CastIron

When you get examined by your physician, take your helmet.

Ranman

This is terrible but unfortunately not the first time this has happened.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=%2Bphysician

You and your lawyer may want to contact the victims or their attorneys.

Get a medical exam. You need to document everything you can (medical report, pictures of injuries, witness statements, police report, damage report on bike, save your helmet) because you are gathering evidence for a matter that will go to court. Best of luck on your recovery.

Seamless

Even if you recover fully from what you believe is minor bruising, police, state's attorneys, and judges may consciously or subconsciously discount the seriousness of an attack when a victim does not seek medical attention, which may mean that no charges are initially placed or that it results in a small fine or suspended sentence.

jc33

helmet pics

black_box 

thats awful, thankfully someone went after him and he was easily caught. I'd definitely go see a doctor, if only to get a document of your condition.

ColorChange

JC, I sure am glad you appear to be OK but please crucify this SOB to protect the rest of us. I too recommend getting checked out completely. You won't be paying ...

sekaijin

That is so wrong. As others have said: see a doc, heal up, and get that driver off the road!

edit - your helmet looks like it got smacked in 3 places.

BTW, did you see this crazy story about a cyclist suing over a driver rage incident ... and the driver was a deputy sheriff!

jc33

the guy was arrested last night and corroborated my story except that he states he didnt have the intent to injure me and he got scared when he saw me bouncing off the concrete, which is why he floored it and took off. Yeah...right. No way in hell he would do what he did and NOT be trying to hurt me. He's charged with two counts failure to yield and 1 count leaving the scene of an accident. hopefully his license will be revoked. IMO he was trying to kill me.

Kimbercop

He'll pay a fine ($250-500 or so) and more than likely keep his license (depending on his drivers abstract/history). Just the way the system works or better yet, doesnt work. Best bet is civi litigation, but even there you're not looking at pocketing too much.

RJBTrek

Details....the guy's name and address. It should be on the police report. It will be interesting to see who this MF is. Also..what type of car?

tiztim

I agree. The charge against the driver is public record. Considering his act, no "courtesy" of privacy should be given to him.

ColorChange

Kimber and MJH2 ... is there nothing else we can do to FORCE the official to properly nail the SOB?

Please let us know what we can do! (I'm also interested in his address ...PM me)

devildogmech

Please DON'T post this idiot's info..... I would hate to see someone take matters into their own hands....

I second the option of a civil suit. I had to sue an idiot who caused a car accident in HS (I was 16 and had my licence for all of 2 weeks!). I wasn't hurt, so I just went after her for the damages to my $400 car.

You need a new helmet ($100), You need your bike assessed for damage ($200) and any repairs/ Replacements ($???). Take this knucklehead to court (small claims if only) and make life just a little bit miserable for him. Don't get nasty, just tweak the tigers tail.

JMHO

black_box 

So the guy stated that he intentionally hit the brakes, but didnt intend to hurt you. Right. I guess he's done this a few times to know to say that he didnt have the intent to injure, I think thats where he's avoiding the serious charges that he deserves.

RJBTrek

The info I requested is not so that people can get nasty. It is to see if the guy is a elected official, in charge of children (school, etc), works in public sector, etc. Maybe notify the news papers, etc. A little pressure goes a long way. I do not advocate people taking matters into their own hands. The address info is to ensure the correct person in case google shows this idiot as an elected official.

Edit: BTW, I had to help bury my sisters husband because people did not want to bring to light the violence tendencies exhibited by the guy that murdered my brother-in-law. The person that could have brought this to light said, "I did not think he really meant those things he said". I have no problem making sure others know that this guy cannot control his anger.

Kimbercop

Time for pitchforks, laterns and a noose?

ColorChange

When the legal system fails ... heck yea. Does that apply in this case ... probably not for me personally.

If this piece of human filth killed my daughter pulling the same stunt and the legal system did nothing ... ummm .... me thinks so!

Kimbercop

Maybe I missed something. Who died? Besides, how has the system failed? It just got started.

ColorChange

Sorry, trying to make a couple points, IMO of course.

1. The legal system is often wrong and usually unfair.

2. If that failure is severe enough, and the level of guilt strong enough, do I think it's OK to correct the legal system's failure? Yes I do.

Does that help?

MJH2

Possibly, yes.

But, it's really up to jc to determine how to handle things. There's not really anything anybody else can do to influence this specific situation. It's also not jc's job to bear the cross of the collective cycling community.

I think that a lot of the energy in this thread could be best used to change things in other ways. Join cycling advocacy groups. Get involved in educating the public about cyclists on the roads. Maybe try to go speak at HS driver's ed classes.

It's been shown, time and time again, that a decent educational structure will do more good in avoiding future legal situations than will negative consequences.

hyunelan2

Disagree.

It's that we only hear about things when they go wrong. There is no story to tell when everything works the way it should.

Mr IGH

WOW, why wasn't that guy hauled away in cuffs? This guy will get off with a hand slap, the courts are clogged with cases, there's no room at Cook County Jail, be prepared for disapointment. When you try to file a civil case, no lawyer will take this case without a retainer....

I am all for my rights as a cyclist, I do want to live. Anyone riding on these major arteries in the NW Suburbs of Chicago is living on borrowed time. The motorists are crazy, drunk/drugged, talking on cell phones, eating food, quite often all four at once. I assume the only reason the local motorists miss me is because they didn't see me...Some unfortunate soul was killed while riding on Roselle last fall north of I-90.

ColorChange

And I couldn't disagree more.

The legal system (not specifically criminal/defense) is broken. Between incompetent jurors and incompetent/corrupt judges, and worst of all, no loser pays provision, our legal system is largely BROKEN!

ColorChange

MJH2 and Kimber,

Is there anything the rest of us can do to try to put more heat on this scumbag? Call DA? Go to the papers? Raise cash for your representation or his civil suit?

Mr IGH

John Kass at the Trib?