Hit by a car, but why??
 

Ohhhh I hurt all all over. So much was said all at once, it is difficult to sort out. Lately drivers, have been squeezing me close to the curb while turning right. I have to brake for them.

An elderly lady was ticketed for creaming me (right hook), while turning into Walgreens.:notamused:

I had
* two fist sized amber flashers running front + back
* high viz jacket w/reflective stripes from shoulder to cuff
* 2 large wide silver reflective stripes on the helmet cover
* 1" wide yellow reflective add-ons from calf to ankle
* Reflective on the front of the shoes

Witnesses said 'There were several bikes behind me also in the lane'
Driver said 'I didn't see you'
Driver said 'you were going faster than I thought'
EDITED: THE TIME WAS 8:15AM, CLOUDY, 42F

Sorry to hear that. Even if you are extra careful out there, stuff happens. Hope you feel better soon.

Wait, which is it? She didn't see you? Or, you were going faster than she thought?

Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: no matter how "visible" you are, drivers are just not looking for you. That's when bad things happen. Driver awareness is as important as making yourself as visible as you possibly can.

It can often be exactly the two-fold reason she gave you. Even if they do see you, motorists often underestimate the speed of cyclists, so regardless of how many lights and reflective items you have, we're still susceptible to left and right hooks just like you experienced. Even more so when descending.

It sounds like it was completely her fault and I hope you get everything covered by her insurance and the police were there to make a report.

That said, it also sounds like you could use more lights. Reflective stuff only gets you so far. What sort of lights were you using? I ride in Seattle and the setup I've settled on is at least two Superflashes on my rear (one on my saddle bag, one on my messenger bag, both very visible and not hiding behind other crap), usually three when it's actually dark, but one of the lights I keep on my bag is old and funky. I keep one of the lights on my bag on solid and one on flash, and the one on my saddle bag on flash. Side visibility is an issue as no one sells good, simple, amber lights for bicycles, but I pretty much rely on my big see-stuff light to give me side visibility at night. That seems to work well.

Here are some pictures. Except for the tail light carbon bike is not too recked. I hurt all over but no broken bones. Lots of swelling.

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/j...rashScene1.jpg
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/j...rashScene2.jpg
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/j...Crash/Bike.jpg

Why: Drivers of motor vehicles are so comfortable in their rolling living rooms that they fail to look for and acknowledge anything outside the vehicle that is not as big and glorious as they.

I've been hit 3 times by motorists; all three times their fault (damages paid by them... tickets given to them), and at least twice there was no way to avoid the situations. (one was a classic right hook... which is sometimes avoidable)

Tunnel vision, I guess. Most drivers don't think to look for anything but other cars.

Yeah, she contradicted herself clearly indicating that "I didn't see you" was a lie and she deliberately cut you of hoping she can make it.
Glad you and your bike are OK. Get better quickly!

Adam

No you're bike is not okay, and you're getting shooting pains in your back... $.$

Did she had the blinker out indicating her turn?

Good point actually. Are you gonna go after her for damages?

Adam

What? Aren't those blinky things some expensive option? I hardly ever see new cars with blinkers on... must be painful or expensive to use them... maybe the little lightbulbs are made from precious metal and too hard to change. Must be some excuse for not using them.

Glad you are relatively ok. On the bright side, your carbon didn't explode. ;)

Glad to hear you're OK, but get checked out by a doctor anyway. Adrenaline can suppress pain and hide damage. Sometimes there's nothing you can do but take the hit and thank Whomever that you're alive.

Sounds like she saw you, but just didn't care.

I see a crack from here. He needs a new Madone. :)

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding her cell phone to her ear, how the heck is she going to actuate the blinker? On the other hand, maybe blinkers have been discontinued on some cars, you know, like cigarette lighters.

Exactly!!!! It's just so annoying.

And you were in a frickin bike lane! Probably the only reason she was ticketed.

Thank god, because that stuff is like some sort of pipe bomb!

On a another note, I think the explanation is:

Driver: "Yeah i saw him, but i thought i'd cut him off instead of being cautious. I really didn't care to look and find out what speed he was going and figured that he wouldn't have time to slam on the brakes to stop and then yield to my right turn."
Driver: "i own the road."
*Driver then began frothing at mouth, gesticulating wildly and searching for a horn to punch*
Driver: "Oh, um.. So when can i get goooooiing? I'm don't want to miss part of Oprah. She is so sensitive and caring."

God help her if she had to drive on the autobahn, a Mercedes up her ass going 180 when she pulls out doing 100! Anyways, go get your injuries seriously looked at tomorrow and sorry about your luck!

P.S. Why not... bicycles are DANGEROUS!
:rolleyes:

I'm betting you were going 15MPH+

Cars don't realize how fast we move. They think of bikes moving the same speed as pedestrians. She saw you as she approached you, figured she was *well* (and safely) past you based upon her perception of your speed. As she took the right turn, she didn't look and didn't see you because you don't look for vehicles on your right when you are in the right lane.

Glad you're okay.

I know nothing about carbon, but from what others have said, you DO NOT say that your frame is OK until it's been recertified by the manufacturer.

Many car drivers see a bike and assume it's moving so slow that they consider it a fixed object, like a pedestrian; for all practical purposes they figure you're going to be in exactly the same spot for the whole time they need to consider their actions.

An yeah, good job contradicting - if she didn't see you, how did she make a decision about how fast you were going? Good one.

This is why I'd rather have a wide right lane with sharrows than a bike lane.

I hope you have her insurance information. You deserve a physical exam, complements of the driver. You also may want to have your LBS provide a statement that the frame has been compromised so they are obligated to replace that as well.

There are a noticeable fraction of drivers that

1) Think we are going slower than we are.

2) Think we are capable of going faster than we can.

3) Have no idea how wide their vehicle is.

4) Have no clear idea of where on the lane they are.

5) Don't know the rights / responsibilities of bicycle riders.

6) Don't know their own rights / responsibilities.

7. Are morons.

Assume any possible permutation of the above.

Have the bike checked by a competent mechanic, his fee is claimable. ( Unless the bike is Walmart special ) in which case just buy a new one. Don't assume the frame is OK.

I'm not one for saying sue their pants off, but if you are out of pocket, and I include things like not being able to do something, go somewhere for a few weeks, they should pay.

Get a mirror, might not have helped, but possibly.

Donno She was turning into the bike lane before I ever saw the back end of the car.