Driver Saw Me, Then Hit Me

[bbyparit]

I was in Tulsa, OK for a MTB race last Sunday, March 30, 08.
Basically I was going south, driver was going north.. driver wanted to turn onto a side street which would make him cross my path.. I tapped my brakes and tried to make eye contact, there was a glare on the windshield so I didnt see his face.. but he stopped his car.. no blinker.. so I proceed.. then there he comes at me. I thought .. wow.. what is he doing?? As slow as we were going, I thought.. I'll just plop over onto his hood when we hit... no way... I flew straight up into the air and came down head first into his windshield.

He got a ticket. I got 122 stiches to my head.

I want to know what he was thinking.. but it really doesnt matter because nothing would be acceptable ya know?

http://jrmints.com/blog/?p=1
That link will take you to my memory of the incident... the photos are linked in from there... they are gory gory gory... so don't look if you can't handle blood.

The good news is nothing was broken.. but his windshield and my bike.

Paula

[BikeMomma]

Whoa, that's some owie! I hope it was an expensive ticket for the bxstard that hit you. Glad you're ok!

Take care & heal up,
~BikeMomma

[mimitabby]

I read your blog. What DID the driver say??

[SouthernBelle]

Oh that's so scary. Feel Better!

[redrhodie]

I shouldn't have looked at the pics. You poor thing.

Maybe it was the glare. I have to hope there was some bit of humanity in this person, and it was an accident. No one would do that to you on purpose (right?).

[redrhodie]

Oh, I just read that he saw you, so I'm a little depressed now. What was he thinking?!

When I was 14 years old, I was hit by a car door while riding. The person stopped for a minute, but left before the ambulance came. Fortunately, she had a vanity plate, which I easily remembered. I sued and won enough to pay my medical bills.

[luv'nAustin]

Take care and hope you feel better soon!

[alpinerabbit]

I hope your concussion will subside; please watch out for lingering symptoms.

I do not usually like the american judicial systems (trigger happy ambulance chasers) but in this case:
sue his a$$.

My boyfriend just said he feels there's a total disregard for anything that does not fit normality in this country, and that the attitude is what is not normal is free game. [Notable exceptions apply.]

[mimitabby]

sue his a$$.

what she said

[DDH]

I am glad you are okay. From the looks of the pictures, I feel someone was looking out for you that day.

I don't believe that you have to settle when the insurance company wants to when you weren't at fault. They have to wait for all of your medical issues before they can force you to do anything. Plus you might have things come up later, with back problems or something.


Anyway, I hope you continue to well and recover quickly.


Do you know if he said anything about not seeing you or what his excuse was to continue when you were coming? Did he think he could beat you, or just didn't care? I know it shouldn't matter, but I would want something from him that acknowledged what he did and how bad he screwed up and that he could have killed you!!!

I don't mean to sound harsh towards him. I'm sure he did not mean or want to hit you, but if he shows no remorse then he has learned nothing from his mistake or impatience or whatever it was.

[Julibird]

Wow - this was like an accident my husband was in about 8 years ago in Watertown/Belmont, Ma. Left turning car - broken shoulder, hamburger-like flesh injuries, and lots of embedded glass. Thank GOD for helmets and witnesses.

The lawsuit took ages to sift out everything - and everything about it was sort of re-traumatizing. Don't be surprised at how strange you may feel about all of this in your life. It is a real shake-up. And you survived!

He received enough money from the settlement to pay the hospital bills. Which is no small thing. He did not have extra for a new bike or anything. His face was not cut, though. And he is a guy. YOU are a very beautiful young woman - this and the location of that head wound...well, I'll just say - I hope that you receive a generous settlement that covers all your medical needs here as well as replacement of your bike and any other help you need - it's not too much to ask, IMO.

Heal well, brave lassy!

[teawoman]

That is very scary! So glad you are okay!!! Take care of yourself and glad you are doing better.

[jesvetmed]

So glad you are healing as well as you are. From the looks of the pics, "you've come a long way, baby!".... cool that you have the progression photos to compare. It really is looking good. Here's to a speedy recovery the rest of the way.