Knocked off!

[fossyant]

Bad Luck !!

Do not settle anything - it will need to go insurance route, as you'll likely need plenty of physio. Gaz is correct.

I'll tell you now, you'll have problems for a long time with your shoulder, and may need operations. Sounds like a torn rotator cuff - look it up - there are lots of muscles and ligaments in there.

My supraspinatus was damaged in my accident as well as other things, a/c joint sprain, compressed shoulder, etc. I had the shoulder decompressed 2 years later, but the muscle is still very bad, and I've got permanent nerve damage. Still seeing a physio with my shoulder and back.

Get to the GP, make sure you go back to the hospital, speak to solicitor, and enquire with GP/hospital about physio - you'll likely have to pay for it I'm afraid.

Shoulders are very complex joints, but are susceptible to damage like this - it's very common with cyclists.

I hope your GP is a good one - mine has been great, and speak about getting a referral to the Shoulder Clinic at your local hospital. If you speak to the GP or a physio, they have a couple of tests which will highlight rotator cuff, or A/C joint damage - it entails moving your arm in a couple of positions - if painful then they can pin point the problems.

Hope you aren't feeling to bad today.

 

[Beebo]

+1 to the above.

You say the police attended so they will have the drivers details and will let you know whether he is insured or not.

If he is insured claim via them, if he's uninsured you will be able to make a claim via the MIB (Motor Insurers Bureau - not the Men In Balck).

A solicitor will explain that you will have two heads of claim, general damages which are your physical injuries and special damages which are the loss of earnings and medical bills etc. these can add up to a significant sum over a long period of time.

Good luck, hope you get back riding soon.

 

[400bhp]

I'm going to advise differently from the others. Get good advice on what your damages should be (bike, injury, pain, time off work etc) and put it to him. He may well settle straight off if you have a good case put together for how much it is. If it goes to the insurance company you could spend ages fighting them for compensation and them trying all the tricks in their book to reduce it. You will get there in the end with determination, lots of time and patience and professional advice but you could have it all sorted in a few weeks doing it direct.

Don't take this advice.

You don't know the individual and are just playing with fire. It will generally get you nowhere. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard the story (on a car forum I frequent) "driver said he would pay for damages personally and hasn't paid up"

 

[benb]

Get well soon. Can you cycle one-handed?

As per most of your advice, do not settle now, as your injuries may be worse than you think.
Solicitor, definitely.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

Well I've had hardly any sleep, I'm suffering from A/C joint seperation, the ligaments that hold your collar bone in place, they are both torn as my collar bone is trying to come out my skin when I move in any position but lying down, I've never experienced such pain, I've had other injuries in the past. But this is intense, it must be pressing on nerves. I can't see how the ligaments are going to rejoin as everytime I move it pops upwards. All the hospital did was put my arm in a sling ant told me to take ibuprofen and paracetamol.

They said a break would of been less painfull. I'm thinking of going back as the pain is so bad.

Haven't been able to check my bike properly as I'm stuck lying down as it's the only pain free position. I'm not looking forward to my next toilet visit, it took me 4 attempts this morning at 3 o'clock, I probably woke the neighbours with the screams. I feel like I'm going to vomit from the pain when I stand up.

I can't believe I've got to wait til mon before I see anyone at the hospital. I don't think I can manage like this til then.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Well I've had hardly any sleep, I'm suffering from A/C joint seperation, the ligaments that hold your collar bone in place, they are both torn as my collar bone is trying to come out my skin when I move in any position but lying down, I've never experienced such pain, I've had other injuries in the past. But this is intense, it must be pressing on nerves. I can't see how the ligaments are going to rejoin as everytime I move it pops upwards. All the hospital did was put my arm in a sling ant told me to take ibuprofen and paracetamol.

They said a break would of been less painfull. I'm thinking of going back as the pain is so bad.

Haven't been able to check my bike properly as I'm stuck lying down as it's the only pain free position. I'm not looking forward to my next toilet visit, it took me 4 attempts this morning at 3 o'clock, I probably woke the neighbours with the screams. I feel like I'm going to vomit from the pain when I stand up.

I can't believe I've got to wait til mon before I see anyone at the hospital. I don't think I can manage like this til then.

Unless you are allergic F*ck Ibuprofen and get someone to buy you Co-Codimol (8/500 or 30/500 is possible). You can mix it with anti inflammatory tablets and it will certainly take the edge off the pain.

 

[BentMikey]

Gutted for you mate, that sucks.

Like almost everyone else has said, go the solicitor route.

 

[Origamist]

Fisrt off, get well soon.

Gaz, Fossy etc are right. At this stage, do not make an offer to the driver as ligament damage can have potentially serious, long-term implications and could affect your future earnings potential (sorry to sound pessimistic, but in these situations considering worst case scenarios should be part of your decision making process).

If you do go down the legal/insurance route, expect it to be a protracted and often frustrating experience. Do not expect justice, just try to view it as a financial negotiation and play hard-ball.

 

[billy1561]

Wow that's some whack you have taken there fella. Can't offer any advice above what others have said really but it just goes to show you how easy it is to get knocked off. Can never be too careful.
Hope your recovery is swift mate.

 

[upsidedown]

PJ sorry to hear about your incident, hope you get better soon. If the A&E you went to was Russells Hall i would think very seriously about going somewhere else for a second opinion.

paul

 

[coffeejo]

Get well soon

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Got knocked off tonight, car 100m in front facing me indicating to turn to my left his right. There is nothing in front of me so clear sight to me, I slow a little anticipating him to make the manoeuvre, he doesn't so continue, this is happening at about 20 mph in a fluid motion, I get right on him, he makes the turn I hit the car fly over the roof and land on the floor.

I get up walk towards the kerb take off my rucksack feel chest pain and severe shoulder pain. Sit down, people start gathering driver comes over calling ambulance. Big lump on my shoulder, start getting blured vision and sickness feeling.

Ambulance turns up, police attend. Driver admits fault, get took to hospital, x rayed, they say I've torn the ligaments holding my collar bone in place so it's moving about, my arms dropping slightly and the collar bones sticking up, got to go back mon to see what's what. 6 to 8 weeks to heal. I'm gutted. Sling on and pain killers. Want to get drivers insurance details to make a claim, but the driver wants to come to mutual agreement by the looks of it and not go through his insurance,

I'm unsure, what sort of claim payout can you receive for such an accident? Anyone else had a similar experience?

Doesn't matter what he wants to do, go to his insurance company now. If you are a member of any cycling bodies, advise them now.

He is liable and if he has insurance, then it's up for them to decide how to proceed, not him. Even if he doesn't give you the details, the police can get them in minutes anyway.

I used to work for an insurance company and so many drivers try to get out of personal injury claims, it's untrue.

Forgot to say - hope you are ok and not in too much shock. I wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[fossyant]

AC Joint separation is very bad mate. I won't beat around the bush, but it mainly ends up with an operation.

Red Light is totally wrong. As for the other person offering to settle, your injury falls into the Serious Shoulder Injury category - £8k plus.

This injury will take a significant amount of time to heal back to 100% - if indeed it will. Keep an eye on it and get to see the GP as well this week - this does need referring to a Specialist.

Take a look here A/C Joint injury

Yours is at least a 3, mine was only 1 or 2.

No 1 concern is getting well - back to GP ASAP, ask for a referral (these take about 2 months), also check out a physio - they won't touch you at present, but it's worth speaking to them. Both my GP and physio said I needed a shoulder decompression just a month after the accident - it took a further two years to get the operation. I've also damaged my brachial plexus (nerves in neck) and I wouldn't be surprised if that's happened to you.

As the docs mentioned, a break is probably less painful - I certainly wished my collar bone had broken.

The GP can also give you stronger co-codamol - ibuprofen won't touch it. Over the counter stuff is only 6mg - the GP will most likely give you 15mg or 30mg - I was on 30mg tabs after the op, 15mg's before. Just watch side effects - make you feel a bit weird - muggy head, and it caused me to get eczema.

Take it easy, and get some stronger co-codamol.

PS Take time now to single finger type up your accident notes. I did mine the day after, and I do need to refer to it for issues like pain, where and when, because you'll need this further down the line when speaking to either your solicitor, or indeed consultants.

 

[fossyant]

PS Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer some advice about routes to go/what to do next.

I'm with BC, and the delay in sorting my claim out had been getting to the bottom of the problems - I still don't expect a quick resolution - my concern now is finding a medication for nerve pain, and one that suits me - my current one knocks me out at night (can't take it in the day) and I've been told there is better. My solicitor is currently trying to get me referred privately to get my meds sorted, and of course get further physio - to be paid by the third party, as I'm currently significantly out of pocket.

 

[smiorgan]

Man, I feel for you. I count my blessings that the same hasn't happened to me.

+1 to what Fossyant says re: going back to GP - push for better painkillers, referral etc. Sadly you're probably going to have to fight for this on top of sorting your claim out. That sort of thing really wears you down. Don't let the doctor fob you off, IME the first consultation always ends with "it will probably sort itself out with time" which is not always true.

Good luck dude