takenreasy

So, my first time being hit by a car. Luckily nothing was broken. An early part of my journey home involves a “T” where motorists come out of a parking area and have a stop sign before they cross the bike path to enter a divided highway. It is critical to get acknowledgement from these motorist before crossing their path. I usually get eye contact or a wave and then proceed. Today the sun was such that I couldn’t really see the woman that well but she did stop and her mannerism led me on my journey. As I got in front her she hit the gas and clipped my pannier. Out went the bike and down I went on my side. Big drama with a fire truck, ambulance, cops and so on. Turns out the driver and I were considered both to be at fault. So, not tickets nor charging anyone with anything. Lesson learned on my part. It’s all on us to keep ourselves safe. If you’ve been hit by a car, what was your experience?

tjspiel

I was "left hooked" once. It was a low speed collision. Driver was apologetic and my bike was unharmed. My chest muscles were a little sore because I gave the driver's door a stiff arm but other than that I was fine.

How was it that you were considered at fault at all? I'm not saying you weren't, I'm just having trouble picturing it.

takenreasy

The hit occurred after the stop sign and in what the cop called a public right of way. My understanding is we are open game at that point and both of us didn’t properly look out for one another. I don’t really understand it myself but do take from it that we as cyclists don’t have many rights in these situations.

ZoomZoomGal

i've been hit three times.

once back in 2001 when somebody was not looking before they made a right hand turn when i was going straight. bike took a good whack to the left pedal crank and it bent into the frame so bad it wouldn't move. my knee fared worse. looked like a black n blue grapefruit for a while. i healed. bike was bent back into shape and worked 'ok' after. was my significant other's bike, that i bought for them and rode instead because they never did. ok, i guess it really was 'my' bike, lol. i was young and not aware of how much the driver was at fault. no charges, nothing. i just limped home that day and took some good painkillers.

then when i started bike commuting spring/summer/fall a few years back i got hit by another driver not looking before turning. this time they were stopped and about to turn left when i was crossing in front of them via a roadway that intersected the bike path i was on. YES, i should have from a legal standpoint, gotten off my bike and treated the roadway like the unmarked crosswalk it was. bike was fine other than the handlebars needing straightened out after, i was fine, nobody sued anybody or anything like that. i had made eye contact with the driver and proceeded to cross in front of him and he still hit the gas! i think i made it necessary for him to go home and change his underwear after, i was yelling and cussing him out and i think he thought i was gonna take a swing at him too.

then last summer i was going straight and a car was stopped and ready to turn out of the parking lot entrance that intersected the road i was on. i could've sworn the driver saw me like the one at the bike path incident above, but he must not have and as he started going/turning he bumped into me. literally a bump. my bike went down but i stayed on my feet (bracing against his hood helped). i cussed him out and went on my way. i think he's gonna be real careful about looking all around before making a turn from now on.

drivers can be such nincompoops sometimes! i don't dare ride on winter roads around here.

Commutingtexan

I was hit by a work van in the middle of an intersection back in November. I had a green arrow to make a left turn and was almost through and into the bike lane when he made a right on red only looking for oncoming traffic and not for anyone else. Pulled up right beside me and merged over into the left hand lane, while knocking me over.

Today I had a guy make a left hand turn through an intersection that I was going straight on. He just turned without looking and came within a foot of my left crank while I was yelling the whole time. Locked the brakes up on that one.

Reynolds 

3 or 4 times in 50+ years, but only 1 was serious.

curbtender

I guess you had a stop too? Anyway, file a claim with her insurance and see if they make a settlement.

joeyduck

I've been hit a few times. The only one causing serious bodily damage happened seven weeks ago Thursday. I'm still in the hospital. It didn't involve any cars though, so I guess it doesn't qualify for this thread. But all in all getting hit by a motor vehicle isn't good.

mgw4jc

Have you given your account of what happened yet? I think I've read through the Fellow BF member by a car thread, but may have missed it. Or if you don't want to relive that yet, no pressure at all.

Rootman

Luckily nothing at a higher speed. Was cycling down the street, broad daylight, bright yellow jersey, taking the lane. A mini van on my right wanting to make a left turn on the street I was on, front wheels a good bit past the stop strip. I am practically past the intersection and the mini van decides to pull out, we met, my front tire on his door, I was pitched forward and went through the open drivers window. It was piratically face to face, I could of kissed him. I pulled back out, didn't even fall and starting laying into the driver verbally. Turns out he was looking down the block past me at the garage sale I had just passed, completely blocked me out and pulled out to get to there. Nothing damaged or hurt. And technically I hit HIM but it was his fault for pulling out in front of me.

Leebo

So, takenreasy, running daytime flashing lights? Maybe get off and walk next time? Walk behind the car? Low sun can be really tough. I switch routes depending on sun and season.

Jim from Boston

See this sticky thread by Tom Stromcrowe, Site Administrator, on the Advocacy & Safety Forum:

****If You've Been Hit By A Motor Vehicle: ALL MEMBERS READ****

I was hit in June 2012, criminal trial in September 2013, and final settlement December 2014.

Is mgw4jc...an ambulance chaser?

mgw4jc

Busted! Avoid all contact with mgw4jc!

He has been falsifying his posts on "How was your commute today?" and "The Commuting Mileage Thread" for the last year in order to lure unsuspecting injured cyclists into admitting fault so he can sue them. He especially targets those who have studded tires because clearly those cyclists have more jewels than they know what to do with.

spare_wheel

I've been grazed a couple of times and have also been hit by mirrors a few times. On the other hand, I've hit pavement hard countless times and have broken bones up to 7 times* while riding for sport/recreation.

*2 were possible hairline.

alan s 

Never been hit by a car. Partly luck, but partly because I never assume someone has seen me, even if they make "eye contact." For all I know, they are all of the following: legally blind, operating under the influence, texting, eating and talking on the phone. Waving at me could be nothing more than someone who uses their hands while talking.

DiabloScott

Right hooked twice - broken bones once; had to sue to get her insurance company to pay attention.

Also got T-boned by a car exiting a parking lot - she paid to repair my bike (tacoed wheel).

79pmooney

I've had contact a few times. Doored twice. (OK, I hit them.) Bumped from behind when I started at stop signs, then stopped for cars coming I couldn't see until I was further into the road. 1 trashed wheel reimbursed by the driver, 1 no damage at all. Got bumped by a car when I tried to make a left turn in front of him. Boston, an intersection I had never seen before and the bad New England trolley tracks I had to cross got all of my attention. I didn't realize the oncoming traffic also got a green light. Dented my racing bike down tube, thrashed the front wheel. Driver drove my home and paid me for rebuilding the wheel. I charged him my cost and lost (bike shop) work. Very small potatoes.

Had a USPS jeep right turn me. Front tire to front tire contact. My elbow almost in the driver's face. (Thank you, racing skills!) And had a car run a light, see me almost in time and hit the last inch of my rear rim. Tossed the bike out from under me. Not pretty. Rim and road rash for the bike. Multiple broken ribs and collarbone for me (and months of opiates).

I am trying to put together a second straight "rubber down" year. That old Irish blessing "May the road rise up to greet you" is getting old.

Ben

Jim from Boston

I hope you know I was kidding, and only felt sanctioned to do so because I was in a serious crash myself. I thought Tom Stormcrowe’s advice was important. Actually, I think it would be more lucrative to sue the car driver (or defend them).

BTW, I did note joeyduck’s reply to your inquiry in another thread.

locolobo13 

3 times on my bike

The first I was salmoning on the sidewalk on a busy street. It was a bad idea. I did this for about 3 mos. Never had so many close calls riding the bike. I knew the people turning right onto the street weren't seeing me. Finally one of the cars turning right got me. The only damage was a bent wheel.

Second time I was right hooked. Plain and simple. I almost dodged out of her way. Almost. Tore my shirt.

Third time, left hooked. But it was my fault. I was riding at night without lights. Bent my handlebars, flew a few feet, small laceration in the face required stitches.

The last one was in 1984. Hope I don't have another one. I don't bounce as good nowadays.

Colorado Kid

Got hit about a year ago. Ended up in the Trauma Center. I was off work for two months. I'll tell you one thing, it gives you a whole new perspective on life.

mgw4jc

Yes, that's why I went with sarcasm and pretended to be going after the cyclist with "studded" tires.


Saw it there too. Thanks.

TransitBiker

Yes, and they gave me bogus info. From then on I've called police for any incidents.

- Andy

Buffalo Buff

Yep.

Last summer I had different cycling habits. Mountain Bike on sidewalks instead of a road bike on the road.

Was going down a busy main street on the sidewalk. Came up to a 4 lane intersection and the traffic I was moving along side of had the green light. I'm going across the intersection and get tapped by someone pulling forward to take a right turn onto the road in the direction I'm going.

It was a light tap and I was on a tank of a bike, so I was fine. I kicked their car and gave them a wtf look then rode off.

that was the day I reconsidered my sidewalk rides. Never been hit on the road.

noglider 

I got hit head-on. The car hit me pretty hard that, according to the witness, I flew in the air a good distance. I don't remember the impact or the ambulance ride to the hospital. I didn't break any bones. I just got bruised and scratched. My Bell Biker got pretty well destroyed, as did the bike.

winston63 

A couple of times, though I've never been seriously hurt (fortunately). Nor has my bike suffered much damage, which is near miraculous. The last time was my fault as I took a sharp (as in greater than 90 degree) corner with too much speed and swung too wide just as a car was approaching.

It was a very quiet residential street with construction preventing any through traffic at one end, so I wasn't expecting any traffic at all - lesson learned, and I now always expect traffic! Fortunately the driver and I were able to scrub off enough speed that when I hit the car it was a very low speed impact with no resulting damage to the car or serious damage to me outside of some bruises and road rash. My bike was banged up a bit, but nothing serious.

It's not a mistake I'll make twice!