OMG I Was Just Hit By a Car

[kfergos]

Here's my story.

Today is gorgeous. I mean just beautiful: Low 60s, sunny, light easterly breeze. The kind of day when Artemis just begs me to hop on and go for a long, luxurious ride. Who am I to resist? In the afternoon, I donned my really stylish Fat Cyclist Fight Like Susan jersey and took off.

I rode out to Paradise Lake Road and it was so wonderful, and I felt so great -- better than I have in weeks on my bike, strong and not struggling at all -- that I decided to extend my ride. Instead of going home on 124th, I turned onto the Sammamish River Trail and hooked up with the 520 trail in Redmond. I planned to zip up through Kirkland (I was really looking forward to the flight down Northup Way, too), turn left onto Juanita Way, go over that hill, and come back home either on Simonds Road or via the bike path and Waynita Way.

It was gonna be a fabulous ride. Occasionally Mt. Rainier peeked out; the sun felt warm, the shade cool, my legs strong, and I felt like I could just keep going forever.

I might have actually executed my plan if a contractor for Oracle driving a Hertz rental car hadn't turned left into me as I went straight down 148th. I was in the right-turn lane, but towards the left-center, because I wanted to not turn right there but turn onto the bike path immediately across the intersection. Traveling about 19 miles an hour, I didn't even have time to register that this guy was turning until I saw his hood right there on my left. Next thing I knew, WHAM! I'm up on the hood and then down on the ground.

Everything went downhill from there. The driver got out of the car immediately and started urging me to get up out of the street. People were talking to me, other cars were honking, drivers were asking me things, the driver and his wife were trying to move me and my bike out of the way, and I was just feeling incredibly confused and shaky.

I refused to move for a while. Eventually, when I ascertained that nothing seemed that awfully painful, I picked myself and my bike up off the road. The driver pulled his car into a nearby apartment complex parking lot, somebody called 911, and I started limping me and my bike over there. That's when I noticed the front wheel was tacoed -- not horribly, but it will definitely have to be replaced. At that point I stopped worrying about myself and started worrying about my bike: I can't afford to replace the bike or most of its parts.

Which shows my priorities may need readjusting. But I felt OK, for having just been in a collision with a motor vehicle. Anyway, we sat for a while and a guy brought me an ice pack for my extremely bruised left hip (I assume that's where I impacted the car hood, there and my left elbow) and somebody else called 911. The driver and his wife, both from India, begged me not to make the collision sound too bad. The driver said it was nobody's fault... and I didn't disagree verbally, although any left-turn collision like that is a fairly straightforward case of failure to yield right-of-way. Turns out the driver saw me but thought I was going slower than I was, and decided to zip in front of me, or at least that's what I gathered.

I called Mom, who immediately dispatched Dad and Ian. While I waited for them, the Fire Department arrived and started palpating my neck, back, and head, all of which seem fine. Then the medics arrived and talked with the firemen and took over. They didn't seem overly concerned about me since I had been able to walk from the intersection to the nearby parking lot. They asked if I wanted to go to the emergency room, and I eventually decided no: Last time I crashed on my own I got rushed there and was perfectly fine, except for the $700 bill. Now Ian and I don't have that kind of money lying around, and I wanted to avoid it if I could.

So the medics left after giving me an ice pack for my elbow and a hospital blanket. I'd started shivering badly between the ice pack on my hip, my right leg (the inside hit the frame of my bike, I think, and is fairly painful when I stand up), elbow, and all the shock. After the medics left, the firemen hung around and filled out a medical report until the police officer and Dad and Ian arrived. They were probably also making sure I didn't suddenly pass out or start acting really weird or some other indication of brain injury.

The police officer took a report and gave the driver and me a copy of each other's contact information. The driver has an Indian driver's license. Huh. Then we loaded my poor, battered bike and my poor, battered self into Dad's car and went home. Now I've taken ibuprofen and have ice packs strategically placed on my extremities.

Frankly, my biggest worry continues to be my bike. I'm young and very fit, and this was almost as mild as a car-bike collision could have been. I'll have to get a whole new front wheel and helmet for sure, possibly a new front fork since that's carbon fiber and probably is cracked, possibly a new rear wheel, and (oh goodness) new carbon fiber handlebars. I shudder to think of the cost. I just am PRAYING my titanium frame is OK. My fear is that the driver, who at one point said, "This wasn't anybody's fault" and begged me to make it not sound bad when I talked to the police officer (who actually never asked for an account of the collision from me) -- I'm afraid the driver won't or can't pay to fix the damage to my bike. My sense is he and his wife don't have any money; it's going to have to be their insurance company. I can't afford to fix all the stuff that might be broken. But I'll save my panicking in that area until I can have a couple bike shops check the bike out and assess the damage, and until I start working with the driver and Oracle's insurance company. Because of course the driver was insured through Oracle and was driving a rental car.

Dang. I can't believe I was just hit by a car for the first time in right around 20,000 miles.

[NbyNW]

Oh my! Wow.

I'm glad you're walking about, albeit gingerly.

Please be good to your bod, and when the adrenaline wears off, reassess if you need to see a Dr.

I can recommend a good orthopedist and PT in Seattle but maybe someone else will have an east side recommendation for you. Not to mention a lawyer. Sounds like there were plenty of witnesses!

Take it easy, sending healing vibes --

[ASammy1]

(((((kfergos))))) Get healthy! Get a lawyer!

[Fredwina]

Being hit by a car is no fun. been there done that.
It sound like it was the driver's fault - his ins should take care of your damages.
An Atty is good guide - you might want to Pm MM_QFC and get the name of hers

[bluejellybean]

)))Kfergos((( I'm glad to hear you're doing as well as you are, what a scary thing. I'm sure that driver will be paying, clearly sounds like it wasn't your fault. I can totally understand what you're feeling towards your bike, take care of your body too, and listen to it incase there are any "post crash" aches! You'll be up and at 'em soon!

[bluejellybean]

)))Kfergos((( I'm glad to hear you're doing as well as you are, what a scary thing. I'm sure that driver will be paying, clearly sounds like it wasn't your fault. I can totally understand what you're feeling towards your bike, take care of your body too, and listen to it incase there are any "post crash" aches! You'll be up and at 'em soon!

oops backwards brackets...just finished a long ride, getting a little tired!!

[zatar]

Wow, I'm so glad you are okay! I rode in that area earlier this morning and can just imagine the accident; it sounds so scary.

You might consider contacting John Duggan. Our team has used him a lot this year (unfortunately) and all have had good things to say about him. I believe his office is in Seattle, near Qwest Field.

Also, Erik Moen is a great physical therapist with lots of cycling experience. He's located in Kenmore (near Log Boom Park).

[Skierchickie]

Kfergos! I'm so glad you're alright! Or, mostly so, anyway. Take care of yourself - you'll be sore tomorrow. On the bright side - the guy may have pulled bone-headed move and nearly killed you, but he didn't flee the scene. His insurance should certainly pay for your bike damage, shouldn't it?

Don't hesitate to see a doctor.

Glad you're walking around.

[Zen]

Like Skier said, glad you're mostly OK.

But you've got to stop thinking like a woman.
The guy hit you, he doesn't have a drivers license. Let him worry about how he's gonna pay. And make him pay.

[channlluv]

+1 to what Zen said.

It's a clear cut case. He hit you. He admitted he saw you, but turned anyway. Failure to yield. Did the police issue a ticket?

If he was driving a rental car, there's sometimes insurance attached to that, unless he waived it to save money.

It's his responsibility to cover your losses here. Consult an attorney. They're paid out of the proceeds of the lawsuit.

I'm so glad you're not hurt badly, but do go get a full physical checkup.

Roxy

[Crankin]

I am sorry, Katie. This is worse than dealing with the Massholes...
Hopefully, you will be able to fix your bike. Take time and heal yourself and follow the advice of everyone here.
Funny, I was thinking about you today because we are planning our spring warm up ride.

[KnottedYet]

((((kfergos)))))

((((((bike))))))

[zoom-zoom]

Ugh, I am so sorry. I'm glad you're OK, though. Don't let this guy get off scott-free. He can't be allowed to think that it's acceptable to drive like an idiot and risk someone's life.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((((kfergos))))))))))

If the driver doesn't have insurance, then if you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your car or moto, that should cover at least your physical injuries and their consequences. Usually you don't have to have been in your car, it just has to be an auto accident.

+1 to getting a lawyer. Don't let your desire to forgive this guy emotionally, lead you to make bad decisions about your health or your finances.

[sgtiger]

(((((((kfergos))))))))

Take it easy and get yourself checked out.