kokomo61

I was riding the MUP to work today, about 12 miles into the trip, and getting ready to cross a low-traffic side street. One oncoming car stopped from the left, then the car on the opposite side of the crosswalk stopped, both of them waving me on. As soon as I got past the 2nd car, a 3rd car dove into the parallel parking spaces on the side to get around the line of stopped cars.....and I didn't see him soon enough to avoid the impact.

Still clipped in, I went up on the hood, taking the mirror out, then down to the pavement. That's what hurt the worst. Paramedics took me to the ER on a back board, got a full set of X-rays, and nothing broken, but i am REALLY sore Police took an accident report (and my Kona, too - so I don't really know how badly it's damaged yet).

Got the guy's info and insurance, and will be following up. He kept trying to tell everyone that he was unfamiliar with the area, and that he "just didn't see me." Well, when the cars in front of you are all stopped at a cross walk in both directions, i would seem to me to indicate that there's a reason to stop....

TriPhill

Sorry to hear that man...I got tossed due to another rider today...I hope you are recovering well, and that the bike is not too bad off.

huhenio

I hope you end up owning is hiney.

kokomo61

I couldn't tell much at the time - the front wheel looks bent, and I didn't have time to check the light kit/handlebars, etc. I'll get an accident report, take some pics of the bike, and contact the guy's insurance. I'm not going to nail him to the wall, but I'm going to make sure that everything's taken care of.

JustBrowsing

Sorry to hear about this. And I'm glad you're okay. Keep us filled in on what happens.

As for the guy who hit you, you have his info--is he from anywhere near that area? I mean, it seems that his story would be pretty easy to shoot down if he tries to stick to it.

CliftonGK1

3rd car dove into the parallel parking spaces on the side to get around the line of stopped cars.....

I don't know about VA, but here in WA the list of charges would read:

Passing on the right.
Passing in the shoulder/parking/non-drivinglane
Aggressive driving <-- Yep, it's a ticketable offense here now.
Not yielding ROW in a crosswalk

There's probably more. So, how posh will the replacement for the JTS be? (kidding)

Glad that you're not badly damaged (that you're aware of) from this. Be mindful that you don't settle and close the claim too early, though. Vehicular injuries can show up a couple weeks to a couple months down the road. The initial soreness can mask an underlying problem that isn't evident until everything else heals up.
Make sure you get a follow up or two done to make sure everything is really OK.

(Not trying to play the fearmonger or milk the insurance company. I've been in my fair share of car/bike throwdowns and I know that injuries can show up weeks after the incedent.)

kokomo61

I have all of his info - there were at least 4 witnesses who offered to provide statements. Based on where he was in the parking space area (and passing on the right), there's no way he can say that I went out in front of him. He passed at least two stopped cars in front of him that were waiting for the crosswalk to clear.

I just hope my Jake is OK.......if it's not, I'll have it replaced.

I agree on waiting to settle anything. I have a spinal fusion from 4 years ago, and although the X-Rays are OK, I'm following up with my Ortho doc to make absolutely sure that I'm all right.

I swear, accidents do happen in slow motion. After going up on the hood like Mannix, I knew that the next part would be going back down to the pavement, and it seemed to take forever. I stayed on the ground for a good 2-3 minutes before trying to move.

jyossarian

Damn dude, glad you're ok. Total up the damages and bills (don't forget the cost of a new helmet and scraped up clothes/gloves) and get what's coming to you. Feel better!

HeIncreasesMe

I will second not closing the claim immediately. I did that when I had an accident in highschool and it was a stupid stupid move. And you should nail him to the wall. He could have hit anyone else in the cross walk too. That is extremely illegal. Not knowing the area is no reason for breaking the law trying to be speed demona nd shave off 30 seconds from your commute.

Tabor

Did you start screaming about how much your back hurt? I practice at night sometimes.

HardyWeinberg

I hope his mirror can be easily reattached so you can get a better resale value for it when he signs that car over to you. Damn. And yeah definitely wait as long as you need to settle the medical claim. Whatever the statute of limitations allows.

HardyWeinberg

How much time did that save him this morning...

Buglady

Don't be nice to him - nail his ass for as much money as you can get, and see if you have the option of pressing civil charges as well as whatever criminal ones he has coming. That kind of idiocy is completely unfogivable, and the only language people like that understand is money. So go get him.

And also, *very gentle shoulder pats* - I hope you heal up quickly and feel better soon.

huhenio

x2

Next one crossing the MUP and getting nailed could be me.

girljen

OUCH.
I'm glad you're alright, and hope the same can be said for your bike.

zpl

Sorry to hear about this accident, and glad to hear it wasn't worse. The facts of the situation bode extremely well for you and I hope the driver learns a lifelong lesson from this.

kokomo61

I didn't have to - I have a spinal fusion from a motorcycle accident in 2004 (i'm fine, thank you)...and all I had to do was mention that...and the paramedics strapped me to a back board, put on a cervical collar and carted me away in the ambulance.

At the ER, again, no broken bones, but my ribs hurt, and I'm going to see my doc to make sure this is well documented. I've got a 2nd bike I can ride, so while I'd like to get the Jake back and on the road, it may have to wait until I'm sure that I'm OK.

Several times this guy kept getting very close to me to try to explain himself, while I'm still down on the pavement in a fetal position....I had to tell him several times to back away and that I didn't want to speak with him until a police officer was present....all the time while I'm in the middle of the street. I'm pretty calm now, but I was very pissed off at the time.

801Oddity

I'm not an expert by any means, but I worked for a car insurance company for a while. Depending on the state you live in and your coverage you might have to report it to your insurance company, too. Eastern states have your insurance pay for the hospital up front, and the remainder comes from his. Western states comes from his policy. (Just as a general rule of thumb, and not completely specific.) I hope you feel better, and this guy gets what's coming to him. It's totally against your interests to be "nice" to him at all. He'll never learn a lesson if you don't make it as painful as possible for him.

lil brown bat

I may just be one of the bright kids, but somehow I manage to not make the mistake of swerving around a line of stopped cars into what's obviously not a travel lane. Make sure your injuries and bike are completely taken care of. Beyond that, this guy is going to get put into the hurt locker by his insurance company and whatever charges the cops put on him.

huhenio

you are not multitasking while driving, you may not be doing it right (sarcasm)

cc_rider

Sorry to hear. Heal up fast.

Out of curiosity, which intersection was it? Somewhere in Falls Church?

ItsJustMe

Being unfamiliar with the area is a reason to be extra cautious, not extra-stupid.
Good luck healing up.

Big_e

Geez, I'm glad you're ok. If you don't wish to nail him to the wall, that's fine but make sure you get what's due to you and don't hold back. That kind of reckless driving is unexcuseable. What if it had been a child on a bike? That pisses me off!
Ernest

noteon 

Apparently not.

Heal fast. Hope the bike returns to you soon.

Mr. Underbridge

Aw man!!! I mean, sure, I'm glad you're OK and all, but NOT THE JAKE!!!!

What street was it that you got nailed at, for my own education regarding specific hazards on the trail? Drivers are ijits at trail intersections, which is ridiculous along the W&OD because there's a constant stream of cyclists. And the morons wonder why I won't proceed until all lanes have stopped traffic. From now on I'll be checking the damn shoulder too for exceptional stupidity.

Didn't see it in the thread (apologize if I missed it), but what are the cops planning on doing to the guy? I'd hope more than just a ticket for a maneuver of that craptitude.

Heal up, man. Glad you'll be back out sooner than later.