keith5101

Ok here the story, I was riding north on clark.st in Chicago during rush hour so traffic was pretty backed up. I hang a left around a cta bus because i did not want to go on the right hand side of the bus because it was ready to pull in at a stop. So I go around the bus pass up like three cars because I was going to hang a left down a side street. When I passed up the third car it turns out that that car was letting somone out of a parking lot, I could not tell because tha car was a suv, it was pretty tall.

So I continue to pass the suv, to see the front end of another car sticking out right at me. at this point it was to late there was nothing I could do to stop, I hit the front left hand side of the car, roll on the hood and fall on the ground. I got up as soon as I fell, I was fine with just a couple bruises and scrapes. I proceed to go pick up my bike and review the damages. The woman in the car pulls over, asks me if I am alright. I told her yeah I think im okay, I was not wearing a helmet so luckily I was fine. we call the police to fill out a report. they come like 30 to 40 minutes later which is b/s. I refused the ambulance because i was fine, nothing serious. We fill out the report the woman was pretty cool asked me if I wanted an ambulance. I said I was fine, but my bike was pretty messed up the headtube and fork were all bent to one side. along with the wheel too.

We exchanged info. She asked how my bike was, I told her it was pretty messed up. she did not really say much for obvious reasons. She offered to give me a ride home, so i took up her offer.
she said that if I needed to go to ER later to give her a call. I mentioned my bike one more time and she did not say much. we get to talking it turns out She works for an insurance company.

My bike is hopefully trying get bended back as we speak. I dont really know what to do in this case. I really don't know who's fault it is, she said that she did not see me and I said I did not see her. we really did not point any fingers when the cop was filling out the report.

I dont want to get a lawyer if I dont have to because my bike is just messed up.
So should I call the woman that i got into the accident with? the insurance company?

DiegoFrogs

Were you in a lane, or were you passing in the lane normally used by oncoming traffic? Your post wasn't too explicit.

It's typically still her responsibility to insure that it's clear to proceed out of the parking lot, even if one motorist "waves" her through. But, if you were in the wrong lane or doing something shifty, splitting lanes... then it might be your fault.

I'm glad you're okay, and I'm sorry about your ride. I doubt she'll pay out of pocket for your losses, since she probably has some leverage within the insurance company. She'll submit a claim, her company will handle it, and her rates won't go up.

Nachoman

Two words: JOHNNIE CHOCHRAN!

rvabiker

Sounds to me like you were riding where you weren't supposed to be and hit the car not vice versa(though as the above person said, your post was not very explicit). If that's the case the driver could very easily file suit in small claims court for damgages you did to her car...

keith5101

Yeah, I think i was my fault. But I still think I would have gotten hit if would have stayed in the left lane. She came out rather abruptly. she seemed pretty cool and said her insurance would cover the dent on her front end from my bike. so hopefully I dont have the insurance company calling me soon. If the headtube on the bike gets bent back what are the probabilitys of it ever riding straight again.

humancongereel

well, if your concern is not getting in legal trouble, you ought to be fine. but you don't seem to have any leverage to work it out to your advantage.

anyhow, you're okay and if she was levelheaded and nice, hopefully she'll handle the rest of the proceedings in that manner.

531phile 

dude, not too scare you, but I got hit after turning left on a yellow light. No one was hurt. My front wheel was out of true and there were very minor paint damage to the car. The job to fix the car should have cost less than a thousand but since the insurance company deals with it I ended up having to pay $2500! I got screwed and I know it. The person who got into an accident with me was a partner at a law firm and I did not for the life of me want to go into court if though I feel that he didn't look to make sure the roads were clear before he jumped the green light.

Try getting some legal advice and everyone take a digital camera every ****in where you go because you neve know when you will need it. If I had a camera I would have proof that the damage to his car didn't warrant costing $2500.