Commuting - Struck by a car on my commute today

I was on my way to work today, which is a too-easy ~3 mile ride that's mostly downhill. I got to the steepest hill, which Spokane residents would know as Ben Garnett Way, and was descending into downtown.

Left unchecked, a road bike will easily hit 50mph/80kph down this hill, and the street is a main arterial with some stop lights. All other crosstraffic must yield. Because there are numerous driveways and a fair amount of cross-traffic, I watch carefully and make sure I keep my speed to a legal 29-30mph; if someone pulls out in front of me and I hit them, I want it to be THEIR fault.

So that's what I was doing today when a person hit me with a minivan as she crossed the four lanes from my right to my left. I thought the motorist was hesitating as she reached the first lane from the right, but then she accelerated instead, hitting my touring bike in the driveside seatstay just above the dropout.

The rear wheel was knocked into a slide, and the bike went down. I slid down the block and came to rest in the middle of my lane, with my bike next to me further out in the street. I lay still for a few seconds to evaluate things, then began to roll toward the curb before any more unobservant people ran me over. ;)

A man called 911 to report the collision. The person who'd hit me came running, on the verge of tears. I pleasantly told her that I was quite sure I had no injuries worse than a scrape on my elbow and my ankle, and would she please grab my bike out of the street...?

A doctor stopped to see what he could do, followed by the paramedic unit and finally an ambulance crew, while I lay on the grass by the street and answered their questions. Finally, they had me get up, and since I had no real harm done, I got back on the ol' Cannondale and rode on to work.

The bike seems to be fine, with a scrape on the seatstay at the point of impact. The seat has a rip on the right corner now, and the rear wheel is about 2mm out of true. My everyday denim shorts seem to have been hit hardest, with some rips in the rear pockets.

All things considered, I am very grateful to have hit the deck at 28mph and only needed two Band-Aids and a spoke wrench :) I took this as a sign to splurge and buy a new $60 Giro to replace my 1994 Giro, and when I can afford it I'll buy a fluorescent high-visibility jacket. What I would REALLY like is a Niterider Blowtorch HID headlight... I think that would get others' attention very nicely.

Originally posted by mechBgon
What I would REALLY like is a Niterider Blowtorch HID headlight... I think that would get others' attention very nicely.
Wow. Very glad to hear you emerged relatively unscathed.

I heartedly recommend the NiteRider lights because they have (at least my model does) a blinking light that very likely would have grabbed the motorists' attention long before the event.

You never know, of course, but having this blowtorch really helps. I think it's saved my skin more than a few times.

Question: did the woman actually run a red or something, or did she stop and simply not see you?

Glad to hear you're ok :) Falling at 25+MPH and having only minor injuries, someone was looking after you.

She stopped at her stop sign and simply didn't see me. I don't think she even knew I was there until I squeaked past the nose of her van (almost).

I wasn't wearing any light-colored or bright clothing, and the bike is jade green. From now on I'll make sure that I'm at least wearing an oversized flappy white T-shirt over my other clothing if it isn't light-colored. I only have one light system, but maybe I'll start taking the trouble to switch it back and forth as necessary. It's a Niterider and it does have the flickering daytime-running-light feature.

Damn man, close call. One thing to be aware of, I was hit on a Klein several years ago. The bike appeared to be o.k. (one crank was bent), however, after I had settled with the drivers insurance company a crack developed around the bottom bracket. There was nothing I could do so I didn't pursue it, but I have always suspected the crack was the result of that accident. Glad to hear you are o.k., now I am headed out on my trip home. :p

Originally posted by mechBgon
....but maybe I'll start taking the trouble to switch it back and forth as necessary. It's a Niterider and it does have the flickering daytime-running-light feature.
Please do. We all want you to remain in one piece !! Also, wear that bright clothing. This kind of thing really helps. You may not be so lucky next time !!

Even on my road bike for weekend rides and such I have installed a flashing white (actually a little off-green) light on the front. It's an LED light, very lightweight. It's very useful in the hill climbs, where the shade sometimes makes us invisible. I've gotten to a point where I never go out without these babies.

I always wanted a white blinking light for the front. How much do they usually run?

Wow, you were (are) lucky, that sounded like it could of turned out much worse for you and your bike.

Do you think a bright headlight would have really made a difference in this case? It doesn't sound like this person was aware enough to see objects smaller than a Peterbuilt.

Ack! Scary!!!

It's good to hear you weren't seriously hurt (or your bike either!!) And good to hear that the driver, and so many others, stopped to help out.

Colorful clothing does help in the daytime--I wear a light cotton-and-polyester, blaze-orange, open vest made for hunters. Not only am I told it makes me VERY visible, but the nylon back is even slightly waterproof, and it's cooler than a full jacket in warm weather. (I also have a couple of reflective stickers glued on the back, but I doubt they do much.)

Good to hear that you're OK. You may start feeling a few aches and pains over the next few days. Your body wasn't really desgned to hit the pavement at that sort of speed.

Have you visited your doctor for a check up? I know you've just experienced a few scrapes but if some unseen damage surfaces later they'll ask why you didn't get checked out.

Hope it all heals quickly.

Hope you heal soon. To be honest, visibility is only part of the battle. It will only get the attention of motorists who are actually watching where they are going (many of them simply do not). Personally, I'm always on the lookout for people who are watching something else (stems from having so many @#$%ing tourists!).

Could have been worse. Very glad you seem to be ok.

Follow up on all doctor's visits and bike damages. It may have been her fault if you were abiding by the law. Her insurance would pay up.

Don't hesitate, that's what insurance is for.

Once again, the most important thing is your well-being!

Glad you are OK. It made me nervous just reading your story. Hopefully there was a cop there to write a report and issue a ticket.

I agree that you need to followup with a medical look at yourself and a good check up for your bike by a mech. Perhaps you could rent a car for a few days while your bike is checked out. All at the expense of her insurance company of course.

As she pays her higher premiums in the future, perhaps she will be reminded of her moment of carelessness.

Carl

Thanks for the well-wishes everyone :) It could have turned out much differently if the minivan had been another car-length further into my path and I broadsided it, or if there had been something to hit on my way down. I'm very thankful to be in one piece!

Good thing you're not badly hurt. Now go buy a lottery ticket before your luck runs out!

I agree with Chris L, there are people out there who wouldn't have seen you if they received an advance notice by mail the day before. Some people just don't pay attention.

Commuting by bus can be dangerous, too: my bike is at the LBS for wheel truing so I had to take the bus home yesterday. When exiting the bus, I got caught between the pneumatic doors. Those things have quite a grip, it took me considerable effort to withdraw back in. As I appropriately cursed the driver, he put on his defensive mode. He never even apologized, just said that there was something wrong with the doors. Oh, well, no real harm done. I'll have my bike back later today so I can continue commuting the safe way.

--J

Glad you're okay. I'm convinced that even if I wrapped my self up like a mummy in fluorescent tape some drives would still fail to see me, but making yourself highly visible should help with the odds.

The only idiot I've met in the last couple of days was the driver last night who decided that he ought to be in the big space I'd left in front of me - I don't think he understood the concept of a yellow box grid infront of a fire station... Ah well...

Richard

So glad that you are ok:beer:

Originally posted by mechBgon
So that's what I was doing today when a person hit me with a minivan

Argh ... minivans, and their "drivers" ... argh. :mad:

Anywho, I'm sorry to hear about the accident, but I'm glad that you made it through with little injury! :)

Did the driver of the minivan get a ticket for not driving with due care and attention?

Did she compensate you for physical damages to you and your bike?

So glad you're not seriously hurt. As MediaCreations mentioned, you'll feel it more in the next few days. I was hit by a car from behind on April 10, and had a similar experience at the accident site. Aside from a few cuts and scrapes, I felt fine. The woman who hit me was in tears, but I reassured her that I was okay.

The next day, I woke up and couldn't move. I had a whiplash injury, lower back pain, and crippling pain in my right knee (probably from my clipless pedal disengaging at an odd angle). I'm still under chiropractic care and ended up in physical therapy for two months for my knee.

Oddly enough, as concerned as this woman was at the accident site, she NEVER reported it to her insurance company! I waited about a week to hear from them, and when I didn't, my lawyer suggested I call them. I ended up faxing them a copy of the police report (she got a ticket for careless driving).

Do follow up with your doctor and definitely get your bike checked over thoroughly. I hope you fare better than I did over the next week.

My physical wounds have healed, but I don't think I'll ever forget the sound and feeling of being hit. I still shudder sometimes when cars fly by me too close.

Be sure to get right back on your bike as soon as possible. I had my bike checked over and fixed the next morning and took a short ride the next evening. If I hadn't forced myself to do that, I don't know if I would have ever ridden again.

All the best to you!

Technically, she failed to yield the right-of-way, and may have gotten a citation for that, I'm not sure... I jumped on my bike and rode the last few blocks to work, and there were no police at the scene when I left, just the paramedics and ambulance crew. The driver must have gotten my work phone number from the emergency workers or something, because she called me at work to check up on me and apologize once more.

Being an ex-bicycle mechanic myself, I did evaluate the bike, and the worst damage is a rip in the cover of the seat... but heck, it was in poor shape to start with. I still can't believe the rear wheel took a sideways impact from a car moving ~15mph, and has so little damage... but I'm not complaining :)

I don't think I'll pursue any material damages to the bike, if all I have to complain about is a little rip in the seat :) And so far, my body is doing ok too, unlike the collision that destroyed my road-racing bike about 18 months ago... that time, the aches and pains did start emerging as the days passed. :(

Good to hear all is ok. Pain will subside it is only temporary.

Under California (and, I assume, Washington) law, any traffic collision in which anyone is injured (even if only slightly) must be reported to the appropriate authorities. PLEASE report this "accident," which rightfully should add a "point" to her driving record or at least force her to waste a day in traffic school. As one of the parties in the collision, you are legally required to report the incident.

I do not believe in milking the system or in taking economic advantage of the situation, but I do think it would be reasonable to ask her to buy you a new helmet and saddle.

Originally posted by John E
Under California (and, I assume, Washington) law, any traffic collision in which anyone is injured (even if only slightly) must be reported to the appropriate authorities. PLEASE report this "accident," which rightfully should add a "point" to her driving record or at least force her to waste a day in traffic school. As one of the parties in the collision, you are legally required to report the incident.

I do not believe in milking the system or in taking economic advantage of the situation, but I do think it would be reasonable to ask her to buy you a new helmet and saddle.
I had a look at the applicable Washington law (http://search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/ViewRoot.asp?Action=Html&Item=6&X=801195324&p=1) , and it's one technicality shy of a requirement, since the law applies to drivers of vehicles, and bicycles aren't actually classed as vehicles in Washington (equal, but not the same). Nevertheless, I typed up an accident report and I'll mail it off tomorrow if I get a chance.

Under California (and, I assume, Washington) law, any traffic collision in which anyone is injured (even if only slightly) must be reported to the appropriate authorities. PLEASE report this "accident," which rightfully should add a "point" to her driving record or at least force her to waste a day in traffic school.

You must be joking, the driver will actually get a point for causing injury. Down here the best the cops can do is "go have a word to them", I want the same system as you guys.

Last year I slammed into a car that didn't give way, and I haven't heard anything about it, he didn't even pay the $35.00 doctors fee for me. He was very apologetic at the time, but I never heard from him again even after I sent a letter detailing the cost of repairs and medical.

Next time, the driver gets a knuckle sandwich.:mad: :mad: :mad:

BTW. What is traffic school?

CHEERS.

Mark

Originally posted by Dutchy
BTW. What is traffic school?
when they put you in a classroom and reteach you the rules of the road for a day.

Originally posted by kubla khan
when they put you in a classroom and reteach you the rules of the road for a day.

Something like that would be very useful out here.