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Originally Posted by basa
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Same scenario, only this time with motorcycle or car. Are you going to be able to read and remember a number plate in this weather ?? Unlikely.
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Personally? unlikely if I was the driver, HOWEVER, this is where witnesses are useful. A license plate would be an identifying mark on the cycle which WOULD allow someone to take note of it.
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Cyclists are generally amongst the safest of road users (with a few notable exceptions !) .....they have to be to stay alive. Think who comes off worst in an accident between car / lorry / bus and a bicycle ????
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Speaking as a former cyclist (who took the Cycling Proficiency, who has a bike licence, who has also taken skid pan training in a car etc) They are not. How many cyclists try to squeeze the last possible mile out of a bald tyre? How many cyclists know their tyre pressures? How many cyclists have misaligned deralieurs on their gears? How many cyclists have working brakes both front & rear? How many cyclists have loose spokes on their wheels? Damaged Pedals? Loose Front bearings? Kinked Wheels?
Those mechanical problems many leave on their bikes are WHY I say they should have an MOT equivalent. Many cyclists are not aware of some of the problems, same as many car drivers are ignorant of mechanical problems until their car fails the MOT.
With more and more people returning to cycling as a means of transportation we MUST for EVERYONE's safety start imposing regulations on cycle safety.
Yes, I FULLY agree that in an accident the cyclist comes off worse, be it their fault, the cycle's fault, or the other person's fault, but lets start making the cycles people ride safer for them by reducing the amount of accidents caused by inept riders or mechanical faults on the bike.
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Only two days ago I had to swerve and brake because a car cut a corner on me. My front wheel hit an ice patch and now I sport a badly grazed knee, shin and pride plus one pedal is slightly out of 'skew'. Not much I grant you, but the driver was blissfully unaware of what they had done and carried on in their nice cosy car listening to the radio no doubt !! 
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There is no excuse for an ignorant driver, and I am not trying to make one. However as you said, your pedal is now out of 'skew' and will either require you to obtain a new set of pedals or a new crank. Something I am sure you are already looking into. However, what I AM saying is many cyclists would continue to ride the bike as is, and not get it checked for any less obvious defects which could result in another accident at a later point.