I heard word last night a mate had been knocked off his bike so I called him to find out if he was ok and what happened.

He was on his 3 week old speed triple and was out trying to get some miles on it for it's first service . He was going across a rouncabout in the correct lane when a young lad in a hire van comes up the inside of him and goes straight on and batters him off.

His foot was crushed against the bike (luckily nothing broken) and the bike flipped he went over the front and landed on his helmet and shoulder. THe bike ended up on top of him.

He said he got up and there were loads of people all around. After he gets over his daze he starts asking for witnesses. All of the bastards say no and leave before the police turn up. Now of course the young lad with the van is denying responsibilty and the police said it'll probably go 50/50. Why doesn't the van driver claim resposibility? He's lost his deposit anyway?

Now I thought it was a duty to give your details and stop if you witness an accident!? This is three (2 for me and one for my mate) where no one has stopped despite there being a shedloads of people to see it. Why do people not want to get involved anymore, is it because they are all driving round out there with no insurance and bald tyres?

Makes me despair it really does. The only accident I witnessed was in my rearview mirror and I still stopped down the road to come back and give my details.

People are, as a rule, selfish and lazy. Why bother getting involved in someone else's problems, when you have enough of your own? There's no sense of community and personal responsibility these days, and you can't have a sense of duty without these...

It's a sad state of affairs.

Having acted as a witness in court for someone a few years back I would be very nervous about doing it again, I was harrangued and virtually called a liar by the defendant and his lawyer and the whole experience was nasty.

I would certainly stand as a witness for the insurance claim, but would need some persuading to go back to court if I was in any doubt at all.

Sorry to hear you had to go through that sheebee.

Perhaps it's time vehicles were fitted with something like this

Truscene Camera

It's a small camera that continually records on a 30 second loop. When a certain G force is felt the camera automatically records the 25 seconds previous to the crash, encrypts and digitally watermarks it for use as evidence later. You'd need a a smaller one for the bike admittedly but it has to be possible. Just think, no more car drivers wriggling out of liability when they pull out on you!

people don't have the time to spare to get involved in something that doesn't benefit them at all.

it's sad.


I hope your mate gets all the compensation he requires, and the driver gets what he deserves!

Good link there Max


some folk are also scared of any consequences like one I heard on Tuesday, a witness to an incident was threatened.

I witnessed an accident while returing home in the car, the car in front of me ran into the car in front of him, I stopped behind them watched everyone get out and thought it was cut and dried but gave the the guy hit a bussines card anyway.

Turned out the third party claimed it was the other guys fault as if he had not stopped at the round-a-bout he would not have hit him.

I was please to be able to put that right.

My partner's daughter was a witness in a court case, and some of the questions she was asked had precisely nothing to do with the case in hand and were clearly just to ascertain what car she drove and where she lived which, of course, the defendant's friends were noting very carefully for future reference.

I've been a witness to a fair few accidents but only called to court once where the guy won his case cos of my info. I can't stand it when folks refuse to help anyone else when it's not exactly going to put them out is it?
When you say that your mate was in the right lane where was he going on the roundabout? Because you can go straight on in the inside lane if the road leaving the roundabout has 2 lanes.
I'm probably getting it wrong and don't have all the info but it kinda sounds like your mate was going right on the roundabout meaning he was in the wrong lane. Also doesn't say if the van was indicating or not.
I'm not saying he's wrong but is there a chance he's not giving you all the info?

No Ronz, I didn't get all the info on the roundabout. He could have well been in the wrong I suppose. My understanding was it's an awkward roundabout anyway with lanes that confuse people. The guy undertook him on the right side then went straight. I think my friend said he said he didn't expect anyone to be coming round in that lane.

Like I said I don;t know 100% as he didn't tell me exactly what roundabout it was. Regardless of fault though my comment about witnesses still stands. Everyone buggered off who saw it when their interpretation of what happened could have helpe resolve exactly who was at fault.