Bike Accident - Need some guidance!

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
Beautiful day. 1 week from leaving CH, to return to the UK. Headed off on one last ride around Zuerisee. Sounds idyllic?

As I approached Rapperswil, headed south, on the east bank, a car and its driver decided they'd like to occupy the bit of the road I was already occupying. (85kg + bike) < 1500kg car. (The passenger side rear panel hit my handlebars, and "luckily" the bike slid from underneath me)

The really good driver decided to make like a tree, and leave.

So, I occupied the foetal position, until my 35km/h was reduced to 0km/h along 10-15m of road. The bike carried on for another 10m.

I was first aided by some passers-by, while one particularly astute woman (who lived right there) took the car registration.

After 20 minutes the Ambulance arrived, after another 10 minutes the Police. The police asked me for a description of the driver (funny guy, must be that Swiss humour), what happened, then went back to his coffee and donuts, with my bike in his boot.

I had a stay in Maennedorf ER, while they jabbed, scrubbed and patched.

Now I'm home writing this and have some questions going through my mind... what do I do next?

who pays for my little adventure? (i.e. bike repairs, ER and ambulance bill) who pays for the circa. 3 weeks I'm having to convalesce? what chance the police went to the kontrollschild's registered address to check/correlate damage to the car, and interview (breathalyze?) the owner/driver? /GD

2
1) Contact your accident insurance - they should cover the bodily repairs that you have incurred

2) The police should contact you with regards to competing an accident form - if not - contact them and ask to fill one out.

3) The police should have already contacted the car owner. The owner should be charged - and you should be able to claim on their insurance for the bike and also your time off work (if applicable).

My experience of accidents in Switzerland has always been very efficient.

My bike accident included my bouncing across the front of a police-car - taking his wing mirror with me - while he was turning right - at a no-right turn junction - without indication - and without "blues and twos". The drivers colleague said to me, when they came round to complete the accident form, that the drive won't be driving for a while!

3
Very sorry to hear about your accident. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

As for your medical expenses, my experience was that I had to fill out an accident report with my own health insurance company, submit all the bills and they go after the other party's insurance company to get reimbursed and then reimburse me.

4
Brilliant dodgyken!

I'll follow your advice. Plod said that he'd be in touch Tuesday 21-Sep.(accident was Sunday 19-Sep).

To any other posters - please nothing too funny - I'm missing 50% of the skin from my left lat.

/GD

5
What a nightmare. I don't have any practical advice to share with you, but I'm wishing you a speedy recovery and a hassle free insurance situation. As hassle free as possible.

6
I award 10 pionts to this woman !!!!

There would be no answers if she hadn't done this.

Glad to hear you are OK (relatively), and I think everything should take it's course in your favour.

(assuming you had that little insurance sticker on your bike you have to get from the post office).

7
You know you can look it up yourself providing the driver hasn't (yet) sent off the form to request it be removed from display?

http://www.linker.ch/eigenlink/autonummern_index.htm

8
Exactly! Absolutely. I think she lives over her own restaurant and I owe her some business!

Yes I did - I like to keep all my affairs in good order... and for once it seems to have paid off - as the bike left the scene in a paddy wagon.

/GD

9
Since I am not jewish I could be able to donate some skin if you would need to receive a transplant

Nah.....just joking.

I feel sorry for you. Sorting out health issues and paper work after an accident is a hazzle. For me it took almost 10 weeks before everything was sorted out (and I got my money from my insurrance).

Be strong and have patience.....

10
Oh. That is rather sinister.

If the police walkaway, am I entitled to use this (public domain) information to seek redress? (send a letter to the registered keeper of the numberplate, asking for insurance details, for example?)

/GD

11
There was another thread which covered this - ElggDK, I think you were involved in that thread too.

Tried looking for it, but couldn't find it. From memory, the police will most likely get the person involved, especially if there was a witness involved. The fact that the person committed a hit and run offence (let's be honest, there are few people who wouldn't notice a bump when driving a car, and if they do, they shouldn't be on the road) means that they will already be in a lot of trouble.

The other point that was made in the (other) thread, is that legally, the cops will go after them, but they will also give you the opportunity to go after them for damages, as required, through a civil procedure.

That all said, your insurance company should cover all your costs (assuming you have the relevant insurance) and will go after the perpetrator of the incident.

If the police and insurance companies don't find fault with the car driver, then it is unlikely that you would get any redress via a private lawsuit. I, am, however, not a lawyer...

12
I wouldn't worry about that.

The police have to file a report. They need to for the insurance.

As soon as the insurance gets a hold of the driver you will get your money through his insurance.

Leaving the scene of an adcident is preeeeety serious business, and I think the cops won't let this one slip.

Have faith my friend...... relax...... get better

13
Hi Mate,

Sorry to hear about your accident – in fact I have just been through something identical myself and asked (via private messages) the same questions but didn’t get much of a response.

I was in hospital for 3 days and have a fractured vertebra, they can’t decide to operate and it’s painful and complicated at the same time.

I’ll tell you what I know and wait to be shot down but hope it helps you anyway!

You need to determine if it was a work related accident (i.e. were you involved with travelling to work?).

If so then your employer needs to apply for a SUVA, which is a voucher/confirmation that will cover all costs for treatment – now and until it has completely cleared up (which may take a long time).

You would then present the SUVA certificate at any doctor, therapist or chemist, as payment for treatment – Relating to this injury only.

I also contacted my health insurance and they asked me to fill in an accident report form.

If the accident was not work related then they should pay for everything.

Try to get a copy of the police report (especially the report number). On that form should be the name, address and Insurance Company of the driver. Also if there was a witness, their

details should be mentioned.

Assuming that it was his fault, then all the costs will go to his insurance.

I would also get yourself a lawyer and get them to claim for your material damages.

There is something else called `SchmerzGeld` which is basically `Money for Pain` (sounds like a song).

Good luck and if you need any help please PM me and I will try.

14
Speeding away after hitting somebody is as scummy as it gets. Reading your post felt like a cold shower of reality to me since I've felt so much safer cycling here than back in the US... It's a shame stuff like this happens everywhere. Please keep us posted on how the situation gets handled if you don't mind.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

15
Maybe it varies between companies but I never received a bill from my little bump last year - thousands changed hands but I wasn't bothered with it at all. The 3rd party was prosecuted for dangerous driving and if I'd been vindictive I could have had him done for more too.

This guy leaving the scene has bought himself (or herself) a whole heap of trouble .

16
The Police will not walk away, you were injured and went to a hospital therefore it was right they were involved (for injuries you need the ploice, for material damages it is not necessary, but can be advisable).

There are now insurance companies involved and the driver lewaving the scene of what could have been a serious accidient, how the hell did he know it was not ?

17
I offer my sympathies to you, and hope you don`t suffer too many post-trauma symptoms. May I also add ...... something to remember .. with an accident like this, you may only discover, later, that you have other problems not apparent at this early stage of your accident.

Minor dislocations and muscle tears can surface later ...... I dont know how this is done here, but dont "sign an all-clear bill of health" until you are SURE you will no longer be needing any physio treatments........ that YOU will have to pay for.

You were perfectly healthy (well more perfect than you are at the moment) .. until that person caused you to have an accident!

18
Good advice that!

19
Thanks smoky - I'm no athlete, but I'll take this particular snippet on board anyway.

/GD

[Next update on Tuesday 21st, when Plod get back in touch]

20
I wish you a full recovery.

The other guy did a hit-and-run?

Pardon me for showing my American influence ... but sue his a$$.