Wife hit by car yesterday
09-04-12, 11:17 AM
#26
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he didn't give her a ticket though, since she was elderly he felt sorry for her, and my insurance would pay.
get a lawyer, use your own insurance, not the drivers. here is why:
https://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2012/0...ur-health.html
09-04-12, 11:21 AM
#27
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I really wonder how/why drivers think "I did not see the bicycle" is a valid excuse. Police should respond with "then you just admitted guilt" rather than sympathy. I wear a neon yellow vest, not because I think it will protect me much, but so I can show it to the police or judge and say "how could he/she have not seen this."
Same complaint from motorcyclists.
Until we get over driving while intoxicated and driving while texting specifics and get into more general driving while distracted, or driving impaired which includes stuff like adjusting radios, GPS equipment, eating, etc. which puts "regular" drivers in jail for maiming or killing people, there's no hope.
09-04-12, 11:34 AM
#28
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When I got rear-ended while waiting to merge with traffic in a bi-directional lane back in July, I had my helmet on. I am glad I did. Because I saw the driver coming behind me n' I couldn't merge with the traffic, to get out of the lane, and I did hit the back of my head. I could only brace for the impact. If I had not been using my helmet, the outcome would have been far worse.
Last edited by Chris516; 09-04-12 at 12:15 PM.
09-04-12, 12:30 PM
#29
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When I got rear-ended while waiting to merge with traffic in a bi-directional lane back in July, I had my helmet on. I am glad I did. Because I saw the driver coming behind me n' I couldn't merge with the traffic, to get out of the lane, and I did hit the back of my head. I could only brace for the impact. If I had not been using my helmet, the outcome would have been far worse.
Ref: helmet thread.
09-04-12, 01:26 PM
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(I went over my handlebars once. I'm sure glad I was one of the 20%! Sprained my wrists, but that wasn't so serious.)
You'll also notice that I wasn't snarky. The time for snarkiness comes when the person doesn't/cannot find said statistics, or what they do find doesn't say what they say they said it says. (That time has since come, but I think things stand just fine as they are now.)
09-04-12, 08:52 PM
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09-04-12, 09:12 PM
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Because most police drive cars, but most police don't ride bikes and will sympathize with automobile drivers.
Same complaint from motorcyclists.
Until we get over driving while intoxicated and driving while texting specifics and get into more general driving while distracted, or driving impaired which includes stuff like adjusting radios, GPS equipment, eating, etc. which puts "regular" drivers in jail for maiming or killing people, there's no hope.
Same complaint from motorcyclists.
Until we get over driving while intoxicated and driving while texting specifics and get into more general driving while distracted, or driving impaired which includes stuff like adjusting radios, GPS equipment, eating, etc. which puts "regular" drivers in jail for maiming or killing people, there's no hope.
09-05-12, 12:08 AM
#33
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We have lived in the same house for 26 years, and I have been an on and off cyclist for that same amount of time. When I first joined this Forum I was amazed at all the stories of hits, near-hits, deaths etc. In my 26 years here I never had even a close call. Ironically, I joined this Forum to get advice on buying a new bike for my wife - we ended up getting her a Comfort bike a few months ago.
Yesterday morning I get a call at work - my wife was cycling on our street and an elderly driver hit her from the rear. Driver told the police she never saw the bike.
Wife is pretty banged up - major road rash up and down her left leg, multiple cuts and bruises elsewhere, and a few stitches needed on her forehead. But all in all she's doing OK.
Bike is mangled and I presume totaled.
By the way, that helmet did its job. In the Emerg Room wife told me she never hit her head. But when we got home I saw the helmet for the first time, and it was cracked. So, she didn't even recall hitting her head. For the life of me, how anyone could cycle without a helmet just astounds me.
It may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but now that she is basically OK (it'll take several weeks at least to recover from her injuries) I hope she does get back to cycling. It was the only real exercise she did, and she did enjoy it.
Yesterday morning I get a call at work - my wife was cycling on our street and an elderly driver hit her from the rear. Driver told the police she never saw the bike.
Wife is pretty banged up - major road rash up and down her left leg, multiple cuts and bruises elsewhere, and a few stitches needed on her forehead. But all in all she's doing OK.
Bike is mangled and I presume totaled.
By the way, that helmet did its job. In the Emerg Room wife told me she never hit her head. But when we got home I saw the helmet for the first time, and it was cracked. So, she didn't even recall hitting her head. For the life of me, how anyone could cycle without a helmet just astounds me.
It may seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but now that she is basically OK (it'll take several weeks at least to recover from her injuries) I hope she does get back to cycling. It was the only real exercise she did, and she did enjoy it.
09-05-12, 01:10 PM
#34
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As has been pointed out, "I didn't see him" is NOT an excuse, it's an admission of being incompetent to drive a vehicle on public roads. I hope the police take that attitude as well.
Best wishes for your wife's recovery.
Best wishes for your wife's recovery.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
09-05-12, 03:11 PM
#35
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Yes, but the claim was made here, and really, it was a stronger claim than I've heard before -- "I saw some stats years ago about crashes resulting in over the handle bar falls . No Helmet was like 80% serious injury/ fatal. With helmet the number was practicaly nil."
(I went over my handlebars once. I'm sure glad I was one of the 20%! Sprained my wrists, but that wasn't so serious.)
You'll also notice that I wasn't snarky. The time for snarkiness comes when the person doesn't/cannot find said statistics, or what they do find doesn't say what they say they said it says. (That time has since come, but I think things stand just fine as they are now.)
(I went over my handlebars once. I'm sure glad I was one of the 20%! Sprained my wrists, but that wasn't so serious.)
You'll also notice that I wasn't snarky. The time for snarkiness comes when the person doesn't/cannot find said statistics, or what they do find doesn't say what they say they said it says. (That time has since come, but I think things stand just fine as they are now.)
As I said it was a long time ago,before the internet. I'm pretty sure the figures I gave were pretty close.
Thinking about it I wouldn't guess that over the handlebar falls would be even reported unless there is some kind of serious injury. (especially children). And of those resulting in injury and reporting probably the helmet did some good. Especially back then.
Any stats refutting mine would be welcome ,Allways ready to learn.
09-07-12, 07:33 AM
#36
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I can empathize. I was hit while riding in a bike lane in June. Car crossed in front of me and i sailed 20ft Although helmet was scraped, you can never know what happened to your brain. I still have a concussion and hip issues after 3 months of physio for my other parts. I can handle 6 minutes on a stationary bike before head pressure builds.
Bike is toast. Although I have resolve to ride again, I am also starting to get nervous at the thought of riding in traffic.
Bike is toast. Although I have resolve to ride again, I am also starting to get nervous at the thought of riding in traffic.
09-07-12, 08:41 AM
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ONce i got t-boned (while driving my car) and the woman told the police "but I didn't see him" and he said "that's because you need to get your eyes checked!"
he didn't give her a ticket though, since she was elderly he felt sorry for her, and my insurance would pay.
get a lawyer, use your own insurance, not the drivers. here is why:
https://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2012/0...ur-health.html
he didn't give her a ticket though, since she was elderly he felt sorry for her, and my insurance would pay.
get a lawyer, use your own insurance, not the drivers. here is why:
https://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2012/0...ur-health.html
FELT SORRY FOR HER?!! I'M THE ONE WHO ALMOST GOT KILLED HERE!!!
Makes my blood boil.
09-07-12, 10:27 AM
#38
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
That's got to be one of the worst phone calls ever. A phone call my wife got once when I was headed to the ER. Getting hit from behind is probably one of the cyclists greatest fears and once it happens you can almost never shake it off. I was not hit from behind but rather from a car pulling out of a parking spot and once in a while I see a car or in particular I still vividly remember the engine sound, even now some 5 years later, sometimes send me into a panic. I hope she's able to get over it and get on the bike again, take things slowly.
09-07-12, 02:08 PM
#39
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Thread Starter
Wife confessed to me today that she has had recurring nightmare about this every night since this happened. We recognize it is just a week, but it is concerning to me. Good news is she told me she wants to get a replacement bike, but she reiterated no more streets for her - only the nearby MUP.
09-10-12, 04:34 AM
#40
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I can empathize. I was hit while riding in a bike lane in June. Car crossed in front of me and i sailed 20ft Although helmet was scraped, you can never know what happened to your brain. I still have a concussion and hip issues after 3 months of physio for my other parts. I can handle 6 minutes on a stationary bike before head pressure builds.
Bike is toast. Although I have resolve to ride again, I am also starting to get nervous at the thought of riding in traffic.
Bike is toast. Although I have resolve to ride again, I am also starting to get nervous at the thought of riding in traffic.
On a substitute note - I have found ocean kayaking to be a nice workout, as well as swimming. Get 100% soon.
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