I suspect that the outcome is totally unpredictable.

To me, "hit from behind without warning" is the most frightening type of accident, but when it actually happened 15 years ago, I was barely injured.

For those who know the area it was inbound on Alumni Drive between New Circle Road and Chinoe in Lexington KY.

I was sideswiped from behind by an Orkin truck. Fortunately, they hit me in the arm with their mirror instead of their entire truck. The mirror slapped back against the truck and broke. I cut my hand and my elbow but managed to keep my balance and not even fall. No stitches needed. A few bruises rose up later in the day. I even continued on to the University and taught class that morning.

If the truck had been a few inches to the left, they'd have missed me completely. A few inches to the right, they might have killed me. Maybe I should have taken the lane more agressively since they told me that they didn't see me at all (I'm 6'3" and well over 200 pounds). Of course, if I had taken the lane and they still didn't see me I could be dead.

It shook me up and kept me off the bike for a few days, but I found a lower traffic (and longer) route and got back to it. Nothing is completely safe and nothing is completely predictable.

Tom
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