2010-05-05 - Rider Down, Junction of Grafton St/Holmes Road NW5

Came home from work to see lots of flashing blue lights on the crossroad by my flat. And a bike propped up against the wall and a cyclist being strapped on to a stretcher.

The guys name (I think) was Arran and he was riding a black aluminium specialised roadbike that was a few years old.

He was strapped onto a stretcher and in a headbrace but the police told me it was precautionary. I agreed with the police to look after the bike but they came back and took it too the hospital with him and it appeared fine other than a mashed front wheel.

Heard the police talking out of earshot of the driver (who judging by the positioning was totally to blame) and they were looking at delaying him, from what I could tell not because of the accident but for something else hat they were waiting to hear back on so hopefully they were trying to nick him for something more serious.

Not pleasent to see that so close to home.

Hi Lee, That was me, Aaron. I'm alive and well thankfully, minus a broken collar bone, mashed ear and road rash. Thanks for offering to look after the bike, i really appreciate it. (although i remember at the time when the police told me someone had offered to look after it that i was uber paranoid i would never see it again if i gave it away!)

I was going home from work at notting hill around 630pm travelling north along Grafton St with no cars in front or behind me on the road. Infront of me were two side roads opposite each other Holmes Rd and Athlone St both with a car stopped at the white line waiting to move across/into Grafton Rd. I continued to cycle on, and as i did, the driver (a 7seater Mini Cab) on Holmes Rd pulled out hitting me on my entire right hand side.
I'm not sure what happened then or where i landed, but i hit the ground hard on my left handside. I remember a few people telling me not to move and stabilising my head. It was very surreal, I didn't know who the people were standing around, i think one of them was the driver and his wife. An amazing first aider turned up, not sure where from, he had white hair in his 40/50s who i really want to thank.
I think the car driver from the left that was stopped at the white line still was shouting at the driver that hit me asking how he didn't see me. But it was all such a blur im not sure who was who.
A fast response medic arrived in minutes, followed by the police then the ambulance who strapped me up and took me to Royal Free A&E for CAT Scans and X-rays, time flew by and it was midnight and they wanted to keep me in overnight for observation. I left the Hospital yesterday afternoon after having my left ear drained of blood, and a shrek-like-mould strapped on to stop it filling up again. Nothing they could do for my collar bone except give me a sling. I have to go back next week for some checks, I feel very lucky nothing else was damaged.
I haven't fully checked over the bike but i think (hope) its not too bad, need a new front wheel but hopefully the forks and frame are ok.

Lots of rest for the next few weeks and now to re-read the "What To Do in Case of Accident" thread.

Sounds like a horror crash. Heal up matey.

Hope you heal well. Sounds like another blue badge of death incident :(

Yeah, get well, glad it wasn't worse!

Etch, great to hear youre alive, get well soon.

Thank goodness this was a low-speed crash. Good sightlines at that junction and he still hit you. Heal up well and soon! Good on you for helping, Lee.

Glad you are on the mend.

Guess it's time to head over to the Draw your own collisions thread

https://www.lfgss.com/thread27103.html

Hi Lee, That was me, Aaron. I'm alive and well thankfully, minus a broken collar bone, mashed ear and road rash. Thanks for offering to look after the bike, i really appreciate it. (although i remember at the time when the police told me someone had offered to look after it that i was uber paranoid i would never see it again if i gave it away!)

I was going home from work at notting hill around 630pm travelling north along Grafton St with no cars in front or behind me on the road. Infront of me were two side roads opposite each other Holmes Rd and Athlone St both with a car stopped at the white line waiting to move across/into Grafton Rd. I continued to cycle on, and as i did, the driver (a 7seater Mini Cab) on Holmes Rd pulled out hitting me on my entire right hand side.
I'm not sure what happened then or where i landed, but i hit the ground hard on my left handside. I remember a few people telling me not to move and stabilising my head. It was very surreal, I didn't know who the people were standing around, i think one of them was the driver and his wife. An amazing first aider turned up, not sure where from, he had white hair in his 40/50s who i really want to thank.
I think the car driver from the left that was stopped at the white line still was shouting at the driver that hit me asking how he didn't see me. But it was all such a blur im not sure who was who.
A fast response medic arrived in minutes, followed by the police then the ambulance who strapped me up and took me to Royal Free A&E for CAT Scans and X-rays, time flew by and it was midnight and they wanted to keep me in overnight for observation. I left the Hospital yesterday afternoon after having my left ear drained of blood, and a shrek-like-mould strapped on to stop it filling up again. Nothing they could do for my collar bone except give me a sling. I have to go back next week for some checks, I feel very lucky nothing else was damaged.
I haven't fully checked over the bike but i think (hope) its not too bad, need a new front wheel but hopefully the forks and frame are ok.

Lots of rest for the next few weeks and now to re-read the "What To Do in Case of Accident" thread.

Glad you are ok mate. You were well strapped up on the stretcher when I got there, looked bad so good to know that you are relatively unscathed!

I am pretty certain the fIrst aider may have been a council employee from the depot on Holmes road. Do you remember if he was in a reflective top - if so then definitely the case.

The police had taken my details and watched me take you bike in my flat before telling you - I think they were suspicious too! FFS I was in my suit! The bike looked ok to me, reckon just the buckled front wheel needed sorted.

I still can't understand how from there he couldn't have seen you? As someone else has said the visibility of that junction is immense. Likewise you have to cme to a halt on Holmes Road because of the angle of the junction. No way he should be working as a cab driver, but as i said in my original post the police were keen to keep him there and appeared to have an ulterior motiver so fingers crossed he get's don good and proper!

Draw your own collisions thread has been updated with mad paint skillz,
Thanks for all the well wishing.

I think the first aider guy had a white shirt on? not sure if he had a reflective coat over the top, maybe? I'm gonna head down to the spot on monday so i might have a look around for him.
Should be speaking to the police today so will find out more then...

Good to see you up and posting. Hopefully the driver will have some valid insurance and you'll get paid out for the damage plus pain and suffering. Take your time and seek advice as to what to claim for. Don't limit it just to the wheel, you need compensating for the damage to yourself too.

Good to see you up and posting. Hopefully the driver will have some valid insurance and you'll get paid out for the damage plus pain and suffering. Take your time and seek advice as to what to claim for. Don't limit it just to the wheel, you need compensating for the damage to yourself too.

Don't forget to add incidental expenses, like taxis and takeaways when you couldn't ride to a place or cook for yourself.
List everything damaged or spent.

Clothes will need cleaning or replacing.
Get your bike professionally assessed.

Get well soon!

Heal up soon Aaron, all the best.

Glad to hear you're OK. Stay safe

Get well soon... go easy on the collar bone, let it heal - I broke mine and started sport too soon and it ended up healing very badly - but get yourself a no win/no fee solicitor - I recovered £2.5k (and this was years back) from the insurers of the driver responsible for breaking my collar bone

Shit I spose this is a riders worst nightmare.

Glad to hear your ok even if I haven't met you before!

Peace