Well clearly de-lurking on CC has cursed me! Was doored on my way to work on Friday morning - happened at about half eight outside the 7 islands leisure centre. Saw the light change to red up ahead and started to slow to pass the waiting cars on the inside - 9 times out of 10 I'll filter on the right but I don't at this junction, to my cost, as its a T junction which from my approach has no left hand turn, so no chance of a left hook, plus there are railings along the pavement so I, stupidly, have always assumed no one would be jumping out of their car here! Also normally there are lots of cyclists here so usually I'm following someone in front, but yesterday I was all alone for some reason....So I'm just passing the first car in the queue (only 3 or 4 cars there I think, but not sure). All I can remember is seeing the front passenger door start to open and having a total panic - no time to steer away (no where to go anyway) and no time to brake (had already taken my speed down to, I think, a swift walking pace, certainly nothing particularly quick) - and then I was smacking my tooth on the iron railings and then I was sitting in the road having spat my tooth into my hand and the driver was beside me.... My actual collision with the door and subsequent flight through the air I have no memory of....
I was completely distraught, just kinda wailing and looking at people helplessly. The driver was ringing an ambulance and a lady from the leisure centre had come out. A lovely lady on a folder stopped to see if I was ok - I have no idea what I said to her so if you're on here, thanks so much for caring enough to stop, it really meant a lot. The total hero of the hour was however Digger, a cyclist who stopped and was so so calm and so helpful - took all of the necessary details whilst all I was doing was sitting in a daze, made sure I had somewhere to put my tooth, was so kind and authoritative, properly took charge, rang the police etc. Thank you! You left your number on that piece of paper with all the details on and I will be in touch to thank you properly.
Anyway, bundled into the ambulance and after several hours, a number of x rays and a CT scan it was deemed my collarbone is not broken and none of the blood vessels were damaged - the doc said if I'd hit the edge of the door higher up on my neck I could have been killed, which is terrifying because it was such a slow accident! So aside from lots of pains - keep finding new bruises and grazes, and some fantastic bruising on my collarbone/shoulder I got off pretty lightly. The only thing that will need treatment is my tooth - went to the dentist yesterday and they capped the nerve for now but will need to have the nerve removed, the tooth filled and a crown fitted. Will probably be in the region of £200 (NHS) or £400 (private) - I'm favouring the private route just because of the cosmetic finish - its the top right tooth, the second one along from the very front one, so very noticeable and i have very distinctively shaped teeth (very rounded) so I want a crown that will match my current gnashers and the dentist said he can't guarantee that with the NHS route. The actual clinical treatment is no different though, its just where the crown gets made that makes the difference.
So I'm not sure where I stand with getting my dental treatment paid for - it was a passenger who opened the door, not the driver and the police woman who attended wasn't sure whether they would be covered by the driver's insurance. Also where do I stand on getting the private treatment paid for? Can I only claim for the least expensive route? My bike is at the shop being checked over but to be honest it looked fine - I can't really remember the impact but I don't think it really got hit by anything. The wheels might be out of true and the brakes might have taken a beating and my bar tape was all scuffed and ripped but I think it's probably fundamentally completely fine, will see what the professionals say at any rate. I feel like I've got off very lightly, could very easily have broken bones and/or ruptured some major blood vessels - the doc said the edge of the car door is like a knife and it's better to hit the flat of the door if you're going to hit it, I didn't have much choice mind!
Otherwise, aside from rejoining CTC (have let my membership lapse) and speaking with their legal bods, is there anything else I should be doing? I haven't photographed my injuries yet but plan to do so later today (I have a candid shot from hospital showing my new pirate's grin and you can just about see the swelling and abrasion of my shoulder...)
Anyway, yes, I didn't want to become more active on the board in this manner! Been cycling for years and this is my first incident - usually so careful about filtering and am aware of the door zone.....Just one of those things I suppose! Any advice etc. would be very very welcome -
Thanks,
az
I was completely distraught, just kinda wailing and looking at people helplessly. The driver was ringing an ambulance and a lady from the leisure centre had come out. A lovely lady on a folder stopped to see if I was ok - I have no idea what I said to her so if you're on here, thanks so much for caring enough to stop, it really meant a lot. The total hero of the hour was however Digger, a cyclist who stopped and was so so calm and so helpful - took all of the necessary details whilst all I was doing was sitting in a daze, made sure I had somewhere to put my tooth, was so kind and authoritative, properly took charge, rang the police etc. Thank you! You left your number on that piece of paper with all the details on and I will be in touch to thank you properly.
Anyway, bundled into the ambulance and after several hours, a number of x rays and a CT scan it was deemed my collarbone is not broken and none of the blood vessels were damaged - the doc said if I'd hit the edge of the door higher up on my neck I could have been killed, which is terrifying because it was such a slow accident! So aside from lots of pains - keep finding new bruises and grazes, and some fantastic bruising on my collarbone/shoulder I got off pretty lightly. The only thing that will need treatment is my tooth - went to the dentist yesterday and they capped the nerve for now but will need to have the nerve removed, the tooth filled and a crown fitted. Will probably be in the region of £200 (NHS) or £400 (private) - I'm favouring the private route just because of the cosmetic finish - its the top right tooth, the second one along from the very front one, so very noticeable and i have very distinctively shaped teeth (very rounded) so I want a crown that will match my current gnashers and the dentist said he can't guarantee that with the NHS route. The actual clinical treatment is no different though, its just where the crown gets made that makes the difference.
So I'm not sure where I stand with getting my dental treatment paid for - it was a passenger who opened the door, not the driver and the police woman who attended wasn't sure whether they would be covered by the driver's insurance. Also where do I stand on getting the private treatment paid for? Can I only claim for the least expensive route? My bike is at the shop being checked over but to be honest it looked fine - I can't really remember the impact but I don't think it really got hit by anything. The wheels might be out of true and the brakes might have taken a beating and my bar tape was all scuffed and ripped but I think it's probably fundamentally completely fine, will see what the professionals say at any rate. I feel like I've got off very lightly, could very easily have broken bones and/or ruptured some major blood vessels - the doc said the edge of the car door is like a knife and it's better to hit the flat of the door if you're going to hit it, I didn't have much choice mind!
Otherwise, aside from rejoining CTC (have let my membership lapse) and speaking with their legal bods, is there anything else I should be doing? I haven't photographed my injuries yet but plan to do so later today (I have a candid shot from hospital showing my new pirate's grin and you can just about see the swelling and abrasion of my shoulder...)
Anyway, yes, I didn't want to become more active on the board in this manner! Been cycling for years and this is my first incident - usually so careful about filtering and am aware of the door zone.....Just one of those things I suppose! Any advice etc. would be very very welcome -
Thanks,
az
for impeding a public highway according to the insurance . I hope that helps with your claim .
