I got hit (right hand turner)

[suzieqtwa]

Friday night I was riding home from work around 4;30, It was almost dark. For those of you that live in Beaverton, I was in the bike lane on Murray ,and I crossed the entrance way to K-Mart. Its a very scary intersection ,and I always told my husband if I get hit ,it will be there. Anyway as I was crossing the entrance ,an SUV turned right into me....It knocked me off my bike into the street. I was shocked ,but got up , and the guy in the van just kinda sat in his car. When he got out I told him I was Ok ,but he seemed more concerned that I dented his car. It was weird. I felt scared ,and at the center of attention on a very busy street. Everyone was staring at me. 2 people got out ,and gave me their #. I didn't know what to say ,so I said I'm not going to the Dr. ,but will you at least pay for the damage to my bike. He just stared at me ,and said "I had my blinker on ,it was your fault". At that point I felt stupid for not being as aware as I should have. I told him well maybe you did ,but pedestrians ,and cyclist always have the right of way" It was very awkward. Then the ambulance ,and fire truck came. I asked the ambulance driver to tell him who's fault it was ,and she said it was his...he said " Oh, so I have to look to my right even when I have my blinker on"
ANYWAY , I just wanted to go home ,so I told him I was sorry I dented his car ,and he said he was sorry he hit me. The police didn't show up till after I was sitting alone in the K-Mart parking lot waiting for my husband to pick me up. I never filed a report. It really was just an accident. I was in his blind spot ,and he didn't see me.
I never went to the doctor. I just feel beat up as I always do when I crash on my bike...no broken bones or anything.
I'm just sitting here getting madder ,and madder ,at his reaction to the whole thing. My bike was fine...just jammed my chain. I'm sure he had a couple of hundred dollars damage to his Van. I just feel like I got into a fight.
How would you have reacted had it been you?

[Blueberry]

That sucks

Generally speaking, it's best to always file a report. Sometimes it can take a day or 2 for injuries and damage to show up, and it's much easier to get a report up front. Given his reaction, I'd also want him to have been written up. I know you feel like it was an accident, but car drivers are responsible for looking and not hitting anyone or anything, even if it's in their blind spot. If you change lanes, and hit a car that's in your blind spot, you're still getting the ticket. I can't believe he *#$%$# yelled at you for denting his van!

That said, when you're in that kind of situation, it can be really hard to think straight and figure out what you should do. So, DO NOT beat yourself up for it. You probably still have the option to file a report, if you want. And take care of yourself!! That's a tough thing to go through.

CA

[Zen]

if it had been me and I were still able to stand after being hit I can tell you without a doubt I would have come up fighting and teaching sailors how to curse.

But that's just me.

Very glad you're ok and remember this rule of driving - put your signal on, close your eyes and turn! It's ok, you've got your signal on! what a friggin'moron.

[lph]

He behaved like a moron. But people do behave like morons sometimes, especially when an accident happens, and even (or especially) when they're in the wrong. Some people need careful reasoning at a quiet moment to see that their thinking is off. So you might have got a reasonable answer later, you never know.

But you have every right to be mad - and scared! Glad you're ok.

[Mr. Bloom]

Glad you're OK. You're not at fault.

he said " Oh, so I have to look to my right even when I have my blinker on"?

Umm, YES! Between mirrors, windows and head movements, there are NO blindspots.

[Irulan]

At the minimum the other driver should have waited for the cops, too.

[lunacycles]

Drivers are living in an entirely separate field of awareness, I swear. I remember the adage to always make eye contact with drivers if you are turning, changing lanes, passing them when they have their signal on...any opportunity for an accident. Yet, I have made FULL eye contact with drivers in all those situations, and it is as tho they STILL didn't see me. I ride seriously defensively these days.

You were absolutely not at fault. I hear you about just wanting to go home after an incident like that--I would too!, but if you were to file a report with the police (you might still be able to), even if it didn't lead to any legal action, the hassle that creates for the driver might at least make him slightly more aware of cycling commuters in the future. Or not

Anyway, so sorry. Hope you are okay.

[Susan Otcenas]

Suzie,

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience, and hope you heal up soon!!

There are very few "accidents". This was a collision, caused by a motorist who failed to yield the right of way to another road user, namely YOU. The driver could have been cited for failure to yield to a cyclist in a bike lane, at a minimum.

I'd suggest you get a copy of Ray Thomas' book explaining your rights as a cyclist in Oregon. Contact the BTA (Bicycle Transporation Alliance - bta4bikes.org) and they can get you a copy. Ray also does periodic FREE legal clinics for cyclists down at the BTA office. You DO have rights, and it's important for you to know them (as well as your responsibilities).

Finally, even though it's after the fact, please call the Beaverton Police Dept and report the incident. Even though you are not injured (or at least you think you aren't) traffic and collision data is critical to the police and community activists when trying to assess the safety or danger of our streets. If these types of collisions do not get reported, our streets appear safer than they are, and fools like this get away with this sort of maneuver repeatedly.

One last thing - this wasn't your fault. Don't beat yourself up over it.

Susan
(BTA Board Member)

[suzieqtwa]

I didn't wait for the cops...they found me 20 minutes later in the parking lot. I had so many close calls with right hand turners I always thought my reaction would be like ZEN ,but when he said he had his blinker on (didn't I see that) I felt small ,and stupid. He mostly just stared at me ,and then rubbed his car dent. He had a 15 year old kid in the car with him (Good example huh!!!) I didn't react well ,but its over ,and no real harm done. I was not thinking straight. But yes he was a Moron .

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You really should have filed a report with police. Injuries can show up later. Always file a police report if you are hit by a car.

Biking lanes can be very dangerous places where they cross over car pathways. I believe the most common location of bike vs. car injuries is where bike paths cross over car roads. Bikers feel somewhat safe because they are riding in the official biking lane, and drivers never expect any vehicle to be on their right side, because there is no car lane there. A deadly combination.
Yes it sounds like you had the right of way... but just because you have the right of way doesn't mean the other person is going to give it to you. Or even see you. It's dangerous out there and drivers don't always look or think straight, or they're distracted...and guess who always loses when a car and bike collide? you are very lucky you weren't badly hurt.

I often get off my bike and walk across scary intersections such as the one you describe. Yes it's a hassle, but you are much safer stopping, getting off your bike, waiting for a big opening or waiting or for cars to stop for you and signal you to cross, and crossing as an official pedestrian than you would be trying to ride across quickly on your bike. Oddly, cars will often stop to let someone walk across before they will stop for someone biking across. It also makes you more visible to cars for some reason. And you may have to even get up on the median to cross like a pedestrian with your bike.
All these hassles are well worth it to not be killed by a car while biking.

I'm so sorry you went through this! You seem to have more than your fair share of biking accidents and injuries, Suzie.

[SouthernBelle]

It's pretty much impossible to see a blinker that's behind you! Was there actually damage to your bike?

[Bruno28]

I'm really sorry you went through this and the driver acted so badly. I think you should still file a police report and explain that you weren't thinking clearly after the accident.

[PamNY]

I am so glad you are okay physically. Sounds like a very unpleasant experience. I understand why you didn't file a report at the time, but I agree that you should file one now if you can.

Pam

[Biker Jo]

Maybe I'm confused, but wasn't this guy behind you at some point before he turned in to you? If so, he should have known that you were in the bike lane and waited for you to cross the entrance before turning.

You did nothing wrong. He was at fault.

I'm glad you're okay.

[greycoral]

when he said he had his blinker on (didn't I see that) I felt small ,and stupid. He mostly just stared at me ,and then rubbed his car dent.

Big deal. Turning your blinker on doesn't magically clear the road of any other cars, cyclists, or pedestrians. It also doesn't automatically give you the right of way. He should have waited until you passed before making that turn.

Maybe I'm confused, but wasn't this guy behind you at some point before he turned in to you? If so, he should have known that you were in the bike lane and waited for you to cross the entrance before turning.

You did nothing wrong. He was at fault.

I'm glad you're okay.

exactly.