Hit by car :(

[alison_in_oh]

Sigh. Yesterday on my way to work I was trailing behind a little Honda when it pulled right and stopped. I continued forward but as I drew near the car the left turn signal came on. The car plowed into me as I yelled "Hey! HEY!"

My front wheel went under the front car tire, taking the bike out from under me. I did a good tuck and roll and stood straight up. I thought I had only bruises so I got the driver's phone no. so we could discuss reparations for the bike. But then when I got to work my hand started to hurt.

I went for x-rays and was diagnosed with a carpal fracture. I will go to a hand guy tomorrow and get some more prognostic details. One thing that's sure is that I'm not racing this weekend, however I hope to try spinning class by tomorrow so I don't lose too much fitness. :(

Hope everybody else is well!

[Pedal Wench]

Oh no! I hope you get better faster. Give yourself time to make sure nothing else is hurt - just the tension and stress of hitting the ground deserves a few days off and cookies!

[FreshNewbie]

Hope you feel better!!! And just like Audio-A said, give yourself time to heal, make sure everything is under check. I would add some chocolate to those cookies too :D

Feel better

[SadieKate]

Oh, I'm so sorry! So glad it wasn't worse. Have you spoken with the driver or your insurance company yet?

[Grog]

Oh darn! I'm sorry but glad the damage are relatively contained.

Take care, cookies and time. Give us news soon!

[SandyLS]

Alison,
That must have been so freightening for you. I am so glad you were not hurt worse. Wishes for quick healing coming your way.

[alison_in_oh]

Oh, I'm so sorry! So glad it wasn't worse. Have you spoken with the driver or your insurance company yet?

Yeah, so far we are being super nice, the driver is a grad student, she's apologetic but doesn't want to ding her insurance, so she's just going to pay me for bike damage and probably my copays for the hand.

If she wanted to skive off she could have though. I left the scene without so much as her license plate. Next time I'm calling the cops even just for bumps and bruises. :(

[Honeywell23]

I am sooo sorry to hear of that car hitting you! People don't watch where they're going. I tell ya though, ever since I started riding I have been more careful to watch for cyclists. It makes you more aware of your surroundings. Thankfully people here are nice for the most part and even let me have my right away. But everyone is going to get their occassional jerks. Good luck with your recovery.

[DeniseGoldberg]

That is so frightening. I'm sorry to hear about your fracture (and your bike!), but I'm glad you seem to be mainly OK. I'm joining everyone else in sending wishes your way for fast healing.

--- Denise

[Lynne]

Um, Allison, I work in insurance. You need to turn that in. I work in commercial lines, but it's the same concept. My only concern would be if the fracture does not heal as it should and you are left with any kind of permanent impairment of use of the hand (carpal so I assume it is the hand and not a finger, metacarpal).

It's very sweet that the girl wants to help, but a fracture to someone who bikes as a significant lifestyle activity is a serious injury.

I hope the healing goes well and it doesn't impact you for too long. I truly feel for you-can't imagine being injured-out for any length of time. I'd go stir crazy!!

Oh, and if you are married or have a SO or even some pets...work it, honey! roflmao! No cooking! No cleaning! :p

[bikerchick68]

alison...how scary!!! I'm sure you didn't feel the fracture right away as you must've had a TON of adrenaline pumping thru you at that point... yikes! Ugh! I've had a couple close calls and my heart was racing for a good 20 minutes from it!

Hopefully it IS something that will heal well... breaks usually take 6 weeks and if casted then atrophy has to be dealt with as well... definitely take it easy for a couple weeks!!

Is the bike damaged bad? How 'bout your helmet... need to replace it now too? Was her car messed up? I understand she doesn't want to ding her insurance but I gotta agree, now that you know there IS an injury, I'd strongly consider turning it in... especially if the doc thinks there is ANY chance that there may be future negative impact from it...

dang, sure hope your better soon..

[alison_in_oh]

I have full contact info and if things look complicated we'll pursue this further. At this point though it looks like a few hundred bucks to the bike and a triquetrum fracture that will have me back in action ASAP. Didn't even hit my head, was glad not to have to replace the helmet!

I'm already going stir crazy though! :rolleyes:

[newbiechick]

I'm so glad to hear you were not more severely injured ... although a fracture is nothing to sneeze at.

I am about the least jaded and cynical person I know ... I believe that people are basically good and that MOST will the do right thing given the opportunity. Having said that ...

Shortly after we were married my ex-husband was hit by a car while crossing the street on foot. The cops came, a report was written, my ex was taken to the ER ... fortunately nothing serious, but bad "contusion" on leg, lost a day of work, ER bills, ambulance bill, etc. The driver was a nice young man who didn't have insurance, he promised to pay everything .... they'd work it out ... yada yada yada. He didn't pay. More promises. Still didn't pay. My ex finally filed suit in small claims court. Nothing. We paid to have papers served. The guy showed in court and made more promises. Still nothing. Another court date. This time he didn't show. We finally had to just write the whole thing off 'cause Scott was having to take time off work to go to court, pay to have papers served, etc., etc. Don't know how much we finally ended up spending on the whole mess.

I know the nice young woman doesn't want it on her insurance. But there are reasons that these systems exist. And someone else made a great point when they said that you need to be covered in case there are longer term issues with your hand.

Guess I'm just saying ... I think people's intentions ARE good ... I also think that in spite of the best intentions, you could end up with the short end of the stick. So be careful and make sure you are covering your bases from a legal perspective. Don't mean to be a downer; just want to make sure you take care of yourself on ALL fronts.

Shelley
aka newbiechick

[trigurl]

I have worked for attorneys for years now, personal injury for several years. If you know an attorney you can ask questions about this DO, if you have anything long term you will need the insurance later. This might lead to you having problems with carpel tunnel years later - you changed jobs and insurance, waaallaaa, no coverage b/c prior condition :rolleyes: been there done that.

Chocolate raspberry truffle ice cream will fix about anything that hurts :D

glad you are basically ok.

[SadieKate]

I hate to be so negative also, but did you get her driver's license and car license number? A friend was recently rear-ended and only got the "name" and phone number. You can guess where this is going. He's had to pay for some very expensive damage to his car out of his own pocket. Fortunately, he was not injured.

Here in California, drivers are also supposed to have proof on insurance with them. How 'bout there?

Have you had the frame of your bike inspected? A fall like this could have damaged the fork or cracked a crank arm. Hubby was hit at a very low speed once but the fall onto the pavement cracked a crank arm. I'd make sure that the phone is real and that you get more identification. She can always change the phone number.

I always want to believe others would behave the way I would and pay up, but it doesn't always work out that way.

[Dianyla]

OMG! I'm glad you're still alive and well. :eek:

And ditto/me-three on what everyone else already said. You need to get things handled through proper channels. If this woman has an otherwise solid driving record, most likely this will not cause a huge ding on her insurance if she works with her agent. If she doesn't have a clean record, well... she deserves the ding.

[singletrackmind]

Thank goodness we don't have to put a Ghost-Bike up for you!! Hope you heal quickly and well.

[alison_in_oh]

Believe me I was kicking myself the second the shock wore off. Please no one repeat my mistakes. Proper channels, police report, info from witnesses, the whole nine yards. No matter how grateful you are for your life!

The fates were smiling on me because A) the number was real and B) the person was willing to accept liability. Further, she is a student here and she gave me her address and email. Short of dropping out of the program she can't get out of this, I can track her down.

I think we have our bases covered for now, but we so easily might not have. Next time I will have less faith in my fellow man even though that faith was borne out this time. :( The worst case scenario was looking really bad for a while.

[anaphase]

Glad you are okay!

[Trek420]

alison_in_oh "Didn't even hit my head, was glad not to have to replace the helmet!"

alison, so very glad that you are ok. When I saw the thread headline I dreaded pulling it up.

Maybe in the future we can require we put in the thread title "hit by car...I'm ok!" :D

Don't scare me like that. You know how I worry.

I'd replace the helmet anyway, you're not always aware that you touched the floor. You said you tucked/rolled? Fabulous!

But you might have touched the ground with your head. Just to be on the safe side get a new lid.

[Bike Goddess]

Glad to hear you are okay. But with fractures, you never know. I'd get more info from the driver if I were you- like who her insurance company is, etc. Do you have an address? You should be able to find out her license number if you have her name and address. Also, do you have a rule about accident reports with the police since you were injured? In Calif, if someone is injured it is MANDATORY that an accident report be file with the police.

Like others have said, get as much info as you can. Even if you think you are okay!

Sorry to hear about this- cars are so unpredictable. Glad you are doing all right.

[RebeccaAnn]

I have to chime in with those who have had the "we can work it out" experience with at-fault drivers. Mine was a driver hitting my car, at least he left it in driveable condition.

I know I was just too shaken to really think clearly just after the car accident, later I couldn't believe I didn't insist on calling the police AND getting his complete information.

I've thought about writing up an accident procedure for myself:

1) CALL THE POLICE!
2) Copy driver's license info!
etc.

Of course, then I'd have to be level-headed enough to pull it out and read it after my next accident!

Glad to know you weren't seriously injured. Hope you're back on the bike soon.

[Pax]

In Calif, if someone is injured it is MANDATORY that an accident report be file with the police.
I read this thread earlier and was thinking the same thing, here in IL it's mandatory to file a police report if there is an injury or if the damage is over a certain amount.

You might just want to double check with your local PD just in case?

I'll echo the others and say how glad I am that you're ok, it sounds like it could've been much worse...gotta love your quick reflexes. ;)

[DirtDiva]

Glad to see that you are mostly okay and that you are talking about bike repairs rather than replacement. Hope you're not sidelined too long.

Take care. :)

[gilly]

I am so glad that you're more or less okay Alison. Just the thought of your accident scares the heck out of me :eek:
I'm with Trek420! when I read the title I dreaded reading it's content. I hope you can soon start cycling outdoors again :)

[mtbdarby]

Allison, just chirping in here with my well wishes as well. Thank God you were not hurt badly. I'll be praying for a speedy recovery as well. And I don't think it's too much to ask for to have her pay for a new helmet either.

Everyone has said what I was thinking, so I won't preach. Keep us posted on how things turn out!

Dar

[SpinSis]

Alison, I'm glad you are okay. That description sounded like an all too familiar scenario. I'm glad you walked away relatively unharmed. You sound like a very forgiving and understanding person, and I'm sure the driver "learned her lesson" and is thanking her lucky stars that it wasn't worse...but insurance is there for a reason. And the penalty of higher rates is the price paid for poor driving (ie. not looking before turning back out into traffic).

Be well.
S

[annie]

Allison,

When I saw the "hit by car" , I just got chills! It's been a bit over a year since I was hit and it's not something to easily forget. :eek: I am so glad you were not hurt any worse than you were!!!!!! Hope that injury heals quickly and completely. Get back out on the bike as soon as you are able. Don't let it hold you back. Good luck and best wishes!!!!! :)

annie

[Jo-n-NY]

With all this reading on hit cyclists, it was refreshing to hear you came out of your mishap ok. Yes, how lucky you are and were able to write us sharing all your information.

~ JoAnn

[alison_in_oh]

Just got back from the hand guy. Just the one fracture, which would heal fine in the removable splint but I opted for a permanent cast so I can get back on the bike ASAP! Maybe even within a few days I think, though I don't really want to race til the cast comes off.

Yeah, I think I responded to the impact just like I did in bumping drills with DH. Kind of leaned into it, and when the bike was wrenched away from me (wheel going under tire) I sort of just let it happen and tumbled away without tensing up much. Not intentional, but nonetheless a cool trick! ;)

DH is off work this month so he's being a doll helping me and should be able to replace the fork with a loaner this week, and pop a new wheel on there while looking into buying a new fork and wheel. Yay Spartacus!

[Roadie N Belgie]

Alison, (coming out of lurkdom here) another thing you need to consider... Your health insurance company may send you paperwork, down the road, asking for information relating to your injury. They don't like to pay out for care that should be covered by other means. At that point it will become an even bigger mess because they will go after the money. Any compromises you've made with the driver are not going to matter. If you didn't fill out any paperwork listing the injury as "an accident" or an "accident involving a car" they may not pursue it. To the insurance company "an accident" could be: potentially work related=workmans comp or auto related=auto insurance, etc. Best of luck with your healing! Take care.

[alison_in_oh]

Alison, (coming out of lurkdom here) another thing you need to consider... Your health insurance company may send you paperwork, down the road, asking for information relating to your injury. They don't like to pay out for care that should be covered by other means. At that point it will become an even bigger mess because they will go after the money. Any compromises you've made with the driver are not going to matter. If you didn't fill out any paperwork listing the injury as "an accident" or an "accident involving a car" they may not pursue it. To the insurance company "an accident" could be: potentially work related=workmans comp or auto related=auto insurance, etc. Best of luck with your healing! Take care.

Yup, I'm aware. I do believe that the ER visit will register as an accident. I've gotten an accident follow up form from the insurance before, and I don't intend to lie to cover for her. (Though to date it's been unnecessary to say anything beyond "I crashed my bike".) I'll cross that bridge later I guess.

[Saxa82]

So sorry about the car plowing into you. Drivers really do not pay attention. Most people who drive cars have NO CLUE as to pedestrian/cyclists in the road. As a driver of a car as well as a cyclist/runner/walker, I have really learned to avoid cars and not trust them one bit. Please make sure you get insurance info so that you pay no out of pocket expenses for medical bills or bike repair/replacement.

[CorsairMac]

{{{{{{{{{{{{ alison}}}}}}}}}}
Sorry I've been absent for a few days hun and I Just now read about your accident! I wanted to post instead of trying to catch everything up - but.....you're in my thoughts and I'm hoping I'll read that you're doing ok!!

[xeney]

Yikes, I am really glad you are mostly okay.

And I guess I am just cold and mean enough to think that woman SHOULD get dinged on her insurance if it was her fault. Or by the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. I have a couple of relatives who seem to always being paying for accidents out of pocket -- because they have a LOT of them and don't want reports filed! My cynical hunch is that most people who have their first accident go ahead and let insurance take care of it; the people who are so eager to pay out of pocket have been through it all before.

Then again, I guess if hitting a person and injuring them won't make you shape up and drive better, probably having to pay higher insurance rates won't, either.

Good luck with your recovery!

[emily_in_nc]

Alison,

I'm coming in late as this has been a crazy week, but I just wanted to add my wishes for a quick recovery. Please keep us posted as to how you are doing!

Emily

[alison_in_oh]

Thanks, guys. I have to admit it was a huge bummer not being able to race this weekend. And then thinking of that gal whose life hasn't been affected one little bit! (She's getting sketchy about communicating with me which is super annoying.) I'm strongly considering going to a lawyer even though with no police report and no witnesses I have no idea what kind of recourse I have. :( I really bunged things up.

xeney, you're not cold, you're practical! It's just that I've been in a handful of fender benders, mostly when I was learning to drive, and though they were totally my fault, a couple of the other drivers were so kind and understanding that I wanted to repay the favor by being a gracious "victim" myself. I wasn't angry at her, there aren't enough bikes on the road for her to expect to see one and she was probably fuzzy headed so early in the morning -- not excusing her, but understanding that she's human and made a mistake. Now though I'm realizing that injuries are a different beast altogether, she really didn't learn her lesson, she probably really thinks it was my fault for being in the roadway at all (grr), and car/bike (and dog/bike! Poor Emily!) interactions really need to be reported more if we're going to make a dent in the poor cyclist education in this area. :( Not to mention it was a mistake that could have been SO much worse -- what if another car had been in the lane I was thrown to? What if a body part had gone under the tire with my wheel? It doesn't bear thinking about. :eek:

Anyway, I feel like a real whiner in the face of your injury, Emily, and I'm so glad to hear you're back on the road. Out of curiousity, how are the liability details being handled in your case?

[SadieKate]

there aren't enough bikes on the road for her to expect to see one I'm sorry, Alison, but I have to ask how many cars would it take for her to expect to see one? Or how many pedestrians? She should have been looking before she made any changes in direction.

[slinkedog]

Alison, I'm coming in late to this, as well. I just wanted to say that I hope you're feeling great soon and that everything works out well for you.

[emily_in_nc]

Alison - I pm'd you....

~Emily