hit by a car today
 

On my daily route, was going straight through an intersection at about 20mph in the right lane...broad daylight, no stop signs, no red lights. Got t-boned by someone making a left turn across the intersection. Bike went flying about 15 feet in the air, landed on the saddle...I flew up a few feet, landed on my head/cheek. bad bruises in various places on legs, 2 big cracks in my helmet. Bike seems okay - no known/visible damage besides some scratches, getting it checked this weekend for other stuff.

I was able to bike the rest of the way to work, left work and got x-rayed, no fractures...I got lucky...was still able to bike back home. Will probably ride again tomorrow.

The moral: When in doubt, Don't trust cagers to yield. I figured the car was waiting for me to pass, then would accelerate to finish the turn, but no, they literally did not even notice me and just kept even acceleration (didn't even hear them try to stop)...luckily I got their information, and they agreed to cover everything, including any damage to my beloved S5.

Glad you're okay, but the odds are you will wake up in the morning so sore you won't want to even get up to go to the bathroom...

so terribly sorry to hear this. your story reminds me of why I always assume the worst of drivers. I'll bet the guy was on his cell phone

Good thing you are okay! I'm guessing they stopped after they hit you, but your post makes it seem like it was a hit and run. But yea I can imagine tomorrow you won't be feeling so great! I always am extremely wary of cars making left turns on a green light. This makes me even more wary of them.

Did you get the driver's information? From stories that I've read, if I'm ever hit I'm not moving my bike until a police report is filed.

Glad to hear you were able to continue, but everything that I've read says to wait for medical attention, even if you feel like you don't need it at the time. Adrenaline could be coursing through your body and you may not feel something until long afterwards.

I hope you had the police make an accident report. If not, you still can. Always, always make a report to aid you in recovering damages. Without one the driver (or their insurance company) can claim it never happened.

You are a-ok so thats great. Did you contact the police ?

Glad you're OK!! You'll be sore for a while.

Glad to hear you're OK. Take it easy for a bit and get yourself well checked out - your own health is much more important than the bike. It can get checked out later.

Its good to hear you are OK!

File a police report after ANY accident.

When I walk out the door with my bike I assume that every car is out to hit me. Makes me much more aware.

Glad it wasn't worse, though I agree, tomorrow will be a different matter.

I also agree that a police report should be filed. I don't know the law in your neck of the woods, but around here, ANY, accident that results in injury requires one.

Glad you are ok, and that you got their details.

Get a new helmet. They are one time crunch.

z

That sounds pretty scary. I doubt we'll be seeing hiyer around for a few days. I sure hope he started munching on Ibuprofen as soon as he got home. I would always call police for car/bike accidents. The xrays were wise. My 2 mph tip over netted me a broken shoulder (broke the top of the lesser humerus). I thought it was just a sprained finger and bruise until two days later when the black and blue and pain started.

Don't let them "agree to cover everything". Get their auto insurance information and let the insurance company cover everything. I hope that's what you're doing.

Report this to the police if you haven't done so already. You may have problems that show up later and have difficulty with his insurance if you don't.

Glad to hear your ok. After I started commuting more, I noticed when I drive now I am much more observant around me and use my directions.

Unfortunately, you can't assume like you said. Again, feel better...glad to hear your ok.

Way back there was some study on bicycle fatalities. I think it was Tempe, AZ. Oncoming left turners was one of the most dangerous.

Glad to hear everything is good. Ditto to the advice above.

thanks everyone, the woman who hit me didn't appear to have any insurance, and she didn't speak English very well. She insisted she called her employer (she was a maid), he showed up, and said he would take care of the damages. Before then though, another woman who saw everything pulled over and gave me her business card, saying she can give her account if ever there's a need.. I've been in contact with the driver's employer since and he is being very cooperative.

I didn't think to call the police, in retrospect it's probably good that I didn't. Yes, the driver should have been more careful, but people make mistakes, and if she got kicked out of the country for it that would really be a tragedy.

Thank you all

That's extremely kind of you to think of how the driver's life could be affected. Normally I'd agree with everyone that a police report should be filed at the scene, but it sounds in this case like everyone is handling the situation like adults. Still, it's good that you have a willing witness. Glad you're ok!

I like this story. A car in a driveway crossed into my path as I was riding down a Denver area bike path, and although I was injured we handled the situation cordially, and the driver of the car and I still exchange Christmas cards 21 years later.

But what's especially cool for the OP is no serious injury. We will all have a crash or two during our cycling career. I heard from one source that a serious cyclist will probably hit the turf about once every three years. Personally I have had crashes at about once every 8 or 9 years. What's cool is that the OP got through one of his "required" crashes without serious injury. One day in 2003 I was blitzing through a shopping center parking lot and hit a speed bump at speed (which was probably 12? 13? mph) and was unceremoniously tossed to the pavement. After I stood up and realized nothing was broken, I felt soooooo relieved and said to myself "I'm glad I got that out of the way!" The only thing that hurt was my pride because it happened right in front of a big Pizza joint and there was a large audience peering through the windows at me lol

Glad you're ok!
Cagers just don't see bikes: I'm putting strobing headlights on my bikes to increase visibility.

Great to hear you're okay. You might have some mild shock (I know I would), but a good night's sleep and relaxing herbal tea (and Bach's rescue remedy) would help with that. Whew. I'd be pretty shaken up if that happened to me.

For no other reason than adding to the collective BF knowledge base, did you happen to have any form of active lighting at the time?

Check in again in the morning and let us know how you're doing.