at a speed of 2mph at the most. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet.
The police were called and a log was filed. The cyclist said he was fine and did not want to go to hospital. I dealt with my own repairs as he was quite young so I thought there was no point pursuing him. A month down the line my insurance company has written me a letter saying that the other party's solicitors are claiming against me for personal injury and that the insurance companies have decided that I will be held responsible for this.
I would appreciate any opinions about who is at fault. I believe he was completely at fault as I would have seen him if I could, but at the time I was turning he must have been quite a few cars up from me, and his speed caused the collision to happen. Furthermore I'm not sure what the law says about bicycles undertaking, but there was no cycle lane, and undertaking is definitely illegal for cars.
I was very sure that the accident was completely his fault but the insurance companies decision is causing me to doubt myself.
If you think I'm wrong please tell me!
Secondly, is there any point of me disputing the insurance companies decision? or is the decision final?
Thank you for reading I appreciate the time taken to write any responses.
A few weeks ago I was hit by a bicycle when turning right and now my insurance company are saying that I am fully responsible. Any opinions on who is at fault would be very helpful. Thank you for reading.
I was turning right into the oncoming lane to go into a side road. At the bottom of the oncoming lane there is a junction and traffic lights, so there was a line of traffic in this lane. Two cars had left a gap where it is possible to turn into a side road. I was turning right into this gap. As I was completing the turn, still in the oncoming lane but my car was perpendicular to the cars in the oncoming lane, a bicycle that was undertaking in the oncoming lane hit my passenger side. I did not see this bicycle (because he was undertaking and therefore hidden by cars) but witnesses told me he was going at great speed. I was hardly moving at a speed of 2mph at the most. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet.
The police were called and a log was filed. The cyclist said he was fine and did not want to go to hospital. I dealt with my own repairs as he was quite young so I thought there was no point pursuing him. A month down the line my insurance company has written me a letter saying that the other party's solicitors are claiming against me for personal injury and that the insurance companies have decided that I will be held responsible for this.
I would appreciate any opinions about who is at fault. I believe he was completely at fault as I would have seen him if I could, but at the time I was turning he must have been quite a few cars up from me, and his speed caused the collision to happen. Furthermore I'm not sure what the law says about bicycles undertaking, but there was no cycle lane, and undertaking is definitely illegal for cars.
I was very sure that the accident was completely his fault but the insurance companies decision is causing me to doubt myself.
If you think I'm wrong please tell me!
Secondly, is there any point of me disputing the insurance companies decision? or is the decision final?
Thank you for reading I appreciate the time taken to write any responses.