Wipeout Part 2 - Car got me!

[lejogger]

This is getting silly. No incidents in 3 years and now 2 in consecutive days and consecutive commutes.

After the skiddy corner yesterday, the incident today involved me travelling at probably somewhere close to 30mph on a slight descent. Car creeps out of a side road to cut across to the train station opposite. Sees me... decides to go. Gets a quarter of the way out, stops then tries to reverse... then stops. Bang.

I was pumping the brakes, but the surface was just so wet I couldn't stop in time. Fortunately I had nearly stopped so the even though the impact put the bike down and took the chain off, my body hit the car but I fortunately managed to stay on my feet.

Credit to the driver, he got out, immediately acknowledged that the incident was 100% his fault and checked if I was ok. I'm also thankful to the couple who stopped their car to check I was alright.

It was probably the shock, but I waved everyone away and got back on with the commute. What should I have done differently (if anything)?

- taken his details?
- taken witness details?
- taken a couple of minutes to get my head together?

or seeing as it was a minor incident is all that unnecessary? It's only now that I'm wondering whether I may have damaged my front wheel etc

 

[Ross K]

Bloody hell, mate, that's pretty bad luck. Hope you suffered no further damage. It's funny how your instinctive reaction is to get back on and keep riding. In hindsight it would be a bugger if you find your wheel needs fixing as it sounds like the driver was the kind of guy that would have done the right thing.

 

[cloggsy]

It was probably the shock, but I waved everyone away and got back on with the commute. What should I have done differently (if anything)?

- taken his details?
- taken witness details?
- taken a couple of minutes to get my head together?

or seeing as it was a minor incident is all that unnecessary? It's only now that I'm wondering whether I may have damaged my front wheel etc

Yes, yes and yes...

Hope you and your bike are OK?

 

[lejogger]

Thanks Cloggsy, I haven't had time to check the bike thoroughly, but the impact wasn't as big as it could have been, so I'm hoping to have got away with it. To be honest, the incident where I went down yesterday with no other traffic involvement shook me up more.

Ross... guess what?! This one did happen in slow motion! I was on the brakes sliding towards the car thinking "I'm going to stop, I'm going to stop"... but I didn't!!

 

[fossyant]

Certainly take a minute or two to get your bearings and think straight - also stops you getting worked up.

Details certainly, just in case. With luck nothing will be damaged.

 

[Jezston]

Yikes. Still waiting on the (inevitable?) first collision.

Guessing if the bike was rideable afterwards its not irrepairably damaged?

 

[lejogger]

Certainly take a minute or two to get your bearings and think straight - also stops you getting worked up.

Details certainly, just in case. With luck nothing will be damaged.

I remember my immediate reaction being one of obvious frustration, and I think if the driver hadn't been so quick to take responsibilty I may have got a little worked up, but he put me on the back foot really by actually dealing with the situation so well!!

It doesn't help either when you know you're the centre of attention in the middle of a junction, clearly holding up traffic and you'd rather just cause minimul fuss and carry on.

 

[fossyant]

From experience, it's really necessary to exchange details, just in case. You never know.

I was up from my accident, we exchanged details, and I was able to ride home. I contacted the driver, apologised for my swearing at the time, but getting run over by a car hurts, then said I was OK, but very sore.

Anyway, found out my shoulder wasn't OK, solicitors involved, fault of driver admitted, but the legals and medical messing is still going on 3 years later - as well as an operation and permanent nerve damage.

Unfortunately, that great stuff called 'addrenaline' has the 'effect' of blocking pain - so you get up and carry on. Not till it wears off do you go 'ouch'.

I hope you and the bike are OK.

 

[John the Monkey]

It was probably the shock, but I waved everyone away and got back on with the commute. What should I have done differently (if anything)?

- taken his details?
- taken witness details?
- taken a couple of minutes to get my head together?

All of the above.

Also, ask the witness to write down what they saw as soon as they're able to (memory is a surprisingly malleable thing).

Adrenaline takes the edge off things to a surprising degree, and injuries that felt like nothing at the time can sometimes end up putting you off the bike for long periods. As you say yourself, you can end up with damage to the bike that you didn't notice at first too.

Take the details, ask the questions - if you don't need them, you can always bin 'em, innit.

 

[benb]

All of the above.

Also, ask the witness to write down what they saw as soon as they're able to (memory is a surprisingly malleable thing).

Adrenaline takes the edge off things to a surprising degree, and injuries that felt like nothing at the time can sometimes end up putting you off the bike for long periods. As you say yourself, you can end up with damage to the bike that you didn't notice at first too.

Take the details, ask the questions - if you don't need them, you can always bin 'em, innit.

^ this. It's better to have something and not need it, than the other way around.

 

[John the Monkey]

^ this. It's better to have something and not need it, than the other way around.

Aye. I carry a notebook & pencil with those (pretty much) written on the inside cover as a checklist (once the adrenaline's going, it's really easy to forget it all.

I've used it for giving my details as a witness a couple of times too.

 

[benb]

Aye. I carry a notebook & pencil with those (pretty much) written on the inside cover as a checklist (once the adrenaline's going, it's really easy to forget it all.

I've used it for giving my details as a witness a couple of times too.

That's a good idea.

 

[Camgreen]

Easy to be wise after the event I know, but agree with other posts suggesting taking down driver details and those of witnesses. It's a harsh fact of life, but in the cold light of day what's to stop the driver turning the tables and saying you collided with him and seeking compensation for his damages (presume you'll have left him with a few nasty dents?). As already pointed out, you might suffer a reaction from the accident at a later date and of course the bike might need looking at too; the costs of which at this point are going to have to be met by you, and that isn't really fair is it?

 

[John the Monkey]

Easy to be wise after the event I know, but agree with other posts suggesting taking down driver details and those of witnesses. It's a harsh fact of life, but in the cold light of day what's to stop the driver turning the tables and saying you collided with him and seeking compensation for his damages (presume you'll have left him with a few nasty dents?).

IME, it's far more likely that they promise to pay for any damage, and then get second thoughts when they find out it won't be in the region of £20 to replace your shifters/front wheel &c.

 

[Camgreen]

IME, it's far more likely that they promise to pay for any damage, and then get second thoughts when they find out it won't be in the region of £20 to replace your shifters/front wheel &c.

Either way, you run the risk of footing medical and repair bills.