Southern California - I got hit by a car

Saturday. At an intersection -- a four-way stop controlled by stop signs. The driver did stop. However, I'm really uncertain how it happened, as my perception of the event (that a car slightly behind me and to my left tried to make a right-hand turn across in front of me) did not match the facts (he was coming straight through the intersection in the cross-ways direction and not attempting to turn). I had attempted to go through the intersection with the sedan sitting on my left. Perhaps the sedan, being able to accelerate faster, pulled ahead of me, and left me open to the car approaching crosswise from the left, and since I was obscured by that vehicle to my left, the approaching car didn't see me. However, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, either, as I had barely entered the intersection when I was struck. So, I really am very confused as to how it happened, and who, if anyone, did what wrong (if anything). Perhaps I was looking down to clip into my pedals, and therefore took too long to move forward, and thus my actions amounted to trying to cross the intersection out of turn (you're supposed to take turns). I really don't know. I was pretty stunned by the impact.

I guess God takes care of fools and little children, because both I and my bike were pretty okay. My helmet was not damaged or cracked that I could see; the bike was okay, not visibly bent or out of alignment, and certainly rideable; I was a little scraped up, but not badly (I've had worse cases of road rash), and pretty bruised, but no fractures that I could detect, or (after two days) any soft-tissue damage to my neck, shoulders, or back. Just a nasty bruise on my forearm below the elbow where I hit the ground, and a few other bruises on my left side. But that's about it. Oh, and my glasses got run over, but the lenses were okay, so I just kind of jimmied the frame back into alignment and put them back on. I couldn't think of anything that amounted to actual damages, so what was the point of making a claim on the driver's insurance, or making a police report? So, I didn't even get the guy's name, phone number, or driver's license, or the make, model, or license of his car. Probably stupid, but like I said, no damages. Nothing to fix on my bike, nothing that a little ice wouldn't fix on me, my glasses still useable (I kind of need to get new ones anyway, but only because the prescription is not working). I was just too confused by the accident, and trying to figure out how it happened. I was probably a little bit of a jerk to do so, but I kind of warned the guy, "Just try to be more aware of cyclists. With the high price of gas, there's more of us out on the roads that ever." He kept saying over and over, "I just didn't see you (don't they always?)," and had the nerve to say that I hit him. Maybe I just didn't want to get into an argument over "fault" when I was so shook up. I don't know. I just don't know.

It was kind of weird though -- a quiet residential neighbourhood in San Marino. Not Valley Blvd., not Las Tunas, not Santa Anita, not Fremont, not Los Robles. Monterey Road, I think at Oak Knoll.

Wow, sorry to hear that. Hope you recover soon.

I think it is wise to let a few family/close friends know and have them check up on you once in a while. :)

Glad to hear that you are relativley unscathed. Here's to a quick recover.

glad it's only minor brusing. Heal up soon!!!!

Glad to hear you're ok, Renee.

Glad you're okay! SOmeone wa watching you, Hunh? Make sure to give the bike a good check for hidden damages. Maybe even have a friend give a second look or opinion!:D

Scary. Take good care of yourself and make sure that you really are OK...

Oh no....Sorry to hear that Renee...glad your ok!!!

Renee, I know it's after the fact, but should this happen again - ALWAYS take the insurance policy # and license number of the driver (and get a police report if possible). Injuries can be delayed (i.e. adrenaline can mask pain) and what if you have a back issue, etc.?

But more importantly, I'm relieved you were not injured badly. Feel better - and get your bike checked by your lbs to ensure there was absolutely no damage.

Glad you're ok but I understood 5% of what you wrote...

i almost go thit the other night at the in n out in irvine.

i almost go thit the other night at the in n out in irvine.

in and out is a deathtrap full of 15 year old "cool" wanabe's...you should feel blessed!

Actually, Monterey Rd, from Fair Oaks to Oak Knoll can be pretty unpredictable. You get all sorts, from those that are so rich that anything other than a car shouldn't be on the road, to those who do consider bikes as a viable form of transportation. I've seen many drivers there who just cruise by there subconsciously, and this may have happened to you. I ditto ME's comments. Just because it is San Marino, and quieter, does not mean we can let our guard down. Sometimes, those quieter, more expensive neighborhoods, can be more dangerous.

Glad to hear you are ok though.

Gonna have to change your handle to 'TiChick'. So resilient! Get hit by cars, face ran over by track bikes but you never get hurt!:D

Glad to hear you're alright. Hopefully the details will become clear to you as your mind stops racing over the subject.

i almost go thit the other night at the in n out in irvine.


Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, my friend.
Where were you Sunday night? Long Beach...


To the OP, heal up and sorry to hear you got hit.

Yup. I "almost" get hit everyday.

Actually, Oak Knoll is a pretty busy road despite being in a upscale residential area with a Ritz Carlton hidden amongst them. I've noticed that it's gotten busier in the past couple of years since the city has put up so many new stop signs and traffic lights along Los Robles; stop signs that are literally within 5-9 car lengths from one another!

Glad you're OK.

Should this thread be a sticky? :(

Sure have been hearing about alot of people getting hit lately. Either that or crashing on the path and getting their ribs cracked or something else along that line...

OP how are you feeling?

Take care everybody...

I ride through that area all the time; but never on Monterey Road.

I ride through that area all the time; but never on Monterey Road.

Same here, I use Monterey Rd. occasionally but prefer Huntington most of the time. Glad your pretty much ok after that. Out of curiosity, what time of day did the incident occur?

Same here, I use Monterey Rd. occasionally but prefer Huntington most of the time. Glad your pretty much ok after that. Out of curiosity, what time of day did the incident occur?

About 1:30 in the afternoon on a Saturday.

I'm pretty much okay, so thanks to everyone who inquired. My left elbow is still pretty tender and swollen, has turned several rather ugly colours, and seems to have a healthy hematoma. But not broken. I just have to be careful not to try and push open doors with my elbow!! My face is a little tender, so I have to be gentle applying sunscreen or moisturizer, and I have 3-4 other bumps/scrapes, but not enough to even bother me.

It's just so SURREAL -- I say, "I got hit by a car," and I did, and yet it's like I didn't. I've gotten hurt far worse falling on the track (on a wooden track, not a pavement track). So, there's this weird unreality about it. I'm thankful, but it's still weird.

And the circumstances were so weird. I'm still only guessing how the event occurred. But I think there were simply a lot of cars at that intersection -- at least 8-10. And with that many vehicles jockeying for position and impatiently waiting their turn to go through the stop signs, I think there was just too much confusion. Plus, my choice to ride through with the car on my left I think was a mistake, as that vehicle obscured me from the view of the crosswise vehicles to my left. I think next time, I will pull farther out past the "Stop" line on the pavement (into the invisible "crosswalk" area), and take the time to make eye contact with each and every driver at the intersection and make sure that they're all giving me the right of way to pass through the intersection. That's the only thing I can think of to prevent this from happening again. As I said before, it wasn't on a major boulevard -- a relative quiet residential neighbourhood, a four-way stop controlled by stop signs. in the early afternoon. weird. Just weird.

the velodrome phoenix, wings a little sore, but still fluttering

I've noticed that it's gotten busier in the past couple of years since the city has put up so many new stop signs and traffic lights along Los Robles; stop signs that are literally within 5-9 car lengths from one another!


Especially with those around circular planters in the middle making people go around for left turns, etc., - harder for me to look further away in attempt to make eye contact w/ drivers, but I guess in a way it helps that it slows things down a touch.

Get better soon, Renee!

It's just so SURREAL -- I say, "I got hit by a car," and I did, and yet it's like I didn't. I've gotten hurt far worse falling on the track (on a wooden track, not a pavement track). So, there's this weird unreality about it. I'm thankful, but it's still weird.


Not to diminish the severity of colliding with an auto...I have several friends who have been hit, bounced like a rubber ball (one off the windshield) and were still A-OK...just a few bruises and scrapes..

Lucky...huh??

Strange how some can eventually play it back in their mind and figure out the dynamics of it all.

I'm glad you're not too banged up.

Hey at least they stopped, if I read correctly? The moron in the Dodge pickup that hit me on my Peugeot, continued his turn and floored the accelerator. Luckily my rear axle had passed his bumper before he decided to hit the gas. He just clipped the back side of the rear wheel and bent it instead of me.,,,,BD