markieta

I live in Toronto, a fairly busy city.

...But, I was doored in a residential neighborhood just west of the city. Lake Prominade I believe is the name.

Goddammit. I didn't expect it at all! Everything went slow motion, then black, then I'm on the ground. Luckily... amazingly... I don't know what you want to call it.... but the police turned the corner behind me just after I fell and came to help me out. They charged him and put him at 100% fault. I have the drivers information and insurance information. The police encouraged me to work it out with the driver or his insurance company and not to pay a cent out of my own pocket. They even offered to give me a drive home (atleast 30 mins) after I neglected an ambulance to the hospital. I felt ok... I got home alright, bike is sounding a little funny, headset is loose I think, maybe something is cracked but I will check that out at work tomorow (I work in a bike shop) Sucks to be on this end of the cause, I usually have customers coming in with trashed bikes from wrecks and accidents asking me for help! Now I have to assess my own bike and figure out how to get compensation.


Anyone from Toronto that can speak from personal experience? I hit the car at 30 km/h but as of now, there are no serious sustained injuries. I do have some swelling near my elbow, and some stiffness/soreness around around my back and neck. Should I go to the hospital to get myself checked out?

I practically ripped the guys door off... It swung fully open and wouldn't close (looked like it was about to fall off actually...)

Sigh.

Advice on getting compensation. Do I try to get damages for my bike and personal damages covered or just the bike? Do I get an attorney?



I hope my bikes ok! =(

DigiK

Seriously, you blacked out...go to the hospital and get checked. If you have any bills not covered by your healthcare, these will be covered by the drivers' insurance along with other damages. Hope you're ok; laziness is no excuse for failing to giving a quick over-the-shoulder before you open your freaking car door.

**You shouldn't need an attorney; just take the precautionary steps of making sure you're OK. The driver's insurance company should handle everything professionally, especially since you have a police accident report.

mvMcfly

I say you should get yourself checked out. When I was hit I was sore but didn't think anything was broken, I got up and was riding a stationary bike within a few days. It turned out I did have a hairline fracture of my right ulna at the wrist joint. You may not have anything more than soreness but it is best to know sooner rather than later.

AEO

since it's on a police report, you go through the driver's insurance company. no need to talk to the driver at all.

get an estimate on the bike damage from a few shops, not only your own.

since you declined the ambulance, just walk into a hospital with your health card and get checked out, it costs nothing but your time.

if you broke something the physician might patch you up or recommend another doctor.
only medication costs money, which is covered by insurance.


if you're unable to work for a few days, I'm not sure how that works.

no need to hire anyone, unless the insurance downplays your rightful compensation amount.
honestly, you sound fine, other than your concussion, since you're typing on BF before the hospital.

MONGO!

Go to a doctor, especially if you hit your head/blacked out.

bikeresque

Some use common sense, some learn the hard way. Looks like you learnt the hard way.

Doohickie

Go to the hospital. Seriously.

cooker

If you blacked out from hitting your head, you have a head injury and need to be promptly assessed. Do you have any bruises or cuts on your head? Are you at all dizzy or disoriented?

Even though it didn't happen in Toronto (EDIT: you probably were in Toronto) you might seek advice from the Toronto Cyclists' Union, bikeunion.to

I saw an ad recently for a bike injury lawyer Patrick Brown but I don't know anything about him. Here's his email: pbrwon@mcleishorlando.com

ch3n207

Damn. I would have got checked out at the hospital if i got blacked out. Ever heard of that celebrity that hit her head on a skiing trip and thought she was fine? But like 5 hours later she passed away. But hopefully your fine and your bike is fine as well.

AEO

our health care is free (mostly) I don't know why you'd turn down a trip to the hospital when you blacked out.

I turned one down in my accident, but I didn't hit my head nor did I break anything except my fork.

markieta

I don't believe I blacked out... It all just happened so quickly, I might of just had my eyes closed!

I'm going to the hospital now, thanks guys! Anymore tips would be appreciated.

AEO

next time, just in case police aren't around to help you (lucky you)
you call the police and file a report if you can. bikes (even though they count as vehicles) are counted as pedestrians and all accidents involving pedestrians and cars requires police to come to the scene.

ambulance isn't free, but the bill goes on insurance.

cooker

Edited my post above. Lake Promenade neighbourhood is in Toronto

BillyD

Yeah, pinch a nurse . . . you'll feel better.

A cute one.

AEO

I've never seen one in all my visits.

RoboChrist

You kind of blew it by not getting that hospital and getting checked out. That could possibly be your ticket to getting reimbursed for your injuries and possibly your bike repair/ replacement. All this info goes back to the insurance company, and by not doing this, you basically could be sustaining some unknown injury which could haunt you in the future and you'll have no legal recourse to do anything about it.

I have been "door prized" and I know it can rattle your can pretty good. Go get checked out. NOW. You simply don't know what injuries you may have.

Regarding the bike: Find a good bicycle shop that specializes in insurance claims and they'll look it over. Usually a bent frame is all it takes to make it a total write-off. In both cases, medical and mechanical, seek professional help. Don't try and do this on your own. You need documentation.

Now go take a cab to the hospital and keep the receipt for the claim!

Innes

Wait, did someone "door" you on purpose?

How did you get your assault charges dropped so fast?

gregf83 

Glad you're OK but next time don't assume people are going to see you and not open their doors. I don't drive my car or bicycle close enough to parked cars to get doored.

noise boy

This, head injuries are srs bsns

markieta

Just got back from the doctor, don't know if he was bull****ting to get me out of there quickly or he was honest. Ha..

Minor concussion, localized bruising of some muscles, no fractures. (No Xrays)

Rest and recoup. Fun Fun Fun.

Now... the bike.

AtomicCactus

You're lucky you weren't thrown in the path of an oncoming vehicle! Way too many stories of people being ran over after getting doored.

Also, ambulance rides aren't free in Canada without insurance.

markieta

Also,

Thinking about the future, I am not totally confident in riding this bike anymore. I did go head first into the car door. Im worried about the frame and fork mostly.

The bike is a carbon Specialized Tarmac. Obviously hitting objects at 35km/h isnt a smart thing to do but for the life of me I cannot find any cracks on the frame or handlebars/stem (everything is carbon!). Is there a possibility there might be one thats hidden underneath the clear and cannot be seen or felt? Would you ride the bike if it passed visual inspection?

I am truly doubting my confidence in the frame/fork stem/handlebars will miraculously re-appear. Now I know that compensation for loss of ... something (forget the term) but in general, me not being able to enjoy what I used to enjoy, is a loss of something and one can be compensated for this. Would that apply to the bike? If I wasn't confident in riding it and stopped riding it altogether would I not be due for compensation...

So much legal stuff that I do not know and cannot find information for. Help me out!

Should I have all my assessments ready before I contact the insurance company of the guy I hit or should I contact them asap and let them know what happened?

Anyone ever get a new frame from an insurance company... how much are they willing to pay out before they start questioning. I mean, the bikes only worth $3500, is replacing it even an option to try?

RoboChrist

Call the insurance company and file the claim, then give them the info from your doctor about your injuries. It doesn't matter how minor these injuries are, the important thing is you have it documented. Once that happens, you'll have time to get your bike looked at for damage. Take it a good bike shop (or where you bought it), and tell them you need the bike checked for accident damage and it's for an insurance claim and they'll write up an invoice. All this info goes back to your claim.

Don't bother trying to claim for psycological stuff like "lack of confidence", that's a red flag to these guys and they'll use it against you. Or more likely they'll want proof

Here's my story:

When I was in an accident a few years back, I was reimbursed for the cost of the bike (write-off), I was paid for wages lost due my injury and they set me up with some physio therapy to get better.

In total I got $4100 for the bike and for a broken scaphoid bone in my right wrist.

Good luck..

Bearonabike

+1

kleinboogie

+1 to see a doctor. Too many factors to consider. You could have brain damage. You posted on bikeforums for god's sake, that should tell you something. Seriously, see the doc.