Bike Accident has screwed me over

Greetings all.

I have been involved in a bike accident in Reading that has left me financially crippled. I have fully recovered after having 20 stitches in the face and a broken nose and front tooth that has left me looking like Stu from the Hangover.

All good so far, however I was meant to be working the whole Month, until I got knocked off I am told by the police was a hit and run, I was knocked clean out and cannot remember much, drivers that helped said that they did not see anything. Because I have been out of work which is a dam 0 hour contract I am not eligible for sick pay.

Here is the spanner, I have no money to pay my August rent, if I was not involved in this accident i would of got payed around about now from work. My parents cannot help me much as I am a triplet and both my sisters are at uni. They have given me money for food costs, they are paying for my dental care which will cost between £500 to £800 at a decent dentist. This is the last thing they need, so I was wondering if I could apply for a Hardship Fund at my uni, I've hard they can be quite picky, so I don't want to waste my time, hence why I am asking.

If anyone has gone through similar circumstances, please let me know what you did, even if it wasn't through a hardship fund.

Thanks, Ben.

Reply 1

markova21

Hello, so sorry to hear about this. To be brutally honest, I think having the money for your rent is more important than giving it to th dentist, no matter how bad your teeth may now look.

Reply 2

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Bhenshaw

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Speak to your Uni, if necessary you could repay if they could tide you over. What sort of insurance did you have?

Reply 3

Bhenshaw

Original post by markova21

Hello, so sorry to hear about this. To be brutally honest, I think having the money for your rent is more important than giving it to th dentist, no matter how bad your teeth may now look.

They cannot pay for the dental care till the end of August, but I appreciate the honestly mate, in short they money simply isn't there during the time of my August rent.

Reply 4

Bhenshaw

Original post by threeportdrift

Speak to your Uni, if necessary you could repay if they could tide you over. What sort of insurance did you have?

None, this was a bicycle, I got knocked off a while back by a bus and the insurance company of the Bus company paid for the repairs for my bike, ironically this was not as serious as this accident. I am speaking to my uni on Monday.

Reply 5

Jackieox

Is your course still on going right now? Only reason i ask is a lot of courses finished mid may and the uni may be reluctant to give you rent money if it won't directly impact you attending university. Like for example if you're on summer break they may not even have any money in the hardship fund until September (unless your course is still on going) worth asking them

Reply 6

Bhenshaw

Original post by Jackieox

That is a very helpful, my course has ended and that does make a lot of sense, a lot of my friends got it from just being broke, however that was during term time, I have seen that there are such things such as summer hardship funds, Brighton University for example offers this, there is no mention of this from Reading University, I am going to let my Landlord know, I'm not going to bank on that, Landlords and students equals pain and misery.

Reply 7

Doones

Original post by Bhenshaw

All good so far, however I was meant to be working the whole Month, until I got knocked off I am told by the police was a hit and run, I was knocked clean out and cannot remember much, drivers that helped said that they did not see anything. Because I have been out of work which is a dam 0 hour contract I am not eligible for sick pay.

Original post by Bhenshaw

So you were knocked off your bike by a bus a while ago, and then knocked off your bike by a hit and run driver...?

Have you spoken to Reading about their Hardship Fund?
https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/personaltutor/Commonissues/pt-financialissues.aspx

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 8

Bhenshaw

Original post by Doonesbury

So you were knocked of your bike by a bus a while ago, and then knocked of your bike by a hit and run driver...?

Have you spoken to Reading about their Hardship Fund?
https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/personaltutor/Commonissues/pt-financialissues.aspx

Yes, this is true, November was my first accident, and July was this accident, Either i'm very unlucky or a bad cyclist, or maybe a handful of drivers are irresponsible. I heard their was a campaign years ago to raise awareness in Reading about Cycling hence why there is a lot of bicycle paths now, unfortunately not on the road I was on. I cannot for my life remember what happened but the police said from the state of my bike, the damage done could of only be inflicted by a car.

I haven't I am going in on Monday to see them.

Reply 9

TheYearNiner

Original post by Bhenshaw

Unlucky mate. I've been biking for 5 years - 17 in August - and only got minor scrapes and my worst accident was when I was speeding on the pavement with my bro, there was a pole and bang... hit my arm, fell down. Still have the scar today but it's fading so no worries!

Just gotta be careful out there mate. Peace!

Reply 10

Bhenshaw

Original post by TheYearNiner

Rar, thanks a lot mate.

Reply 11

Tiger Rag

Do you have a student bank account with an interest free overdraft?

Reply 12

Bhenshaw

Original post by Tiger Rag

Do you have a student bank account with an interest free overdraft?

Since I've been a uni I've never had an overdraft, this may seam silly but I have always just worked when I am in need, My friends have had overdrafts, but have always said not to go for one. However in this circumstance, I can see that this could be a plan B if the hardship fund is not going to happen.

Reply 13

Doones

Original post by Bhenshaw

This is what an overdraft is for.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 14

Bhenshaw

Original post by Doonesbury

This is what an overdraft is for.

Posted from TSR Mobile

indeed it is, and shall be my plan B

Reply 15

Bhenshaw

Original post by Doonesbury

This is what an overdraft is for.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Scrapping the overdraft my Parents are giving me money for rent and have been accepted for a HC1/2 certificate, this will cover my dental bills, thanks for the help I spoke to my girlfriends friends who are doing law and they recommended that I apply for this.