Touring - Hit by a car

Almost out of Texas on a a Southern tour - on a wide sholder without any busy traffic - lady driver hits me at 65 miles an hour. In reality hits my panniers and drives by tent poles into my legs requiring stitches and the force screws up my knee. Am I lucky to be alive - only by the mercy of of the one above!!!!! Been in Houston a week recoverying - planning to join my traveling buddies in a few days in next state only 850 miles to go. The question I must ask myself - will I do this again. In 30 plus years of riding it was never been this close.

Oh man! Glad you made it. Take it easy on yourself when you start riding again. It took me a while to get my head back on straight after I got hit.

WOW...scary!
glad you're ok, any legal actions (should she driving)?
i got hit by an age 85 female who "had my signals on"; helmet saved my life. i was out of the game for about 1 and 1/2 years (back injury).
be safe!

Oh my..... Heal fast, and get over the nightmares quick. Something like this moves us to a new "comfort zone" after the nerves settle down -- I hope you're there soon, and it finds you on the bike again. 30 years experience probably got you out of a lot of situations, and it'll get you through this.

Glad you're OK -- but this makes me want to stay in the PNW.....

All the best
-- Mark

Lots of witnesses " they stopped and gave the police their names- she was on her way to see a grandchild born. Police ticketed her - but she was scared and stayed with me for hours at the hospital after the ambulance brought me in. Not sure what legal proceedings to take - just need to get back on the bike next week and finish the trip. Never came this close to dying - have 4000 miles in the last 3.5 months - nothing close

What did she say? Didn't she see you?

She said something flew up and distracted her - I was wearing a jellow safety vest with reflectors - it was a clear sunny day. After being around her for several hours she said she rode close to the shoulder because seni-trucks scared her coming the other direction. Personally I don't think she should be on the road - don't know if I could make that happen.

Glad you are okay.
Hope you heal quickly.

A couple of thing to consider if your knees are needy.
Lighten your load - consider sending your gear back and credit card touring.
Or trust that you can find shelter if you share your story.
One way to do that is to get an article - even short one - written up in the local county paper.
Then mail copies ahead to town papers explaining that you want to finish your trip -
But that you'll need places to stay.
I'll bet you get lots of offers.

Focus on you and not the lady who hit you.
I think it is amazing that she stayed with you.
(I've had people sideswipe me and drive off.)
I'm not sure how old she is, but it sounds like she is taking responsibility.
I'm sure she and her insurance company will work with you.
Is your bike smashed? Will you need to get another?

I'll keep you in my prayers.
Best - J

check out getting a compitent personal injury lawyer (no fees unless settlement). if the road was clear, there is no excuse. you should not foot any of the bills, at the least.
it was really good for her to stay with you, however (hopefully with concern about you, less legal action)!
i have been vb since 1979, hit 4x (2x to the hospital), and have empathy with you. i hope it all works out, again am glad you're ok, and am enviouse of your tour (last tour for me was in 2004-east coast, x-usa 1982).
spin safe!
t

She said something flew up and distracted her - I was wearing a jellow safety vest with reflectors - it was a clear sunny day. After being around her for several hours she said she rode close to the shoulder because seni-trucks scared her coming the other direction. Personally I don't think she should be on the road - don't know if I could make that happen.

That is a bad driving habit. She could have nailed somebody changing a tire or side swiped a stalled car, which could have caused her to cross the line and hit someone head on. Does not sound like she is competent enough to be driving.

Did the police ask her if she was on a cell phone?

Ouch, I hope all goes well for you. I know it does happen often, but it sounds like you ended up lucky. Don't let it stop you, keep on with the beauty of toruing. I won't show this thread to my mother, shes already hesitant about my cross country trip over the summer.

in the civil suit, the settlement can require a driver to surrender their license. Make sure that there are provisions for future medical costs that arise.

good luck!

Did the police ask her if she was on a cell phone?

That was my initial thought too, but op has since said she was going to see her grandchild born so I assume she's an older lady. Then she said this: "After being around her for several hours she said she rode close to the shoulder because semi-trucks scared her coming the other direction."

I'm an auto mechanic in a retirement/resort community and I see this all the time. One, like above, an older driver may have heightened fears, and two, they likely don't see too well. The result is the sidewalls of their right side tires have all the rubber worn off from using their tires as curb feelers!

Mental note: Put tent stakes in right side pannier facing rear or downwards. :eek:

Glad you're ok vosyer. Get well both mentally and physically soon.

Stay strong, vosyer. As a guy who has been hit....try to get back on the bike ASAP....even if it's only a spin around the hospital parking lot. The mental part can even be tougher than the physical part....it was for me.

And don't blame the Grandma who hit you....she shouldn't be driving, but we live in a nation that makes it tough not to drive in. So it's America's fault. In my world, we'd have great Public transit and live close together with bike paths everywhere. So old folks could not lose their freedom...without driving...and scaring the crap out of cyclists!

vosyer, get well soon. hope you get back on the ride without apprehension or undue delay.

She might be a sweet woman who simply made a judgemental error, but I'd still max out her insurance policy. Glad you are OK and hope you heal well enough to enjoy the trip. If your travels bring you through the New Orleans or MS coast area and you need anything, shoot me a line.

At one time Texas had the easiest litigation climate in the US. Not sure if that survived the republicans. Still, "how many Gs in hospitalization..." If her insurance pays out a huge calim she is probably off the road anyway. I think it is likely sincere that she stayed with you, that would certainly be my mother's first concern. A downside with lawsuits is that they drag on for years and start to affect the basic way you live your life.

Give your knee a lot of time to recover, and take care of yourself. Did you suffer blood loss, or get any transfusions?

Just a best wishes and hope all goes well

Vosyer, Did you have a mirror, did you see her coming, thinking back do you think you would been able to get out of her way before she hit you.

So when is the greenway going to be finished?

Woah man, sorry to hear about the close call but happy to know you're still with us. Man, you got guts to finish up but it is probably a good thing to get back on the bike soon so it isn't as hard later after it's been "built up." Wearing hi-vis and everything but still getting hit... I guess sometimes there's just nothing you can do. I know I'd probably contemplate giving it up but I know there are lots of risks involved in the things I like but personally I don't think I could start giving them up because then what would I be left with? Heal up and see how you feel later.

Update:
Headed to the doctor for a checkup today - got back into Seattle from Jacksonville last night - took 90 across the panhandle of Florida to finish up. All the various parties insurance have clicked in. Bike community in Jacksonville most helpfull in my detour across their city - Baldwin rail to trail route - nice.
Thanks for everyones prayers - but I am glad I decided to finish - Florida's roads made the end of the trip very nice although extremely hot.

Mike

Not being insensitive here, but don't let fear rule your life and quit touring! I've had close calls as well, granted not as close as yours, though. All it means is that the Angels love you....if they didn't, you would have had a differet outcome. Giving up an aspect of your life like touring is a dimunition of your life....not a gain.

Glad you're ok. Keep on touring!

Glad you are okay.
But if the lady and her attorney found out you were able to go across the state of Florida so soon after a major accident will greatly diminish your award. Also any attorney will tell you not to talk about upcoming legal legitation.

If you are going to settle with her company without a lawyer on your end, it's stupid.

harsh talk I know but someone needs to say it.

I guess I am not out to make money on this event!! I just want to be made whole for all the hassel and medical bills . I could of packed it in and flown home if I was into the money aspect of the jouney, but I was 2000 miles into it and bound and determined to finish. Cat scan and maybe MRI tomorrow to look around the knee - it has actually been wierd being home and not on the road with a taped up bandaged knee. Will hopefully get on the tandem this weekend unless doctors say otherwise.

I guess I am not out to make money on this event!! I just want to be made whole for all the hassel and medical bills . I could of packed it in and flown home if I was into the money aspect of the jouney, but I was 2000 miles into it and bound and determined to finish. Cat scan and maybe MRI tomorrow to look around the knee - it has actually been wierd being home and not on the road with a taped up bandaged knee. Will hopefully get on the tandem this weekend unless doctors say otherwise.

Welcome home, and, thanks for the refreshing attitude.

Welcome home, and, thanks for the refreshing attitude.

+1

Glad you're doing better and no serious complications!

+1 from me too. GOod job on finishing, nice attitude.

When you first posted this and some folks started talking attorneys, I wrote a post (and didn't post it) here, about how I handled my accident. I opted not to lawyer-up and sue, and settled on my own with the insurance co. It was simple, as the accident was 100 % her fault, so there wasn't any wrangling about that. I'm sure I could have gotten a bigger settlement (I got very little above my actual costs), but I didn't want the bitterness in my life. I felt sorry for the lady who hit me, she "just didn't see me" but there wasn't anything else going on - no booze/drugs, cd changes, etc.

Anyway, I'm really glad I handled it the way I did - I just feel like that poor lady was human, I was human, we all make mistakes, and pointing blaming money-grubbing fingers doesn't really help.

I'm sure I would have felt differently if I was permanently disabled.

ANyway... welcome home!

She said something flew up and distracted her - I was wearing a jellow safety vest with reflectors - it was a clear sunny day. After being around her for several hours she said she rode close to the shoulder because seni-trucks scared her coming the other direction. Personally I don't think she should be on the road - don't know if I could make that happen.

My Driver's Education teacher told me that women are afraid of the other lane of traffic and men are afraid of going off the road. I am not kidding or making this up. Knowing this i took note when my parents drove with me. Sure enough my mom would almost have a heart attack telling me that I almost hit a car over and over. My dad would say i nearly ran into the ditch.

Glad you're OK -- but this makes me want to stay in the PNW.....

-- Mark

I ran into a lot of ******* drivers touring in the PNW. They're everywhere.