giorgios

This after noon I was on a routine 20 mile bike ride. I ride on Chicago's Lake front trail which I access through a tunnel. After my ride I get to the edge of the tunnel and come to a complete stop then proceed to go and the same time a driver starts to go. She hit my rear wheel as I passed in front of her. I fall off the bike she comes out "Im sorry, Im sorry, I didnt see you are you OK?" My jersey or shorts were not ripped but I had a small rasberry on my upper thigh and a small cut on my elbow. I was fine for the most part. I examined my Serotta the wheels were fine the frame seemed fine on inspection, Then I said "Im OK" I will ride away and you drive away but please more fuc@in carefull next time" "I will I will, thank you" she said.

Now as Im riding home I was thinking to my self if I did the right thing? Should I have gotten her name and licence plate just in case there is damage to my car or there is something wrong with me other than a few minor scrapes? This was my very first collision with a car and Im not sure if I handled it correctly?

Any advice please fellow forumites?

RCordone

Before we can help we have to know if she was hot.

J.C. Koto

Hopefully you are indeed OK!

In general, you *always* want to exchange information, get witness information, and call the police (not necessarily 911. Non-emergency accident reporting is fine if everyone is unharmed). Actually, call the police first. The purpose of calling the police, even if you *seem* to be OK is to start a "paper trail" in case things (injuries etc) show up later. If there is no accident report, then you will be SOL later if injuries or damage are noticed later.

Anyway, was she hot?

John1992

no you did not. Did you spend any time screaming in pain and rolling around on the ground? At least make her feel bad. :-) I would sugest you always get the name and details. You never know what is going to come to light in a day or a week.

giorgios

No she was'nt really hot but that's not important. This was the very first time in nine years of riding that I had a collision with a car. In retrospect I should have got her name and contact information thats for sure (just in case somethings hurts later me or bike). A Police report? If no one was hurt do you think they would come out to that particular scene?

Big M

Yes, the police will come even if no one was hurt.
But just for good measure, don't tell 911 that. If they ask if anyone is hurt, say you don't know yet and please just send a police officer.

I'm the type to dust myself off, curse the other guy out, and move along. But the smarter thing would be to exchange contact information, and better yet, have a cop document the accident with a report so you have some proof of the incident. Something could develop from those bumps and bruises you got there.

Nachoman

No. Years ago, almost the same thing happened to me. After the impact the guy got out of his car asking if I was okay. I got up off the ground, a bit dazed but basically feeling okay and checked my bike, which also seemed okay, and told the guy I was fine and so was my bike.
Two minutes after he left, I realized my bike wasn't riding properly. I ended up needing a new wheel. The next day the pain set in and I was sore for at least a few weeks.

Kimmitt 

The proper response is, "I think I'm ok, but just to be safe, let's exchange contact info." Then, a day or two later, when it turns out you are ok, drop a line (email or whatever) saying, "Just wanted to let you know that neither the bike nor I were hurt. Take care."

Of course, if it turns out you (or the bike) was injured, then send a note saying, "Once I got rolling, I noticed xxx." If it's a new wheel or something, she may prefer to handle it informally, instead of calling her insurance company.

mds0725

Did you see the car when you came to a complete stop? One way to avoid collisions like this is to make eye contact with cars that are in a position to hit you, as when you and the car are stopped in an intersection. I learned in a bike safety class that if a cyclist ever has any doubt about whether a car is going to proceed through the intersection at the same time you do, the cyclist should put one of his/her feet on the ground (the universal cyclist's communication for "I have stopped and will wait for you"). The car with then either proceed before the cyclist do or wave the cyclist through. The thing you may have done wrong (which does not excuse the driver for hitting you) is failing to communicate with the driver when you were stopped. I'm glad you don't seem to be badly hurt.