How about the "cause" being driver error, which is exactly what it was?
I have done the exact same thing as a driver, which is turning left and being hit by the person who had the right of way. Thankfully she was in a 4-wheeled cage; had it been an unprotected person on two wheels it could have been really ugly.
Nobody is perfect, including you (I am not directing this at anyone specific), and stuff like this is ALWAYS going to happen. As cyclists we need to accept the fact that what we are doing is inherently risky, but as someone mentioned earlier it is a calculated risk and probably worth it in terms of health and happiness. But face it, we all brain fart occasionally, and most of the time we get away with it.
As far as riding on sidewalks for 'safety', there have been a few (3 or 4) cyclists deaths here this summer, and two of them were sidewalk cyclists swerving around pedestrians and falling into traffic.
If you really really don't want to die on a bike, don't ride one. Personally, I just ride and have fun and don't waste my time worrying.
