rjs0702

for the first time. I was riding straight along with the road when all of a sudden a bend in the road and a right turn into a neighborhood come up. I go along with the bend, to the left, and I see a cars bumper in my periferral vision and then me on the ground. It wasn't my fault, I had a witness, broke my glasses but everything else was ok. She stopped and the witness stopped and helped me out. I didn't call the police or anything, did I do the right thing? I just rode home.

mattm

many will say you're an idiot for not calling the police, and/or getting the driver's insurance info.

but i got hit a few weeks ago and let 'em go too. whatever works for you, i say.

Hammertoe

The Forum is going to want more details on how it happened...

Glad you are OK...

crawfman

I was in an accident a couple of months ago (still do not have my bike fixed), I also did not call the police because I had just been thrown from the bike and was "out of it". I unfortunately did not have the option to ride home considering my bike was totaled and the lacerations on my hand and leg. I would say that if nothing was broke or you had no injuries, then dealing with the police and insurance would be not worth the time...in my opinion. But, since your glasses broke and it was not your fault, you could have atleast got the police involved and her insurance company to replace your glasses. But it could have been worse.

umd

I say you should have gotten their information. At the very least their license plate number and the witness' contact information.

Turd Ferguson

Glad only the glasses broke. Shoulda called the fuzz.

benbaconlewis

A buddy of mine did the same thing this month, then got home and realised his arm was broken.

Nothing lost by takng the details in my opinion.

uke

Agree. Something else to do, which takes the work out of the data collection, is to carry a digital camera (or cell cam) with you. In a single picture, you can take the car's description, plates, driver, your bicycle, damages--everything the eye can see. If you combine it with a mini tape recorder, you can get statements, too. But if you only carry one, the camera can provide 99% of the evidence you need in any given situation.

Suzie Green

There has been litigation from a lot less severe incident. I would have called the police immediately and gotten all the information. A head injury might not show up until a bit later, better to be safe than sorry.

gr@sshopper

How the heck does that work?

Arthur: Look, your arms off.
Black Knight: It's ONLY A FLESH WOUND!

umd

I didn't realize my ribs were broken until several hours after my accident.

cc_rider

Amazing stuff, that Adrenaline.

I made is home after a fall and when my shoulder was still sore a couple of hours later I went to the emergency room to discover I had broken my collar bone.

rjs0702

Well, all that huirt was my ass. Idk why, but it did. Also, those are all the details. I was riding with the rode and the driver didn't yield to me going straight, no light or sign for me to stop I had right-of-way, and she turned anyways right into me. Luckily it was with the back of her car, I had never been in that predicament and was like "wtf just happened" so I just didn't call. If I get her license plate number now would it change things? I checked my bike out and myself and all that was hurt was my glasses and ripped my gloves. She asked if I needed an ambulance, but I said no. It was more nerve racking than I thought it would be though.

umd

Classic right hook. Were they stopped ahead of you or did they come from behind and turn into you?

sstorkel

Always get their info. Always call the police. What happens when her hubby gets home, sees some scratches on the car, and calls the cops to tell them that you ran into her? Stranger things have happened... Best to get all of the documentation and police reports you can at the scene!

rjs0702

Came behind me and turned into me.


New Info.*** --- I got her name and number. I'm filing a police report tom. morning. She ended up calling me back late tonight.

rruff

I didn't realize that I had a severed hamstring tendon until about a week later... because the ER doc didn't notice it either. That "flesh wound" was a little deeper than it looked...

urbanknight

It's especially easy during intense exercise because of the adrenaline and pain inhibitors. I fell earlier this year and went 35 more miles to the top of the mountain before realizing my elbow was too swollen to bend all the way. I still rode all the way back down, figuring it wasn't broken. I got it x-rayed and they thought they saw a fracture, but it turned out to be nothing.

I did crack a few ribs while mountainbiking and didn't notice it until the next day when I laughed and it hurt like hell!

z415

+1 for getting info. Last time I got hit I got #s, car info, etc. and told her that if I find anything wrong afterward I'd have to call her. Wasn't really concerned since a bike shop and a taco stand that I frequent were witnesses.

But, if you have no witnesses that are easily contacted, definitely get the situation straightened out, at least on paper, first.

ridethecliche

So you're filing a police report now?

Spiduhman

I din' notice shattered and dislocated elbow for almost an hour - thought my neck, back, ass, wrist were broken, in that order; heh, i was soo relieved at each refutation, then, much later, noticed the grinding noise.

Don't give any quarter to the blind/irresponsible motorist!

Keep it cool, if you can (or, not!). While it is, or course, true that one cannot, usually, instruct anyone else unless they are willing, try anyway. The cyclist has rights and responsibilities as a "vehicular user" of the road, and so does the motorist. Enumerate, then repeat.

This week I did same, probably w/o effect, but perhaps 212 lbs. of seething indigance in the face of the murderer (because why? because I'd be dead if I handn't predicted that the b*|#ch would cut the corner, that's why) calmly explaining that "I don't care if you are or are not SORRY; thank you just the same, but your feeling is immaterial. Simply do not do that, ever, ever again, else you kill your neighbor, a friend, or the neighbor's kid." may sit in the unconscious mind next time...

In the event that one is touched by a vehicle, or, heaven forbid, take a spill as a result of same and/or evasive action, take the information.

That said, the blind/irresponsible cyclist, must, in fairness, be confronted as well. Sigh.

aloysius

Last July I broke my elbow after a crash. The first thing that occurred to me after picking myself up was, "man, lucky I didn't break anything!" It was only after I returned home and was trying to pull my shirt off before showering that I realized how just swollen my elbow was and how little I could bend it.

derrickhackman

too late now ... but i tell you what ... anytime you get collected by a cage you should call the police because it is a motor vehicle accident and you may not experience body pains until the next day. further, if you get home and notice your seat stay is cracked who ya gonna call...??

glad you made it out OK.