Advocacy & Safety - Bike vs. Car

So, had my first crash today. Almost 2,000 miles this year, and already an accident...

I was headed up a hill near my house. I was just starting to go up, so I was pushing about 20 miles or so, in the bike lane. On my left, traffic was stop-and-go, as it was rush hour. So, I'm pushing the gears, and suddenly, a car going the opposite direction pulls a classic left hook. I run into the door panel with hardly any time to brake...

Surprisingly, my bike was practically untouched. Sure, the handlebars were turned, and one of the brake levers was twisted a bit. But, other than that, no damage. I was fine too, a scrape on the elbow, a bruise on the forehead, and a bruised/hurt knee. The car though, got the worst of it. Two big dents, and a few scrapes on the door panel. The lady driving the car was suprisingly cooperative. She said that she couldn't see me. She didn't have her insurance, but we exchanged contact information, and she told me she would contact me in the morning about stuff.

So, who is at fault? I clearly had right of way, although I suppose traffic could have been masking me. Still, "I didn't see you" does not remove fault...

How should I handle the conversation tomorrow morning? I plan to simply tell her, I don't want anything, and that she can just go on her way.

I hope she really calls you. Did you take down the license plate number in case she was BSing you?

You were clearly not at fault but you could have avoided the situation by slowing down, not trusting the oncoming cars.

Get back on that bike ASAP. :)

If there was a bike lane, she clearly had the duty to check that the way was clear before she crossed the lane. Just because traffic in the other lanes gave way to her did not give her right of way over the bike lane. I suggest having the bike checked at a shop for frame and fork alignment. If you have a quill stem, it should not be tightened hard in the steerer tube, to allow the bars to twist in a crash and avoid further damage to the bike.

File an accident report. You don't want her coming back to you in 3 months claiming you slammed into her parked car.

The people who maintain that, when they have the right of way, they can operate in any manner they so chose without regard to others may someday find themselves either dead or dead right. Either outcome is not particularly appealing to me.

Ivan, the way you described the accident I think you already realize that of the 2 people involved it was you that was in the best position to have avoided it. I sense you have already replayed, in your mind, how this situation came about and how best to prevent it in the future. Thus you are acquiring street smarts. :D

I would like to banish the concept of ‘right of way’. There should be no such thing. I prefer to operate with the idea of ‘expectation of yield’. I may enter an intersection expecting others to yield but I ride so that if they don't I have a safe alternative.

I would have done 2 things differently.

1) I would not have ridden at such a speed, passing on the right, a line of essentially stopped cars. Ivan is right – in this position he was hidden from the on-coming left-turning traffic.

2) Upon approaching the intersection I would have been fully prepared to stop. Not stopped but riding at a speed where I quickly could without panic. I would have anticipated that left turner might be there. I would only have proceeded only once I had made eye contact with them and they had yielded to me.

I would also advise you to get checked-out by your doctor or medical provider. You may feel OK now and only have a few scrapes and bruises, but in a short period of time other problems may arise that don't appear now. If you use a chiropractor, have a check-up done by them also. Trauma to muscles and related bones may take weeks or months to appear but when they do, they can be quite painful.

Well, got a call from insurance today. We're meeting up to discuss damages/appraisal

Damages to bike:
Torn saddle cover (cosmetic)
Broken handlebar plug (cosmetic)
Scratched shift lever/pedal (cosmetic)

Damages to me:
Scraped up elbow
Bruised knee
Bruised hip
Bruise on forehead (cosmetic :D )

Should I pursue the insurance, to get money from this? Or should I just let it slide?

Well, got a call from insurance today. We're meeting up to discuss damages/appraisal
...
Should I pursue the insurance, to get money from this? Or should I just let it slide?

You're entitled to it, you may as well try to pursue it. Definitly spend the money to get a full checkup by your doctor to make sure you don't have any hairline fractures in your hands. Once you sign off on it, it's over. If you find out you need treatment after denying need to her insurance company, it starts coming out of your pocket.

Don't go overboard expecting $1 Million in "Pain and Suffering", but certainly get whatever it costs to fix up your bike and pay for your medical checkup. Anything more than that is a bonus, so don't fight too hard past your necessities.

You're entitled to it, you may as well try to pursue it. Definitly spend the money to get a full checkup by your doctor to make sure you don't have any hairline fractures in your hands. Once you sign off on it, it's over. If you find out you need treatment after denying need to her insurance company, it starts coming out of your pocket.

Don't go overboard expecting $1 Million in "Pain and Suffering", but certainly get whatever it costs to fix up your bike and pay for your medical checkup. Anything more than that is a bonus, so don't fight too hard past your necessities.


I totally agree with this plan. At least get a checkup just to be sure you didn't fracture any bones or something. Better safe than sorry.

Has anyone noticed the majority of the accidents on this board occur at 20 mph or more?? You hardly ever hear of an accident at 12 -15 mph. It's interesting and I would think the ability to stop at this speed being a critical factor.

Has anyone noticed the majority of the accidents on this board occur at 20 mph or more?? You hardly ever hear of an accident at 12 -15 mph. It's interesting and I would think the ability to stop at this speed being a critical factor.Well, that's because most people on this board cruise at that speed...

I my case, unless I was going 5mph, speed would not have made a difference...

Well, that's because most people on this board cruise at that speed...

I my case, unless I was going 5mph, speed would not have made a difference...
This is a good point. In my couple of accidents, my initial speed was 18-20 mph, but the accidents that I have witnessed other cyclist in, they were traveling at speeds between 5-12 mph.

well my cruising speed is around 15-16 mph but I can and do go upwards of 20 sometimes and I can tell you that I really can tell a difference. I've had a couple close calls at 15 mph that I don't think I could've avoided had I been going 20+. One was a car going across a street from one parking lot to another. I was just riding along the street when the guy tries to cross the street. I had to brake very quickly but I was able to. It was close though. Sometimes I really dislike cars, especially when they can get over into the other lane but choose not to when passing me. Ughh, I don't wanna get started (see my nickname).

well my cruising speed is around 15-16 mph but I can and do go upwards of 20 sometimes and I can tell you that I really can tell a difference. I've had a couple close calls at 15 mph that I don't think I could've avoided had I been going 20+.

I'm the same "speed" as you, and I can't agree more.

That extra 5 mph between 15 and 20 definitely eats into the reaction time!