I was knocked off my bike this morning

[The Eighth Man]

I was riding to work this morning with two smart ultra bright lights on the back of my bike and one on my bag. On the front I have one Cateye EL320 and a Polaris 5 LED light a driver pulled out of a street at the side of the road and went straight into me! Result bike is scrap, Gore tights are ready for the bin, saddle bag is wrecked, Giro Atom has a big chunk out of the top of it and my Sidi shoes are ripped. Now for the other bits, after a trip in an Ambulance and all day in A&E I have two sore legs a bruised knee and a cut over my eye.

I did feel sorry for the Guy that hit me as it was a genuine accident and he was really upset, (plus he needs a new windscreen and bonnet) but I have more lights than Blackpool Tower what else can you do to be seen?

I hope the insurance pays out okay because my bike has a bent frame and smashed front wheel plus a ripped seat

 

[Crankarm]

I was riding to work this morning with two smart ultra bright lights on the back of my bike and one on my bag. On the front I have one Cateye EL320 and a Polaris 5 LED light a driver pulled out of a street at the side of the road and went straight into me! result bike is scrap, Gore tights are ready for the bin, saddle bag is wrecked, Giro Atom has a big chunk out of the top of it and my Sidi shoes are ripped. Now for the other bits, after a trip in an Ambulance and all day in A&E I have two sore legs a bruised knee and a cut over my eye.

I did feel sorry for the Guy that hit me as it was a genuine accident and he was really upset, (plus he needs a new windscreen and bonnet) but I have more lights than Blackpool Tower what else can you do to be seen?

I hope the insurance pays out okay because my bike has a bent frame and smashed front wheel plus a ripped seat

Oh dear not another . Whilst from what you say this was clearly an "accident", there is an awful lorra impatience and aggression on the roads at the mo, even if you are in a car being a cautious and observant moton.

Sounds like you've all bases covered and know what to do now - police, GP, bike shop, then solicitor. Get well soon.

 

[skudupnorth]

At least this one did stop but i still cannot understand how they don't see us when we take extra precautions to be seen,really gets my back up ! Hope you recover from this accident soon.

 

[Crankarm]

When I was knocked down over ten year a go now the RAC chap who witnessed it said I was lit up like Christmas tree and the idiot still drove into me. Some people shouldn't be trusted with a shopping trolley let alone a car or something larger ...........

 

[downfader]

I was riding to work this morning with two smart ultra bright lights on the back of my bike and one on my bag. On the front I have one Cateye EL320 and a Polaris 5 LED light a driver pulled out of a street at the side of the road and went straight into me! result bike is scrap, Gore tights are ready for the bin, saddle bag is wrecked, Giro Atom has a big chunk out of the top of it and my Sidi shoes are ripped. Now for the other bits, after a trip in an Ambulance and all day in A&E I have two sore legs a bruised knee and a cut over my eye.

I did feel sorry for the Guy that hit me as it was a genuine accident and he was really upset, (plus he needs a new windscreen and bonnet) but I have more lights than Blackpool Tower what else can you do to be seen?

I hope the insurance pays out okay because my bike has a bent frame and smashed front wheel plus a ripped seat

Sorry to read of this and hope you heal fast and the recompence is swift and uncomplicated!

Dont feel too sorry for the driver. It sounds perfectly avoidable on their part.

 

[Simba]

get well soon, I know how you feel as I got hit by a car the other day and have many bruises and a broken collar bone that needs an op. Got a claim ongoing.

 

[ufkacbln]

I am afraid that this is not simple.....

There is evidence that this is more about looking rather then seeing and responding appropriately.

Drivers like this either haven't looked properly, or have assumed bikes are very slow and entirely misjudged your speed.

Either way it doesn't hurt less!

 

[The Eighth Man]

I think you may be right about speed I was probably traveling at 23 - 24 mph, that is not fast on a road bike but I think drivers expect everybody to be on Asda full suspension MTB's and traveling at 5 mph

 

[Fish on a bike]

Trust me some drivers will hit you whether you're on a bike, walking or driving, people can be dopey especially in the morning. I don't think there's much you can do except expect drivers to pull out on you when you approach side roads. It's probably worse on a bicycle than on a faster motorbike because they don't hear you. Most important thing is you're not too badly damaged.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

I think you may be right about speed I was probably traveling at 23 - 24 mph, that is not fast on a road bike but I think drivers expect everybody to be on Asda full suspension MTB's and traveling at 5 mph

Ah..

Meatloaf will be repeatedly quoted by the driver or his insurance company then
Bicycles have no business going over 10mph

And TBH, it's not an accident, it's negligence. Accidents are rare, the driver failed to observe approaching traffic and as a result drove into you. That may sound petty but the idea that "accidents are part and parcel of driving a car, they happen and accept that" does need challenging

 

[nightoff]

Sorry to hear about your crash. Hope you get sorted soon.

It's unjust being the victim when you do everything possible to be seen only for some sh1t for brains wipe you out because they simply can't be bothered to concentrate when behind the wheel.

Still. Could be new bike time. Might grab a end of season bargain cracker with the payout.

 

[Norm]

... what else can you do to be seen?

I've seen someone pull across the road in front of a police car with full lights, sirens etc.

Crankster's shopping trolley comment is accurate.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Photograph all the damage to bike and clothing and all injuries, it'll help with the claim along with the doctor's report.

You'll be looking at a couple of thousand I would imagine.

Any photos of the damage to his vehicle would be good also, shows the level of impact.

 

[Kenny Gray]

Hope your ok, same happened to me two months ago in broad daylight some people just dont look properly. Dont think it will be a speedy conclusion, take loads of pictures and document everything that has happened and expenses incurred by you because of the collision.
I was given this advice by the posters on here and have did this especially physical injuries that you have suffered that will heal by the time you see a lawyer or court.
Cheers Kenny.

 

[pshore]

Sorry to hear about your accident Eight Man. Get well soon.

The accident sounds like a classic SMIDSY to me. Was the driver experienced by any chance ? Experience teaches drivers to look for big vehicles and so they look but do not see you.

I am totally paranoid about people pulling out in front of me on my motorcycle. I often perform a SMIDSY Avoidance Manoeuvre when I can't see a driver looking at me. It is essentially a weave within your lane on the motorcycle which causes you to move across the drivers field of vision making you much more visible. You don't generally have the speed on a bicycle and have the risk of overtakers but I think just going around the nose of the car in an exaggerated achieves the same technique. Mind you, I've not tried it in the dark.

Phil.