Got clipped by a car today

As I was riding home, about halfway through my commute, some idjit behind me got too close and clipped my left hand with his mirror. He just couldn't wait for me to get up to and through the intersection, a crazy one with six streets converging. I let out a scream, because I felt the impact and it made a very loud bang.

The woman behind him stopped and asked if I wanted her to follow him and get his license tag #, and the woman stopped at the road to the right of me asked if I was ok, so that was nice. I just told them it was over and thanked them and went on my way.

About two blocks later, the adrenaline kicked in and I had to consciously hold it together. Then I just got ticked off.

So as incidents go, it was minor. I'm glad I was wearing my gloves. As I'm typing this, I can feel that my last three fingers on my left hand are stiffening up, so I definitely was hit. The weird thing is my mirror didn't get knocked out of position, and it sticks out to the left. :confused:

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

As I'm typing this, I can feel that my last three fingers on my left hand are stiffening up, so I definitely was hit.

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I hope you really are OK. That was really nice of the other two drivers. I probably would have let it go too but thinking about it now maybe you should never let it go. Just in case, you know?

I was hit (tapped) in Georgetown years ago, and like you, I was just happy to be okay so I didn't get a plate. But I wish I had for no other reason than to teach that little phone-chatting-red-light-running-prissy-biotch that you can't do that.

I hope you're okay.

Oh, no! I'm glad you weren't hurt more, but I'm sorry you were hurt at all. :(
I'm also glad that some kind drivers saw it and made sure you were OK. That was very nice.

OMG I really hope you're ok!
On my second ride on Oxon Hill Rd Cadillac truck tapped me/pushed me to the side off the rode, I was so scared I threw up and cried, of course walked half way home shaking!

Holy cow, J! :eek:
That sucks totally.
Ice your fingers. I hope they're not hurt badly.

Thank goodness you are ok. What a shock that must have been!

Is this your regular route? What are your chances of seeing this particular offender a second time?

I'm so sorry to hear that, DB. Hope your hand heals quickly.

Wow, I am glad nothing worse happended. Ice your hand for the next few days to keep the swelling down.

Oh DB, I'm so sorry. The world is full of idiots and there is not a lot we can do about them. I'm glad it was not more serious. Get some ice on those fingers and I hope you feel better tomorow.
Martha

Thanks all. I put a bag of peas on my hand so we'll see if that does the trick.

This is my normal route, but I doubt I'll see (or recognize) the car again. Lots of traffic in DC...

Wow, hope your hand heals quick and glad it wasn't worse.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. How frightening! I hope your hand is ok--thank God it wasn't worse. Please let us know how you are doing

Were you in DC proper or MD when it happened?

For the one jerk that hit you, it's nice to know that two other people cared enough to stop and offer help. Be careful out there.....

Hand feels ok this morning. I'm a bit stiff, like after a car wreck, but that might just be old age.:p

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Were you in DC proper or MD when it happened?

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I was in DC, on Kansas Ave. just after crossing Georgia Ave. It's one of the busiest intersections on my commute.

aaaah, bummer, divingbiker! Good healing of head and hand to you.

+1 to what everyone else said! Take care of your hand, and yourself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

So as incidents go, it was minor.

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...anything but minor to me...

The difference between minor and major is measured in inches.

Lucky? Yes

Minor? No

Glad you're OK

Quote:

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Originally Posted by divingbiker

Hand feels ok this morning. I'm a bit stiff, like after a car wreck, but that might just be old age.:p



I was in DC, on Kansas Ave. just after crossing Georgia Ave. It's one of the busiest intersections on my commute.

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Aw gee, Divingbiker. :( :( Thank goodness you weren't seriously injured. Maybe you should get that hand x-rayed in case you have a fracture. It was nice that the ladies offered to help you. There are still Good Samaritans out there watching over you. :)

I'm so glad you are OK!

Last year I had someone pass close enough that they sheared the mirror off of my handlebar. I was luck that I wasn't hit and that the bike didn't take a hit either.

Please take care of your hand!

That is so scary. Glad your hand seems to be okay.

Man that sucks. Glad you are feeling better. Scary out there at some of those intersections! So nice to hear that other drivers were concerned, doesn't quite make up for the idiot hitting you, but still nice to hear.

I myself am having a hard time distinguishing the expected age-related aches and stiffness from anything else, but of course your mileage may vary. ;)

This kind of thing is scary. I hope your hand is back to normal today.

I was commuting to work on my fixie 2 and a half weeks ago and a cab drove straight into me while he was entering a roundabout at speed, hit my front wheel, I slid on the road, hit the curb ... got a good amount of road rash. I was so lucky I wasn't going any faster, even though i was going quite fast, or it could have been worse. Both my wheels got damaged beyond repair. I ended up at the police station to record the incident. The cab driver, who was also quite shocked gave me 300 Euro for a new pair of wheels, which was nice.

He said he just didn't expect me to be going that fast ...
Fair play to him for admitting his reponsability and giving me money for new wheels ( which are great and much better than the ones I had on my fixie before )

Almost 3 weeks on, my right hand is still sore though when i cycle, and my broken wrist pain from last winter is sore again.

But eh, i am all in one piece.

Very traumatic anyway, i know I havent cycled near that roundabout since, I found a slightly longer way to work...

I Hope you are better :)

So sorry to hear about your accident. Keep an eye on the anger. I found that after my first run in (just a broken pinkie and separated shoulder) with a vehicle that turned into me, I was plain angry with most drivers while riding. I was a little more cautious, but often found my adrenaline was high when riding without much cause. It took a while, a couple of months, to not hold every driver accountable for one idjit's behavior. Hope you are recovering inside and out. Take care.

I'm gonna count these two incidents totalling 3 (includine mine) - and if things happen in 3s, then we're done, right?!

Heal up everyone!!!

(and ice those fingers!)