Fasteryoufool

I was running down the bike lane of a fairly busy 4-lane road in Campbell yesterday on my "beater" bike - an '84 Schwinn Sierra I converted for commute duty, in a really good groove/rhythm and running a steady 25mph. Coming up on a red light that was about to change, I slacked off the pedals anticipating a slight slowing before the light changed and I could resume pedaling...

And apparently a guy in an early 90s Buick something or other decided to save time by cutting through the lot and turned directly in front of me. I nailed the brakes, had time to say "Aw shi..." just before impact. I was probably still doing 20mph when I made contact. Smashed the mirror off his car, my left shoulder, elbow and knee hit pretty hard.

I had the presence of mind to say "Nice one" through the window.

The kid that was driving - I think he was MAYBE 20 years old - immediately jumped out of his car and said "Oh my god, I'm SO SORRY, are you all right?" He got an immediate thumbs up from me for that.

He freely told me he was delivering a pizza, and he had decided to cut through the lot. Because of that, and because the car was an elderly POS, I told him we could do it off insurance to make sure his rates didn't go up, since he obviously used his car to make a living. He was appropriately thankful. Offered to pay for anything that was wrong with my bike, and gave me his name and number. He also said he'd make sure and look for bikes from now on.

Took the bike into the shop today, and the damage was pretty light. Tweaked fork, and the canti's in front need replacement. Frame was measured and is still straight, front wheel is still straight, total damage for the kid - $128.00 estimate. I called him earlier this evening and left a message on his VM. Lets hope he comes through and coughs up the money. I think he will, he seemed like a nice kid.

009jim

Good call. You'll have less stress this way and feel good about what you've done. Insurance claims are a PITA.

SBRDude

The ole right hook. Been there many times, and always with a very freaked out motorist hysterically apologizing. "Oh my God - I didn't see you!!!" which really means, I saw you, but after I passed you, I erased you from my memory because I associate bikes with pedestrians, and both move so slow that I can pass them and immediately turn right. Without a serious level of better drivers' training, I doubt we'll ever overcome such a lack of awareness.

The safest thing to do is ride defensively and always assume a right hook. Whenever its safe, it can make sense to ride further to the left than usual so that drivers are forced to treat you like a vehicle when passing, meaning that they have to go around you instead of just passing with you far to the right, and so that you are behind them in the lane after being passed and not in their blind spot.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying you could have avoided the crash. I'm just speaking in generalities. And, of course, I'm glad you weren't seriously injured. Let's hope the guy pays up and throws in a free pizza.!

chrisb71

I got screwed twice out of the three times I tried giving the other person a break and not reporting it. So maybe you'll get some, maybe he'll say "well I think it was half your fault" and give you half. Or nothing at all.

As an aside, it seems I have to slow way down when coming up to stoplights, cars like to make those sudden right hooks without looking to try to go around. Why did I buy a nice road bike when I can't go fast?

Accordion

You were clipping along at 25mph on a 1984 beater bike? You are a better man than me, sir!

Heal up!

Fasteryoufool

I was. It's not unusual.

dougmc

^This.

I've had automobile accidents and cut the other driver a break after they admitted that it was clearly their fault agreed to pay all the damages and not called the police and ended up regretting it. In particular, in one case the other driver intentionally gave me totally fictional contact information and when she was tracked down by by insurance company (whom I got involved when I couldn't reach her) by her license plate (which I did write down, just in case) she claimed there had never been any accident and then simultaneously tried to say that the accident (that didn't happen) was my fault. Of course, I had the right plate, car description and her description, with her paint on the back of my car, but it wasn't worth the trouble for my insurance to pursue and so they just paid for my damage (and of course it was a whole lot more than my original guess.)

I'm not saying never give anybody a break. But keep in mind that they may be trying to screw you, and also keep in mind that we're often really bad at estimation how bad damage is.

As a matter of policy, now if I have an accident with any damage and it's not my fault, I'm calling the police, even if you can't afford a ticket. Sorry, but this woman ruined it for you. I will start dealing with you directly and not your insurance if you wish if damage is minor, but I want everything documented anyways, and if I don't like his this goes, I'll move on to your insurance.

If I do decide to break my policy and do otherwise, I'm taking pictures of everything, including the vehicles, evidence, the other party and their driver's license and getting contact information on any witnesses.

To this end, I always have a digital camera available wherever I go -- the phone has a crappy one, but I usually have something better with me as well. (I used to keep a disposable camera, but the film would not survive long in the Texas heat in the car. Alkalines or low discharge NiMH cells and a digital camera work better.)

I guess this all makes me a jerk, but it's served me well ever since that woman screwed me. And really, I'll be nice about it -- for example, I won't yell at you, no matter how stupid the accident was.

Fasteryoufool

I generally believe most if not all accidents can be avoided through proper observation, equipment and caution. In this particular case, I don't really see how I could've avoided it. Just prior to the accident, the car was at a dead stop, waiting for the light to change, and the light was about to change. I could see the left turn arrow turning yellow on our side of the intersection. He was just impatient and made a sudden right turn into the driveway in front of me. I literally had time to nail the brakes for maybe half a second before impact.

SCROUDS

I don't have too much tolerance for someone that causes a collision trying to break the law. Cutting through a lot to avoid a light gets you a fine in florida. Its not too late to file a police report, cops won't even come out for a minor collision if they're busy at the donut shop.

I think its best to get all the info and consider leniency later. DL #, address, phone, insurance info, plate number, desc of car, etc. If you want to be nice to the guy, you can always call later and tell them the damages were $$, do you want to pay for it, or should I contact insurance.

As for avoiding the collision, I know I wouldn't blast at 25mph down a line of stopped cars. Hell, I wouldn't be up to that anyways, but I probably would have slowed from my usual cruise speed of 15. It kinda sucks having to always be cautious, but bruises don't care if you were right or wrong.

noisebeam

Unless they admit it, it is hard to prove someone is cutting thru a lot if they stop in the lot after the collision.
Anyway cutting thru lots is not dangerous because of the turn (people turn there anyway who are using the lot). Turns should always be expected at driveways.

noisebeam

People change their mind all the time. Sometimes they realize they need gas or a soda or whatever else was available at that lot. It was not your fault in any way, but it could be avoided by habitually avoiding the right hook zone.

noisebeam

Just as a side story... there is a right turn I make every PM commute from one arterial road to another. The right most of three same direction lanes gets a line of 5-15 cars most wanting to turn right. It is hard to predict how many will make it thru cycle due as pedestrian crossing will slow the right turning down, but usually about 10 cars.

I line up with the rest of the vehicles and the vast majority of the time will make the turn on one cycle (on green or right on red). But always there are one or two drivers who use the CVS lot to cut the corner, usually someone who passes me just before intersections and is in front of me and then decides to cut.

Anyway every single time someone cuts I end up back in front of them after my turn as they have to go slow thru the lot and then they need to wait for a break in traffic on the cross street. This has happened well over 10 times. Sometimes they end up turning right back behind me.

Fasteryoufool

I talked to the kid a little while ago on the phone. Offered to mail/fax the estimate to him, and he said "No, that's alright, I believe you. "

He's meeting me on Saturday to give me the money. Woo hoo!

noisebeam

I wonder if keeping it off the record also keeps it from the pizza co. and if so if they care.

SBRDude

I would imagine they would care, but I don't know if they would do anything about it. Probably depends if they think the kid is an otherwise good kid or not.

Fasteryoufool

I doubt they care. He's using his own vehicle and providing his own insurance.

Kurt Erlenbach

Keep us informed how this works out. I'm always skeptical of keeping crashes "off the books" because it frequently works out badly.

NVABiker

Glad you are OK. I hope this works out for you. I did someone a favor keeping an accident off the books (cars, no bike involved) and got put through the wringer. I swore then, never again.

Fasteryoufool

BTW, this is the bike:


The saddle's been replaced with a gel road bike saddle I swiped off a kids' BMX bike I was getting rid of, I've added a rear fender, grips have been replaced with some cheapie foam ones (Giant branded), and all I've done to it maintenance-wise is pull the hubs and clean/repack the existing bearings. This bike is UNBELIEVABLY comfortable. I bought it to ride while I tore down and rebuilt the '83 Univega Viva Sport I'd put 5,000 miles of abuse onto... and haven't stopped riding it for nearly a year. The poor Univega has been languishing untouched since March. I really should tear the old girl apart and start treating her like she deserves.

Accordion

Oh man, where is UMD when you need him.....

dougmc

They probably do care. If he had a serious accident while delivering pizza, THEY could be sued (and lose.)

Fasteryoufool

Umd?

AndrewP

Passing traffic stopped at the light at 10 mph on the curb side is asking for trouble (right hook or dooring). Doing it at 25 is crazy.

Fasteryoufool

Pansy.

jrich179

don't assume that. I had a friend in high school who delivered pizzas, and after he got into a wreck, in which the other driver was very much at fault, his employer removed him from delivery duty and put him in the kitchen. I'd venture to guess they have a lot of potential liability in regard to their drivers. In fact, I bet your dude would be in more trouble if his employer finds out he handled a wreck off the record, than if it all went according to procedure- something to keep in mind if he does try to screw you, although as best as internet text can elicit, it sounds like you got a decent kid.