Got hit by a car while bicycling this weekend

[deathpunk dan]

I highly recommend avoiding this experience if you can at all help it. After a glorious sunday afternoon spent in the driveway and garage, listening to the Pats stomp the bills while rebuilding some Weber 40IDAs, I decided to get in a training ride before sunset. I have a long charity bicycle ride this coming weekend, and hadn't ridden at all in several days.

I made it less than 2 miles from home before a young girl coming the opposite way up the road decided to turn left directly in front of me -without signaling or even acknowledging my very obvious presence.

I went shoulder first into the side of her pontiac at about 20 mph, went up in the air, and landed on my hip.

to quote the late great long beach punk band The Humpers "ambulances, light and sirens, what a crazy scene".

Miraculously, no broken bones, no head injury, no stitches. Just a bunch of bruises, sprains and pains. Arm's in a sling, shoulder's all ****ed up...my S-Works bicycle is all jacked up as well. It's like when the clowns showed up to fix Pee Wee's bike.

What now? Still waiting for the police report. Lawyer?

[Gogar]

That's a bummer. Hope you're ok.

Certainly a lawyer will cost far more than fixing your bike.

How's her auto insurance?

[Tobra]

You will want to wait a bit before signing any releases, you are likely to notice some problems with your back or shoulder. Been hit a few times while bicycling and it is not fun at all.

[frogger]

Police, Doctor, Lawyer, Bury Her.

Seriously, I hope you don't have any lingering problems from this accident. It can really suck.

[Neilk]

Was she cute?

Sorry to hear about that, really sucks and at least nothing is broken. I hope you'll feel better with a minimum of fuss.

[tc-sacto]

That'll teach you to keep your damn bike off the road.

Get a mountain bike buddy.

[Lothar]

You can file a claim against her insurance company, just as if you had been in your car. Since the accident was not your fault, and assuming she admits guilt, there should be no problem. The repair or replacement of your bike, medical expenses and any other damages should be covered.

I am a road cyclist too. I hope you have a good MS150 Bike Tour in your area! Good luck.

[The Gaijin]

Was she written up? I would make sure she was. And see her in court.

[David]

I've probably posted this story before but it's one of my favorites:

About 20 years ago, a bike racer friend in Austin had a car make a left turn into him just like your story. Unfortunately he had glass sunglassed and it did a number on his face and tore up the bike. The good part is, the guy that hit him put him in the back seat, his bike in the trunk, drove him to the hospital, put his AE card on the counter and said take care of him. While he spent a few days in the hospital, the guy went to a bike shop with the mangled bike and had them build another just like it. Sure he was avoiding a lawsuit, but it was still the right way to handle it.

[Christien]

David that's an awesome story and you're right, that's the right way to handle it. Problem is, nowadays in our world run by lawyers that would be an admission of guilt, which means that in any follow-up liability suit you'd be screwed. Better to stand back and let the ambulance, police, insurance co. then lawyers handle it, in that order.

[Jim Garfield]

Sorry to hear about your accident Dan. Was she on the phone? A young girl - on the phone - ran a red light and totaled my wife's Volvo wagon right in front of the post office on 108. I used to ride a lot around south county, but stories like your's make me want to stay on the bike path. Hope your recovery is smooth.

[dd74]

I agree with Christien. Plus, rebuilding an S-Works ain't exactly rebuilding any old road bike.

As a veteran of several front grills, broadsides and careless girls on cell phones, I'm glad to read you're (reasonably) in good shape, Dan.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Don't count on seeing a dime.

A former co-worker of mine is a hardcore road cyclist - races crits or some sort or road race almost weekly and trains like a muthafukka. Anyway, not too long ago he and his team (about 30 guys total) were out for a ride in Malibu and one of them got clipped by a guy in an SUV on his cell phone (naturally). Put him in the hospital in critical condition, he was hospitalized for several weeks but fortunately pulled through. The guy hit was a TORT LAWYER and has been unsuccessful in collecting a dime. If he can't, I'd say your chances are pretty slim for a "bumps & bruises" type of injury.

[JavaBrewer]

I disagree Jeff. Back in my days of cycling I had a couple friends who had automobile encounters. All of them got fair compensation - medical, equipment, heck even missed wages (they were all in the service industry). Nothing crazy, no major suit, just fair compensation. If the gal turned in front of Dan there should be no argument over responsibility.

Dan, wait a few days before giving a full assessment of your physical condition. Sometimes an injury takes a couple days to fully manifest. At a minimum I'd be looking for $$ of out-of-pocket expenses and a new bike.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by deathpunk dan

Got hit by a car while bicycling this weekend... What now?... Lawyer?

That's deplorable, unfathomable, improbable. It's an infringement on your constitutional rights. It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous. It's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, lascivious, salacious, outrageous!

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Tobra

You will want to wait a bit before signing any releases, you are likely to notice some problems with your back or shoulder. Been hit a few times while bicycling and it is not fun at all.

Good advise. I stopped riding on the road years ago after being hit one too many times. Still have the scars to prove it and just not worth it these days.

Even after you get feeling better make sure that everything is ok before signing any release. They want to cover their rear and you need to make sure your side is taken care of first.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

and just not worth it these days.

Haha...that's the same 'reason' I don't ride anymore either...

[holtjv]

I'm glad you're ok.

But I take exception to people riding bikes on the road--not because there isn't room but rather because the roads simply are not engineered for a 20lb vehicle driving 20mph along with 2 ton vehicles driving 60-70mph.

There's no one on this board who hasn't inadvertently wandered into the shoulder, or forgot to look right when turning right.

One stupid mistake and the cyclist is hurt very badly or dead and the life of the driver is all but ruined, too.

I simply see this as a selfish act by cyclists.

Sorry to inflame you but my old partner got hit by a car and it was more or less his fault--nearly drove the old woman driver to suicide.

Jack

[Lothar]

Originally Posted by holtjv

I'm glad you're ok.

But I take exception to people riding bikes on the road--not because there isn't room but rather because the roads simply are not engineered for a 20lb vehicle driving 20mph along with 2 ton vehicles driving 60-70mph.

There's no one on this board who hasn't inadvertently wandered into the shoulder, or forgot to look right when turning right.

One stupid mistake and the cyclist is hurt very badly or dead and the life of the driver is all but ruined, too.

Jack

So when the driver of a car makes a "stupid mistake", it's the cyclist's fault. That's brilliant! Got any more gems?

[DanielDudley]

Get a referral to a good chiropracter. ASAP