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@thrash
Hi all, long time lurker and rare poster here begging for advice.
Last Sunday I was involved in a road traffic accident, the details of which are below.
I was cycling to work on Sunday 14th August and at approximately 11:35am was hit but what I think was a taxi on the Northern side of Westminster bridge. For those of you who don't know the junction, there are two lanes of traffic that turn left alongside the Houses of Parliament, and a bus lane that runs parallel to these lanes in between them and two lanes of traffic flowing in the opposite direction (a bus lane essentially sandwiched between a dual carriage way). As I entered the bus lane having come off the bridge I began braking towards a red light at the junction (the bus lane allows traffic to turn right onto Whitehall), so was travelling at a relatively slow pace in what was an empty lane (no traffic between myself and the lights) and was position on the left hand side of the bus lane perhaps two feet from the unbroken line marking the lane. From what I recall what I think was a taxi pulled out sharply from the adjacent lane of waiting traffic on my left into the bus lane, and hit me (I assume he didn't look, or that when he did I was in his blind spot). I was knocked unconscious immediately, but was informed by the police that the driver stayed with me until they and an ambulance crew arrived. I have a hazy recollection of being loaded into an ambulance, but only really recall waking up in St. Thomas' hospital with a neck brace on. I am OK but fairly bruised and cut, and required a small amount of plastic surgery on my ear the following day (reconstructive, I ain't that vain). My bike is more or less written off (completely buckled front wheel and bent hub, bent forks and cracked down tube).
Having called the police this morning, I was told that I have been issued a crime number and a case officer who will send me a letter regarding the incident in a couple of days.
My main concerns are these:
I have no idea whether or not I have witnesses (having been unconscious)
I assume the police have the driver's insurance details, but besides this know nothing about him/her, their vehicle, etc.
Any comments or suggestions as to action I should take? I have taken photographs of my injuries and damage to the bike, and have fairly comprehensive documentation of my hospitalisation, but not much more. I'm a little bit concerned that I may not have enough to go on in order to receive compensation for the damage done to my bike/my face.
Is it advisable to get in touch with a solicitor sooner rather than later? And should I set about trying to retrieve CCTV footage?
Thanks in advance guys!