I got hit by a car. Bike totaled.
Thread started by
TheDude at 10.2.08 - 5:22 pm
After LACM and the Peoples Ride friday the 26th of sept., I got hit by a car from behind.
Many of you may have heard of it, Eddie and a few others on here were very concerned for me.
I got hit from behind by (what I am told, I saw nothing) a late 80's early 90's white two door honda. I was knocked to the street, hit my head, and passed out. I was in the street waiting for the ambulance for nearly 20 minutes, passed out and bleeding from my head. Eddie tells me I was twitching and moving around as I lay in the street passed out.
The ambulance took me to LA county hopital, where I was treated for road rash, a pretty bad concussion, and recieved 5 staples in my head. They took 4 X-rays of my body and a CT scan of my head. I went to the hospital around 2:00 AM saturday, and did not get out until 2:30 PM saturday. Over 36 hours with only a 2 hour nap in the E.R. bed.
I take road saftey very, very seriously. I had 4 seperate lights on my bike, one VERY bright 10 led blinker on the seat post, one solid 5 led on the seat bag (right above the other light) and blinking bar end lights in the hole of each side of my drop bars. 17 LEDs, a silver and yellow frame, and a light blue backpack, and I still got hit.
I took the bike to my bike shop, and they noticed that my LeMond has 3 cracks in the frame welds, making my bike a total loss. The seat stay welds are both cracked, and so is the left dropout. Both of my Ultegra shifters wont shift anymore, making them useless as well. The carbon fork might be good still, but riding anything carbon after a crash is a bad idea usually. Both of my water bottles are missing, so is my 5 LED light that was on my seat bag. My cycling computer is trash.
The only thing left of my precious $2000 LeMond Sarthe road bike is the aluminum handlebars, and a front wheel...... It really breaks my heart.
However, I am healing well, and I don't have any permanent damage. My back is very sore, but I am hoping that will heal in time, and not be permanent.
I want to thank Eddie for showing such deep and real concern for my well being. You are one hell of a good guy in my book.
I want to thank Sarah for taking my bike when they took me to the hospital. We just met that night, but you were very good to me, and you even gave me some money to help pay for medical bills and bike stuff when I came to pick up my bike.
Thank you Alfredo, I'm gonna get you my email address, and we will hang out soon. We need to get a beer and a burger.
Fananu, you asked if there was anyone I needed to call before I went to the hopital. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I had you call my girlfriend, and she came down to the hospital to be by my bedside. That was a very thoughtful thing to do, and I really, really appreciate it. She was freaked out as hell, but wanted to thank you also.
There are so many others to thank, but this post is getting really long. If anyone else was involved, please speak up. I want to thank you with a beer and a home cooked meal when I get better.
Wear a helemt, riding bikes can be dangerous. I wasn't drunk, I wasn't at fault, and I had no chance to react to protect myself. I could have lost my life that night because I wans't wearing a helmet. I could have walked away fromt his with a totaled bike and a few severe bruises, but now I have over $6,000 in medical bills, all because I wasn't wearing a helmet.
Don't make the same mistake as me. Don't become a statistic.
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wow that is a fucking bike total if i've ever seen one.
glad you're still here.
ijunes10.2.08 - 5:27 pm
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dude im glad to hear that your doing okay! sorry about the bike though. i think the most important thing is that your okay and you walked away without any serious injuries.
and im glad i was able to call someone for you. ridazz watch out for eachother! heal up and i know i'll see you back on a bike soon!
funanu10.2.08 - 5:29 pm
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You have $6,000 in medical bills because we have such a shitty health care system, not because you weren't wearing a helmet!!
It is tragic what happened to your beautiful Lemond. No one caught the license plate number? You are in a terrific position for a lawsuit.
onelessfixie10.2.08 - 5:32 pm
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what size frame do you need? i have that wheelset on an old trek road bike at my parents house. 63cm.
ruinedbyidiots10.2.08 - 5:49 pm
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You're really lucky you're OK. Just a tweak to the physics of it all and you could have been a goner. And as you say, yet another case to wear helmets. I know its dorky on our big rides to wear one, but accidents are just as likely to happen there than on our daily commutes.
0gravity10.2.08 - 5:57 pm
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whoa.
sorry dude. but like everyones been saying- really really really glad to hear that you are ok. its a hard loss on a bike but your well being is much much more precious.
much love and light
moondance10.2.08 - 6:02 pm
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I ride a 53/54 frame size.
The lemond was a "53" but measured more like 54.5, and it just barely fit me.
TheDude10.2.08 - 6:02 pm
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jesus EFFING christ. Fucking people don't understand that driving a car is like controlling a 3000 pound weapon. UGHHHHHH.
I'm glad you're alive! And hope all goes well with your bills. If you make under a certain amount of income, you might qualify for county help. They have charities for people brought to hospitals involuntarily.
Hope this helps!
richtotheie10.2.08 - 6:05 pm
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Holy crap! I'm soooo glad that you're okay!!! So, the car did not stop, is that right? What is WRONG with people???
It really sucks about your bike... but at least all that's totaled are things that can be replaced.
This kinda got me thinking about another aspect of the health care system (if you can call it that) here. I know I'm always going on about Canada, and the importance of universal health care, etc... but I just realized that BECAUSE people get fucked with hospital bills here, people are able to sue one another for such bills. Do you think that's the reason there are so many hit and runs? It's not so much that people don't care, but more so that they don't want to be financially fucked over by hospitals for the rest of their lives? Argh! This alienating mind fuck of a system perpetuates selfish behavior. I'm convinced. If social welfare was a priority here, and everyone had a right to health... things would be different.
canadienne10.2.08 - 6:43 pm
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it stimulates the economy because people have to hire attorneys and all that shit.
ruinedbyidiots10.2.08 - 6:47 pm
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My condolences, hope you get better and are able to take care of the costs.
+1 canadienne as far as healthcare. It's a scandal that well-being is not considered a right in this country despite the vast wealth it commands.
I'm horrified to hear that you got hit by behind despite all precautions. I tell myself that it's exceedingly rare to get hit like that, but it happens.
Everyone be safe out there.
cabhauler10.2.08 - 7:20 pm
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I'm probably going to get alot of shit for this, but I'm thinking the perp must've either been a three-striker, or an illegal.
Usually when they get into an incident that involves someone getting seriously injured, their train of thought is, "I'm not going back to prison/getting deported for this."
Hence, running off and disappearing into the night.
That's why their keys have to be taken away, or someone armed with a camera, pen/paper,.etc, has to jot down that plate # and call it in as a rape, or attempted kidnapping, just to get LE on it alot quicker.
I mean, how long before they do it again and think they'll get away with it?
bentstrider10.2.08 - 7:26 pm
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Holy shit man! This is the kinda stuff that freaks me out about riding all the time! I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I hope that guy crashes into a fucking tree!!!!
Get better soon, man!
ShortGear10.2.08 - 7:37 pm
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dude i am so glad you are alive. i was in a similar accident without a helmet and landed on my head but i walked away without even a concussion and only a few tiny stitches. it's crazy that it takes such an accident to convince ourselves of the importance of helmets. i wear mine now all the time. it upsets me when people don't wear them, but i understand where they are coming from. you don't know until it happens to you.
mine was a hit and run also but i was able to claim the uninsured motorist money on my car insurance policy. if you have it, you should claim it.
my medical bills were $50,000 but luckily i had insurance. but because i got a settlement (only up to $15,000 is what i had on my policy) i had to pay back $5,000 to my insurance company, but i still ended up with $6,200.
i'm so sorry about the bike, but i'm so glad you are alive. it is an experience that will change your life forever. it made me want to ride more and the ridazz that helped me out really made an impression- i love this community.
rest and heal fast. my thoughts are with you!
also the government has a system that allows people to claim money for injuries like yours. something called the victims fund. i'm sorry i don't have a link but you can google it.
tomato10.2.08 - 8:31 pm
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I talked to the lawyers at my work...they said first off file a police report...then get a PI (Personal Injury) Attorney...
here is the direct comment "He needs to get an attorney to represent him in a PI case. Is he going for treatment? Usually, PI attorney's will take a case on a contingency."
hope this helps
MOM_RIDAZ42010.3.08 - 11:25 am
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do you have an attorney cuz i can hook you up...my grandma is an attorney..she works in DTLA
MOM_RIDAZ42010.3.08 - 11:30 am
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Wow. I'm so sorry to hear this. Thank goodness youre okay and moving your joints. Hamsa Hamsa
Coe coe buttaa10.3.08 - 11:36 am
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the laywer i used is in santa monica. his name is david olan and some people said bad things about him on this forum but he was cool and helped me out. my chiropractor recommended him and i'm glad he did.
tomato10.3.08 - 12:02 pm
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Hey Buddy! I have your water bottles. Also, do you know that the car left behind their side view mirror? I gave it to the cops and asked them if they could get some kind of number off of it and they said they could. So, you should get in contact witht them and ask them what's up with that. You're bottles are in safe keeping at my apartment when you want them. feel better, not "soon" but NOW!
-Lauren
ZombiesGotMyTongue10.3.08 - 4:49 pm
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