zacster

I took a spill yesterday on my way home from my laps of Prospect Park. As I was riding on Coney Island Avenue at Church Ave, a car backed out from the car wash there. I was NOT going very fast as I'm always cautious at that spot because they line the cars up as the come out of the wash and you never know if someone is ready to pull out. I put the brakes on to stop, but instead the bike just slipped out from under me. Of course I'm clipped in and landed squarely on my hip and helmet. My helmet has a slight dent in it now, so it's garbage, but I didn't feel anything on my head. But much worse is that I couldn't just stand up and shake it off. Before anybody could even call an ambulance, a city EMT pulls up. The EMT guys were having trouble getting me up because they were having trouble standing in that spot because it was so slippery. They took me to Maimonides and after 5 hours in the ER it turns out I broke my pelvis, the pubic ramus. 6-8 weeks to heal. The EMT guys were great, they even took the bike with them and checked it with hospital security. They, and everyone else that knew, ogled the bike and it wasn't even my 'good' one.

It hurts like hell when I put weight on it. Vicodyn is not my friend, but it helps. I'd rather just have a good glass of beer but it won't kill the pain enough.

I'm otherwise OK, but definitely done for the season. My kids want me to give up biking altogether.

Kevrob

Was that due to soapy and/or waxy water released into the street by the car wash? Might that have contributed to your brake failure? Do you have the Yellow Pages open to Lawyers - Personal Injury?



I feel for you. I hit the deck yesterday, with nothing worse to show for it than some bruises and road rash, so, there but for the stochastic forces of the universe go I.

Kevin

zacster

My next door neighbor is a personal injury lawyer, and he handled my case 4 years ago when a car clipped me. I was planning on speaking to him.

The brakes didn't fail, the tires just slipped out, but that doesn't make it any better.

I saw your post, right below mine. It sounds like you came out OK, and you're even still on the bike. I wish I were so lucky.

Stacy

Ouch! So sorry were injured. Get some rest and try to enjoy the downtime.

roadiejorge 

That's terrible news, sorry to hear about your hip. Car washes need to do something about the slippery surfaces because they're a real hazard to pedestrians and cyclists; definitely follow up with your attorney. Mind you I'm not a litigious person by any stretch of the imagination, but businesses have to maintain safe conditions for people in and around their work areas.

bluegoatwoods

I'm not a litigious person either, but if I ever receive an injury that keeps me from work (and my choice of leisure) for any length of time, then I'm going to look for compensation.

Of course, the injury should be more-than-nothing. But it sure sounds like you meet that criterion. It's still not clear that the car wash caused the slippery conditions, but I'm guessing that's it.

Some will argue that you should have gone even slower or stopped. Let the judge/jury decide that one.

On a somewhat related note, I've instructed my wife to "take 'em for everything he's got" if some idiot ever runs me over. She'll have a strong case. Lost income, if nothing else. I'd urge everyone else to do the same. If the criminal justice system won't punish these people properly, then use the civil justice system.

thompsonpost

A little "smokey smoke" will kill the pain.

KitN

I would highly suggest you follow through and speak with your lawyer neighbor. Car washes have tons of slippery runoff and mess all over the sidewalk and into the gutter and streets. It's really dangerous.

Please heal up soon and let us know how it goes.

rumrunn6

thanks for sharing. never would have expected that kind of hazard. patience and distraction is what you need now. rest up.

Curiouswill

I agree about these car washes needing to control their runoff. There is a small carwash just down florida ave from Gallaudet University (DC) and even a slow walk had made me skid dangerously close to traffic on that corner of the intersection; especially since the sidewalk was on a little of a slope toward the traffic. you can be surprised at how slippery it can get even with a small amount of slightly dried out run-off like I was. I will be forced to have to forcibly take over the lane when I pass by that particular section everytime I want to go to the Metro station in that direction from now on once I get back for the fall semester.

I would personally think that a simple evidence of run-off from the carwash there can be more than enough to win the case. Even if you did tried to slow down or stop completely, there is no telling if the run-off would not have made you fall like that. and try to look into the history of accidents or reports in that area, you might be able to find other peoples who may have suffered accidents and slips there that can work with you on your case should you pursue the carwash. Try to get friends to go there and simply take pictures of how the runoff is like. maybe if they are willing, walk by it carefully and see just how slippery it still is for a simple walk. if it is still slippery for the walk itself, then you can eliminate that simple "well you should've slowed even more or just stopped" argument.

I'm not litigious either but I do agree with your case of the carwash needing to control their run off. Hopes you heal well and can make that area safer.

jeebusaurousrex

Dang, hope you have a quick/full recovery. And thanks for sharing, there's a car wash on my route to Prospect Park that I'll be extra careful around from now on...

FrankieV

DAMN!! I hope you feel better quick. I was a little luckier.
I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPOT 3 WEEKS AGO.

I was returning from a round trip to the GW
I never take C.I.A. because of all the ruts and car wash cars sticking out into the street but this day I did.
It must have been the wax from the car wash in the street that just made my bike come right out from under me with no warning.
My problem is that instead of skidding and just getting road rash, the bone under the hip bone next to the thigh was stopped by one of those ruts.
Luckily I got up and rode 5 miles back home.
After my shower I saw that the side of my body from my knee to my hip was swollen like a cantelope (no exaggeration).
I iced it off and on all day and night and the swelling came down most of the way but now that entire area was black and blue and sensitive to the touch.
I'm finally back to normal but have been riding since that day anyway.

The thing to do is not stop riding, just stop riding in dangerous spots like that.
That group of blocks from Church and beyond a few blocks is a nightmare.

Take it easy, heal up and browse through some cycling magazine to see what your next bike will be.

zacster

Thanks all. I usually avoid CIA from the park, but it is the most direct route home, and I don't ride the entire way on CIA, just to Beverley. I'm not an aggressive rider on the streets either. I had an accident a few years ago on Riverside Dr, and I take it a lot slower on the streets since then. If I want to go fast I go to the parks, or outside the city. There's always some hotshot that thinks they're Lance when they speed by me as I slow down for a light.

It'll be a long time until I'm back to normal. 6-8 weeks to heal, then I probably won't be riding for a while after that. Something about a bicycle seat on a sore, broken pelvis just doesn't seem appealing.

DSchlichting

Probably like one of those ancient roads they dig up with layer upon layer built up over the millenia --in this case layer upon layer of soap and oil.
Get well soon.

FrankieV

I hear ya.
Get well soon!

twiant

Ya I also think sewing people is stupid (unless its something bad) but u should defonatly get them to pay for the hospitol stuff and if u get lucky get them to get u a Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 1. lol, I dont ride road bike but there nice.

noteon 

This is totally unsolicited advice, so please feel free to tell me to STFU, but have you considered a sprung saddle? I put my (admittedly uninjured) rump on my wife's Brooks B67 recently, and oh man--what comfort!

zacster

Nah, don't think so. After spending all kinds of money over the years to get this bike light, I'm not putting a heavy saddle on. Padding/springs just aren't my thing.

I'm probably not going to get on a bike again until I'm completely healed with no pain at all, and then give it another few months. Then we'll have winter, so that'll leave spring.

Lucky07

Gah. Sorry to hear. Get well soon. My kids are always mortified when I've crashed. "You should stop riding for awhile" is the usual refrain.

I took a slide last year outside a restaurant in upper Manhattan. The restaurant had been leaking grease & dumpster juice into the street so the corner was slick with the stuff. I got some nasty road rash, but was more or less ok. Ironically, the grease that caused me to slide probably also saved me from getting more severe road rash.

I reported the restaurant & they in turn said they had complained to the waste management company about the leaking dumpster. I spoke to a lawyer who thought I had a case, but the restaurant was out of business within a month.

The lesson for me was to keep an eye out for potential hazards like that, but that's easier said than done. Esp. early in the morning in dim light.