Road Cycling - First Wreck with a Car

This Saturday, I was going down one of the main roads in Nashville. I was going around 30 mph and had the green light. This Toyota camry turned right in front of me and when they saw me, they came to a dead stop directly in front of me. It was too late to react at the speed I was going. I grabbed my brakes as hard as I could, like that was going to do much good. I then dropped my head down so that the helmet would take the brunt of the blow. When I hit the car, it threw me off the bike and my head went right through the passenger side window. The man's wife was on that side and my head hit her in the side of the face. The worst thing about it was when I hit her, my head had already shattered the glass and it just pushed it right into her face. They had to take her to the hospital for all the cuts down her face.

My injuries were minor. Of course, I went to the hospital, and they did a ct scan and kept me there for a little while and finally said taht everything looked ok. I have a bruised right leg, a minor bruise of my left elbow, and my butt is really sore. My bicycle only took scratches of the brake levers. The gears have started to rattle when I put the in high gear afterwards. ** Amazing ** I know that I am extremely lucky on this that I wasn't hurt more. God must have been with me.

The police definitely said that I had the right of way.

Check the forks and the top of the head tube for damage and look for bent cranks.
Headbutting a car was a brave move, but you were lucky not to sustain head injuries. Helmets are not designed for 30mph impacts. You may survive better next time if you can jump off the bike, over the vehicle and dissipate your kinetic energy by sliding along the road. Better still, become more paranoid and slower at junctions.
Since the car driver was in the wrong, help them to remember the situation by presenting a big bill for new bits and clothes, dont hold back.

Wow, he's going to be kissing his wife's butt for months - what an idiot. I feel for you man, that must have been scary as hell. I'm with Michael. Their insurance company will try to pin you down with a settlement, don't give in. The last time I was hit, I played the nice guy and settled for new cranks (one was bent). Well, a few months later a crack appeared at the bottom bracket. I'm nearly certain it was a result of that accident.

Get that bike checked at the lbs now.Oh,the the people that think helments are dumb, what would of happened if you didnt have one on.

gee helmets helpful, I dunno... :rolleyes:

I am glad that you were not seriously hurt in this !! Sounds like the wife got the brunt of the injuries which is an unusual twist of fate as it is usually the cyclists who end up with the worst injuries.

I am also glad, actually amazed, that you were able to make the split second decision you did to put your head down in the way that you did which probably saved you from more severe injuries.

As for the driver, what a moron !! I feel sorry for his wife but perhaps the guy will pay more attention in the future. I bet his wife won't be letting him drive for awhile !!

Justen

This is cross-posted. We don't like that.......

Originally posted by D*Alex
This is cross-posted. We don't like that.......

What is cross posted ??

Justen

Please dont cross post: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23609