Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - i got hit by a car

on the busiest intersection in vancouver, washington at 9:30 pm or something.
he didn't have his signal on and he turned left and i was going straight.
He hit me on the side. i hit the top of his car. and i got back on my feet.
i was so freaked out. i started banging on his car and yelling at him.
he was freaked out too and was like "do you want me to back up into the lot"
"YEAH WHAT DO YOU THINK"
i picked up my bike and walked into the lot
too much adrenaline in me.
he was about to cry. he seemed about 28 years old. i made him call the police and everything.
we got all the information. he's goign to pay for the damage.
my legs hurt in the shin area.

it's a pake frame.
the fork is bent. the grip tape is screwed up.
the front wheel is bent. front brake screwed up.
we're goign to the bike shop tomorrow.

ughhh what do i doooooooooooo
did i do it right?

Get the insurance money! Same exact thing happened to my friend that rides a motobecane jury and he gave the guys insurane company the reciept for his brothers TK3 and cashed in $1150, whle only putting $100 into fixing his bike. Hopefully you're okay though. Good luck!

Edit: btw NEVER think you have a driver figured out; always be on the defense

i'm okay but i was just scared.
i was more freaked out about my bike than myself.
i dont even know how i picked up my bike and started carrying it on my shoulder
people were even yelling 'how are you doing that? you just got hit by a car'
and i was scared my dad is goign to kill me

Do/Did you have a light on your bike?

Damn man, I got hit by a car today too. :< I was on the sidewalk carrying a 20lb bag of rice in one hand and looked back to go on the road and the next thing I knew i was bailing over a car. Guy popped out of an alley. Luckily my bike is fine minus a bent clip and the bag of rice didn't break.. my shin isn't diggin the situation though.

Sounds like you handled it ok except maybe flipping on him but I can see how you could be freaked out. Enjoy your new bike and at least your not dead or broken.

Yes, i had a light. i even lost my back light :[ it came off. damn


i kinda feel like crying right now. uhhh

somehow i feel like you might have deserved this, maybe you were mashing too hard man idk...

lulz @ mashing

its all good dude. get the money you can and be glad you lived to ride another day. :) good luck.

i really hope your ok, and hope you get the money for a new bike or whatever you spend it on. That sucks so bad!

Get the insurance money! Same exact thing happened to my friend that rides a motobecane jury and he gave the guys insurane company the reciept for his brothers TK3 and cashed in $1150, whle only putting $100 into fixing his bike. Hopefully you're okay though. Good luck!

Edit: btw NEVER think you have a driver figured out; always be on the defense


Oh like, totally bro. You never know when somebody's going to, you know, try and rip you off

what?

I think he doesn't like the fact your friend ripped off the dude's insurance company.

Just be HONEST and THOROUGH


Make sure you lose NOTHING from the situation, but don't be spiteful. Remember that this was an accident, and he did the right thing. He could have been a **** off and fled the scene (which has happened to me in a much more severe accident) but he didn't.

yeah be glad this was all that happened. i got doored last year and had the dip**** wanna be thug driver try to pry my bike out of my hands until i "payed for his door". he also said "i should just shoot everyone on a bike that rides by my car". i had to get stuart leon to sue AIG because they were trying to get me to pay $2000 for his piece of **** acura.

Yeah, he was nice enough to stay and try to work things out, I can understand being mad, but accidents happen at least he was able to fess up to it.

Sorry you got hit man.
It seems like you handled things well.
Glad your ok.

Moral of the story, if the cars don't kill you, the dads will.

Don't be skurred to get back on the bike (once you can). I had a tremendous string of bad luck once, got hit 7 times in two years (ah, sweet home Chicago). I was never seriously hurt, but a couple of them really, really shook me up. After that I started riding much more timidly which definitely played part in my later accidents. So learn from this accident, but don't let it make you a worse rider. Just remember to think that you are invisible out there, because you basically are.

Yeah...a few months ago I was clipped from behind hard enough to topple me over my bars and straight into the ground before I could even take my hands off the bars


I lost 3 days of memory and I have nerve damage in my left brow (may or may not come back eventually) as well as some sweet scarring from the stitches.

The guy took off and was not found.

Welcome to the club.
Sucks big time dude. I hope you're ok. Definitely go through insurance and see a doctor. I hope you were wearing a helmet.

I'll show you the secret handshake later ;)

Damn man, I got hit by a car today too. :< I was on the sidewalk carrying a 20lb bag of rice in one hand and looked back to go on the road and the next thing I knew i was bailing over a car. Guy popped out of an alley. Luckily my bike is fine minus a bent clip and the bag of rice didn't break.. my shin isn't diggin the situation though.

Sounds like you handled it ok except maybe flipping on him but I can see how you could be freaked out. Enjoy your new bike and at least your not dead or broken.
this is why you DO NOT RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK.

Get the insurance money! Same exact thing happened to my friend that rides a motobecane jury and he gave the guys insurane company the reciept for his brothers TK3 and cashed in $1150, whle only putting $100 into fixing his bike. Hopefully you're okay though. Good luck!

Edit: btw NEVER think you have a driver figured out; always be on the defense

Oh like, totally bro. You never know when somebody's going to, you know, try and rip you off

Yep for real. That's messed up, not being straight up honest. Goes around, comes around. :innocent:

does everyone think i'm a guy on this forum? haha.

well, i'm not afraid to get back on the bike once things are fixed.
was my light not bright enough? it probably wasn't. i should invest in a new one or something.
riding in vancouver is pretty scary, even though it's right across from portland. it's a whole other world.
my legs are bruising right now, my lower back is hurting, my legs were tingling a little bit last night, i have a headache and my neck hurts a little bit. blah blah. complaining.
would it be worthless to take pictures of me and my bike. the damage of the bike probably wont show in pictures.
yeah, i'm glad the guy stopped and drove me home other wise i wouldn't have known what to do. i think if it was on a smaller street he probably wouldn't have stopped.
what is the secret handshake, TheDL?

its the internet. everyone is assumed male unless you make it obvious, and even then, we are suspicious.

this is why you DO NOT RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK.

Ya it was my fault but if I had rode on the road I would be swimming upstream so to speak.

yeah be glad this was all that happened. i got doored last year and had the dip**** wanna be thug driver try to pry my bike out of my hands until i "payed for his door". he also said "i should just shoot everyone on a bike that rides by my car". i had to get stuart leon to sue AIG because they were trying to get me to pay $2000 for his piece of **** acura.
Dude, John, I wish I'd been there.

Take pictures of everything. Write down everything you remember. Get a copy of the police report. You can use it all when you make your demand to the insurance company.

Make sure you go to a doctor. What doesn't seem like a serious injury now may show up down the road. If something shows up down the road and you didn't go to a doctor right after it happened, it may be harder to get the dude's insurance to pay for it.

Dude, John, I wish I'd been there.

his name may be stephen henderson

he may work at the locksmith shop on s broad

do i just call up the cop that showed up and ask for a copy of the report?
i dont knwo how this accident stuff works :|

give them a call and ask where the precinct is and go and get a copy of the report. you will deal with the guys claims adjuster at his insurance company. make sure it says it's the driver's fault on the report, and you shouldn't have any problem with the insurance company. don't say anything on record to the claims adjuster until you know they plan to pay. they are conniving.

does everyone think i'm a guy on this forum? haha.

well, i'm not afraid to get back on the bike once things are fixed.
was my light not bright enough? it probably wasn't. i should invest in a new one or something.
riding in vancouver is pretty scary, even though it's right across from portland. it's a whole other world.
my legs are bruising right now, my lower back is hurting, my legs were tingling a little bit last night, i have a headache and my neck hurts a little bit. blah blah. complaining.
would it be worthless to take pictures of me and my bike. the damage of the bike probably wont show in pictures.
yeah, i'm glad the guy stopped and drove me home other wise i wouldn't have known what to do. i think if it was on a smaller street he probably wouldn't have stopped.
what is the secret handshake, TheDL?


If you're that banged up I would go to a hospital and get checked out for sure.. especially if your legs were tingling. thats scary

1) Call police department and ask for copy of report
2) file claim with his insurance company (give them report number, they will get their own police report)
3) tell them you will get checked out by your doctor and plan to leave medical open for a while
4) see what they offer you to close early, they will probably offer you something immediately (do NOT suggest any numbers at this time or ever too them) - likely it will include medical and some amount of damages (personal and equipment) - do not, at this time, give them your evaluation of your bike's worth
5) Go to your doctor! Get his expert opinion on your body (things can hide for days). Get a second opinion from a Chiropractor.
6) Decide what you want to accept from them on damages - don't let them close medical for a month or so (though if they offer you a lot to close the medical, you may want to consider taking it)

7) - If the insurance adjuster seems to be acting like a dick (not if you *think* he's lowballing an offer), tell him you'll call a lawyer and get back in touch with you. If he's acting like a dick, it's a sure sign he thinks he can roll all over you. Insurance adjusters should be willing to come darn close to licking your backside in an attempt to keep you happy throughout the process if the report says the driver is at fault.

She's a girl, and the guy hit him!!! HANG HIM!!!! >: O

. . . good to see your ok for the most part. : )

All in favor of banning cars from the roads say "aye!"

the guy that hit me would rather pay out of pocket but his insurance company would rather them look at it and give me the check. i dont know. the insurance company would probably only pay like 100 or something.
should we go to the bike shop get a bill?

the thing is the insurance wants to look at the bike themselves.
my friend told me if the insurance looksat it they'll keep the bike?
what?

There is no way the insurance could possibly keep your bike unless they are offering a full replacement (and even then you'd have to explicitly agree to that).

I'd go get a quote from the bike shop before letting them look at it, though.

the guy that hit me would rather pay out of pocket but his insurance company would rather them look at it and give me the check. i dont know. the insurance company would probably only pay like 100 or something.
should we go to the bike shop get a bill?

Don't have any work done, but get an official quote. Just ask them how much it would be to completely repair your bike, and ask them to put it in writing.

If you feel like you can get your bike completely repaired and everything squared medically by just taking money from the guy out of pocket, then do that. It's the friendly thing to do, and you'd be a jerk not to.

Don't compromise with the guy, though. The second the guy starts *****ing about paying $300 for a new wheelset and $200 for x-rays... book it with the insurance company.

what is the secret handshake, TheDL?


It's nothing like this! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNSaws7_fwU

the guy that hit me would rather pay out of pocket but his insurance company would rather them look at it and give me the check. i dont know. the insurance company would probably only pay like 100 or something.
should we go to the bike shop get a bill?

Take your bike to the nicest, most reputable bike shop you know. When I got hit (the first time) I took my bike to River City Bicycles in downtown Portland. For full replacement of all parts damaged in the accident + labor was well over what i put in to the bike :D

The woman that hit me wanted to pay out of pocket too. Luckily the most damage was done to physical property rather than bodily.

last time i was hit, I broke 4 ribs and my wrist. Worst part is the driver didn't stop, Just kept going.

If I was you I would not settle out of pocket. If for anything medical reasons. what if it turns out your back got messed up or something? I mean having your bike back like new is important, but not the most important thing.

If I was you I would not settle out of pocket. If for anything medical reasons. what if it turns out your back got messed up or something? I mean having your bike back like new is important, but not the most important thing.
That's why you go to a doctor and a chiropractor and take all the necessary precautions.

The fact is, if after you see all the doctors and bike mechanics and whatnot you need, you'd be a jerk to deny the guy the chance to pay the final bill out of pocket. It shouldn't matter to you whether the money comes from his insurance company (who will subsequently make him pay 10 times the amount in increased fees and penalties) or the guys rainy day fund.

do i just call up the cop that showed up and ask for a copy of the report?
i dont knwo how this accident stuff works :|

I am not an attorney but here are a couple of pieces of advice.
1) call an attorney. the consultation will be free and he'll send you to a doctor to be checked out.
2) don't let anyone in your house to look at you or your bike. The insurance company will sometimes send out an adjustor - DON'T LET HIM IN AND DON'T TALK TO HIM (OR HER) edit - unless your attorney says it's OK - end of edit.
3) if you take advice number one, do what ever the doctor says..

Call the police department and see what their procedure is to get a copy of the report. Sometimes they charge a small fee to get a copy.

That's why you go to a doctor and a chiropractor and take all the necessary precautions.

The fact is, if after you see all the doctors and bike mechanics and whatnot you need, you'd be a jerk to deny the guy the chance to pay the final bill out of pocket. It shouldn't matter to you whether the money comes from his insurance company (who will subsequently make him pay 10 times the amount in increased fees and penalties) or the guys rainy day fund.

That's true. I mean don't blackmail the guy... he seemed nice enough.

I am not an attorney but here are a couple of pieces of advice.
1) call an attorney. the consultation will be free and he'll send you to a doctor to be checked out.
2) don't let anyone in your house to look at you or your bike. The insurance company will sometimes send out an adjustor - DON'T LET HIM IN AND DON'T TALK TO HIM (OR HER) edit - unless your attorney says it's OK - end of edit.
3) if you take advice number one, do what ever the doctor says..

Call the police department and see what their procedure is to get a copy of the report. Sometimes they charge a small fee to get a copy.

This is all totally true story. I went through this when I was a passenger in a car that was rear-ended by a drunk. Took over a year to settle, but I got about $11,000 and it wasn't even my car. The insurance company tried to get me to settle (before I had a lawyer) for $350. Lawyers really help you from getting screwed over by insurance agencies. It's not like the insurers stay in business because they just want to hand money out, you know? They're crooked just like everyone else.

You should get a lawyer.

It's nothing like this! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNSaws7_fwU

That was amazing. haha

It's nothing like this! :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNSaws7_fwU

i'll show you a secret handshake

This is all totally true story. I went through this when I was a passenger in a car that was rear-ended by a drunk. Took over a year to settle, but I got about $11,000 and it wasn't even my car. The insurance company tried to get me to settle (before I had a lawyer) for $350. Lawyers really help you from getting screwed over by insurance agencies. It's not like the insurers stay in business because they just want to hand money out, you know? They're crooked just like everyone else.

You should get a lawyer.

What did you need $11,000 for if it wasn't even your car? Were you injured?

Obviously if the OP wants to just milk this guy for everything he is worth and defraud the insurance company of as much money as possible, then those are the steps she should take. If she just wants to be adequately compensated, though, there's no reason to punish the guy more than making him pay for what needs to be replaced.

i took mine to revolver bikes. they did an estimate and faxed the bill to the insurance company. the insurance company is sending me a check, $150 or something but she said that if there is more i will send out more money.
i even lost my light on my backpack. would it be weird to ask money for that as well?

wow, merdaki, that's horrible that some people are like that. i wouldn't have known what to do.

i went to the doctor today and the dr. said i have whiplash and that's about it. she said i dont need a chiropractor. no adjustments are needed.

i took mine to revolver bikes. they did an estimate and faxed the bill to the insurance company. the insurance company is sending me a check, $150 or something but she said that if there is more i will send out more money.
i even lost my light on my backpack. would it be weird to ask money for that as well?

wow, merdaki, that's horrible that some people are like that. i wouldn't have known what to do.

i went to the doctor today and the dr. said i have whiplash and that's about it. she said i dont need a chiropractor. no adjustments are needed.

no, ask for the money for a light too. If it was destroyed in the crash, there is no reason to not be reimbursed.

i took mine to revolver bikes. they did an estimate and faxed the bill to the insurance company. the insurance company is sending me a check, $150 or something but she said that if there is more i will send out more money.
i even lost my light on my backpack. would it be weird to ask money for that as well?

wow, merdaki, that's horrible that some people are like that. i wouldn't have known what to do.

i went to the doctor today and the dr. said i have whiplash and that's about it. she said i dont need a chiropractor. no adjustments are needed.


Just know if you cash that $150 check you're likely setteling right then and there. That's it. Read anything and everything that comes with that check.