Boyfriend hit by car today

[dobielover1]

Jim was commuting to work today and got hit by a car that ran a red light. It was 6:00 in the morning and the driver said that he didn't see any other "cars" in the road.

Jim was knocked unconscious (EMT said he was out for about 10 to 15 minutes). He says he remembers getting on his bike this morning and nothing else until waking up in the ambulance. He has a concussion, cracked ribs, several broken teeth, and a broken collarbone. He's having oral surgery on Friday.

I almost got sick to my stomach when I saw his bike and helmet. The bike is bent almost in half (frame fractured in several places) and his helmet looks like an eggshell. Of course the only thing Jim keeps asking about is the condition of the bike...it's his baby. He's afraid that the driver's insurance won't give enough to pay for the bike.

The driver was clearly at fault. Are they responsible for his medical bills and lost wages? We don't want to be labeled as the type of people that are litigation crazy...but I am hoping to avoid a lot of out of pocket expenses for the dental work.

[Thistle]

oh that's awful. it does make your stomach churn to see the helmet, the bike and all the mess, and worry that your loved one is badly hurt. I hope you and he are both recovering from the shock, and i hope the driver is a decent person who insists on covering your costs. sending lots of healing thoughts to both of you.

[ladyfish]

Seems like the car owner's insurance should cover it just as if he had hit another car.

Glad to hear he will recover. That's a really terrible thing to happen. I'm sending healing thoughts his way.

[Aggie_Ama]

I think they would definitely be responsible and I would not feel bad about suing them. People who sue if someone barely taps them is one thing, but he is actually hurt. They are responsible and medical bills are ridiculous, the responsible party should pay. Was a police report filed? I would think there might be problems if there were no witnesses, I would assume you must prove your BF was obeying the traffic laws.

Best of luck with getting the responsible party to pay and a speedy recovery for Jim!

[Bikingmomof3]

How dreadful. Sending healing thoughts for Jim. I would assume the driver's insurance should cover the costs, at least I hope they do.

[Lise]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear about Jim's accident! Wishing him a full and speedy recovery, and the best of luck with the driver's insurance.

[mimitabby]

Get a lawyer. We have bicycle friendly lawyers in our area, I"m sure there
is one in yours too.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Tabby - first off I'm so sorry to hear about what happend to Jim. How terrible

I'm glad he is ok, in that he will make it through this!

As far as bills and such - you betcha it best be covered. As soon as you can, get a copy of the police report. More than likely, or at least hopefully, the driver was cited. It should also list his insurance company and policy #. From then, you want to call the insurance company and open a claim. They will need the medical bills, plus what they call property damage, which to you and me means Jim's bike. You also want to consider pain and suffering - that is not to be trivialized. IMO, them paying his bills, bike, and saying sorry does not begin to cover the ordeal that this has been and will be as he recovers. If the ins. company neglects this, then you will want a lawyer.

This is exactly the process I'm going through - I was hit by a car at the end of July. I just got a check to cover my bike. It too was totaled, like Jim's. Let me tell you - it is definitely a sickening feeling seeing my bike, the crushed wheel, etc - so believe me I relate to that emotion.

Best wishes and luck - I hope he has a speedy recovery

[pooks]

How horrible! I hope Jim heals easily and quickly.

As for the other -- I agree, get a lawyer. A friend worked for a personal injury lawyer for a few years (I know, boo-hiss!) but the fact is a couple of people in my family have been hit by other drivers (everybody in autos, though) and with the lawyer involved, their problems were smoothed out. Nobody got a huge settlement or anything, that wasn't the point. But they didn't get the runaround and their bills got paid, their medical bills were covered and they got wages lost. Whether they would have gotten all this without the lawyer I don't know. I know that they would have had many many headaches dealing with insurance companies if the lawyer hadn't been handling it all, and that's worth a lot.

That has been our experience. Others' may vary.

[CyclChyk]

I am so sorry to hear about Jim's accident and certainly will keep him in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

The drivers insurance (provided he has any) should definately pay his medical (up to coverage amount, be it $100k, $300k), cost of bike ("book" value; not full retail) etc, but getting monies for time lost from work is iffy. You might have a law suit on your hands.

[Nanci]

Glad to hear he's relatively ok. We just had a club member crash (due to a stick in his wheel!) who requires extensive oral surgery. At least it's something they can fix- unlike an un-helmeted head. He doesn't remember large portions of the crash, either.

I hope the driver's insurance just covers expenses without threatening a lawsuit.

I would never think of running a red light, but tons of other drivers in my city do it all the time. It's just a $126 fine, and a cop has to see you do it.

Nanci

[esther231]

My son was hit by a car a few years when he was walking. (he's okay) But he wasn't okay at the time. He was in intensive care for about a week.

Our car insurance paid the bill. Isn't that odd? But it's true. He was in a friend's car, got let out to go the store and went to cross the street. A van hit him. Our car insurance paid and we were no where around.

Maybe it's different in different states.

Forgot to say, I hope he heals quickly. I think it's terrible that it happened to him.

[Xrayted]

Oh, wow! I'm so sorry to hear that. All my best to you both.
The driver's car insurance should cover it. Don't let them tell you otherwise. Although nothing can change what has happened, how you both handle the future is in your hands now. I'm not one to sue either but I say litigate if you must to recover your financial loses. This is not some small scrape.
I've been through something similar, only in my case, the other guy had no insurance. It took me a lot of years to recover financially. It's not just the immediate future you should worry about. (after over 15 years, I'm still having to overcome/adapt to some major physical limitations caused by the accident- and do it on my own dime. ) Do what you have to do.
Here's hoping for a speedy and full recovery. I'll be watching for updates. My prayers are with you both.
-X.

[KnottedYet]

Best thoughts to you and Jim.

I agree, get a lawyer and don't sign anything until the lawyer ok's it. Yes, driver should pay for lost wages, and many other things.

[short cut sally]

I am sorry to hear about the incident and what you both must be going thru. Speedy recovery and best wishes for Jim.