Went through a car window

Ok.
I'm not really entirely sure what happened all I know is I'm hurting.
Went into the back of a car in stationary traffic today, brakes might as well have failed as they did nothing. Smashed his back window, quite a large dent in his boot.
I am uninsured, I do not drive, I owe a bit of rent on my house.
Am I fucked here? As in, will the driver not be compensated and therefore charge me? Does this all depend on his insurance or is this a no brainer and I'm facing quite a large bill?
I can't find much information on this as its usually cyclists being damaged in collisions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

You probably owe them their costs.

I believe you're technically liable for damage to car. Did you swap details? Are you an LCC member and therefore unwittingly carrying 3rd party insurance?

And of course, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you're alright.

Firstly, seek some medical advice. If you're not entirely sure, there's a risk of concussion as well as other injuries that may not be immediately apparent.

Are you fucked? Probably.

Unless there's a reasonable case that the driver is at fault through erratic, careless or reckless driving then you're pretty much on the hook for any damage caused by the collision.

Are you a member of any cycling organisation such as British Cycling, London Cycling Campaign etc? If so, there's a possibility that you have some form of insurance that could help you. The same may be true if you have home insurance or any other insurance although the benefits diminish the further the remove from cycling. As a last resort a current account or credit card may offer some form of insurance or access to legal advice. Check your bank's website for this.
Failing any of this, contact the LCC, local legal surgery or Citizens Advice Bureau for support and advice on where you might be able to get help and to protect yourself from being unduly penalised for the damage caused.

There is also advice and information in the "what to do in case of an accident thread." Even if you're culpable for causing damage, I would suggest making contact with the police to see if this needs to be reported (unlikely unless the other party is injured and wants to take legal action) and the driver's insurance to see what their procedures are (a bit of a sneak to make sure that the driver doesn't just get a very expensive repair and hold you up for it).

However, to reiterate what I said first, take care of your own health first and seek medical attention as a matter of priority.

While you may owe the owner, or their insurer if they pay out, some money, they can not take what you have not got. You should be able to come to some payment plan agreement. If it went to small claims court, that is all that would happen. You may owe some money, but really, don't let it eat you up. They can't go demanding things or sending in bailiffs if you are being reasonable. A rear windscreen and a boot shouldn't cost too much, unless it was a lease contract BMW or Mercedes where a dent could get pricey.

And what ^ he said. Sort yourself out first and get checked out.

I've been checked out and I'm OK.
A few cuts and bruises and they'd like me to come back on thursday just in case, which I will.
We swapped details, I'm not a member of anything. I personally feel at fault but he did say someone pulled out and he had to stop. The guy behind me didn't hit me so clearly left enough room making it seem like the driver in front shouldn't have braked hard. The traffic was stationary but the light was green, we were about 5, 6 cars back. I have no moral problem paying the guy, only wealth issues.
I've been informed by my Dad about an Insurance Bureau so I'll look that up.
I'll check that thread too, prolly a good idea.
Also if anyone has had this happen to them in anyway please let me know what went down.
Cheers lads, I appreciate this.

IIRC if you rear end any one its your fault. Retrospective insurance? impossibru.

Glad your ok, and like the walrus says they cannot take what you don't have.

If they guy is reasonable he will make a claim through his insurance company.
Obviously drivers fear this, as it will hike up their premium (which obviously depends on the make of the car and their post code).
Wait and see. Perhaps you will be able to set up a payment plan like suggested by Walrus? Even if it goes through the courts, they will have in mind your financial situation. Make up a budget sheet whith your income and outgoings.

Do you have the drivers address? Pop round tonight and remove his brake light bulbs. Then go to the police and say you hit him because you had no idea he was stopping. The accident is then all his fault.

Sorry to hear about this incident Register... Before you get back on a bike you really need to get someone to check out your brakes.. If they were worn you would have known.. If a brake cable snapped it would be obvious. Brakes don't just fail.

Do you have machined rims?

impossibru.

What an excellent word.

speaking from experience, remember these golden words for next time:

'me speaky no english'

wave your hands for emphasis

Worst case would be the driver would claim through the MIB (Motor Insurers Bureau) making a claim against an un-insured persons, they will probably contact you and possibly arrange a manageable payment plan or something. Every time someone insures their car a percentage of their premium goes to the MIB to cover against collisions involving un-insured persons, wont necessarily put their premiums up as it isn't their fault. Depends on their insurance company.

Heal up quick

EEI
The guy was great, probably not much older than me and a keen cyclist too. He has a VW Fox, which is pretty much the cheapest insurable car out there right now I just don't know anything about insurance, I don't drive and no one in my house growing up did.
Machined rims as in machined brake surface? I probably don't know but I'll say yeas.
The brakes have done this on two sets of rims, not a fail but not slowed until locked. I had to literally throw myself off my bike onto a pavement a few months ago to avoid a collision like this on a descent. The brakes are getting replaced no doubt. Modolo exe from 1989 or something, aero levers.

Glad to hear you are ok Register. I agree with EEI, and chris, make contact reassuring the driver that you are alright. Explain your financial situation, but say that you will pay for the damage when you can afford it. Being honest and covering his cost so that he doesn't need to make an insurance claim is the best way forward. I'm sure he would appreciate it. Get your bike looked at properly, then get some cycle training.

... then get some cycle training.

Cheers for that....

csb

Glad your ok agree with every word almac68 said.

What will you do in the future to minimise the chance of that happening again?

I'm buying new brakes.

Haven't spoken to the Guy today. I'm gonna try again tomorrow.

The fact I rear ended him puts me at fault though, think that was understood between me and driver from the start. Although having spoken to literally everyone I know who drives its quite likely insurance will cover under uninsured drivers. If theirs an excess the guy might ask me for that but I don't think he'll extort me or anything.

Doctors in the morning, work wasn't too bad but I have to get checked anyway.

speaking from experience, remember these golden words for next time:

'me speaky no english'

wave your hands for emphasis

Yes but that would be a dick move. What if the driver is also hard up at the moment and needs his car for work? He can hardly drive with smashed back window.

Props to register for being straight up and good to hear you're ok.

Also it's worth getting some decent brake pads. If you're short of cash fibrax are very cheap and good in the wet, but they do wear quickly. Kool Stop Salmon are a bit more and get recommended. Swissstop green are great but pricey.

You could always just buy better pads for the front where braking is a bit more important.

Register, do get checked. I crashed into a car few weeks ago and thought I was fine until a realised a few days later I had probably broke a bone in my hand.

Also, the last thing you need after a crash is a lecture on how to ride a bike. Whenever I've gone a tumbling ive always learnt from it. I think we learn through experience (I learnt that being aware is the best break). The main thing is that it doesn't deter you from riding.

Also, you are not totally at fault as remember these roads we have were never designed for bikes.

Roads were designed for bikes before cars!

The AA was a subsection of the CTC.

Though horse and cart before bikes.

Roads were designed for bikes before cars!

The AA was a subsection of the CTC.

Though horse and cart before bikes.

The B2416 in Plymouth was never designed for bikes or horses, I can tell you. But point taken.

If it is a fairly ordinary car you can probably get the window/other bits replaced at a breakers type place for £100

You could contact driver and explain you got a quote from a certain place, then hand over that amount of money rather than what official dealership would charge.