I got hit by a car today
Thread started by
HappyLand at 04.1.09 - 5:35 pm
It suuucked. I was going straight, light was green, wasn't a right turn only lane, no signal, no warning, and bam! Sideswiped me!
I'm okay. Just some scrapes and a busted ego cause I totally blanked and did not get the insurance info. The driver stopped and everything and was super apologetic. I was just dumb.
Bike is mostly okay but dammit, I am pretty much definitely gonna have to get a new rear wheel because it's bent pretty badly.
Bike is at I Martin right now getting looked at to see what else might be wrong (Hopefully nothing else).
My dad has spare (really nice) 700s, but they're for 7 gears and mine is 8. Can that work?
And btw, I Martin has ruled every time I've gone in there, and if you're in the area, I'd check em out. Accident happened at lunch close enough for me to limp to the shop, and the dude spent some time truing my wheel and locking everything up free of charge so I could ride back to work.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS GET THE INSURANCE INFO EVEN IF EVERYTHING SEEMS ALL RIGHT.
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Yeah.... I wasn't thinking. I was so fucking startled.
HappyLand04.1.09 - 5:43 pm
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Good to hear you're ok.
What would you have done if you were driving and you got hit like this?
User104.1.09 - 5:45 pm
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I was thinking...it might be helpful to post somewhere on the front page like, a step by step of what to do in an accident.
HappyLand04.1.09 - 5:47 pm
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do you have any info on the driver?
coldcut04.1.09 - 5:50 pm
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I probs would have gone through the proper procedure. I really don't know why it didn't occur to me. Like, why should it be any different on a bike? I've certainly learned my lesson. As I've been sharing my story, I've learned that people made the similar mistake, so I kind of feel like...I dunno, like I want to help educate people now!
HappyLand04.1.09 - 5:50 pm
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@ coldcut
No I don't other than it was a newer red pickup truck and the dude is 24 (He thought I was a kid).
HappyLand04.1.09 - 5:52 pm
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Yeah you're definitely not the first one to blow it off in an accident. I don't know what it's going to take, but it just makes the bicyclist look expendable out on the road.
You're ok?
User104.1.09 - 6:10 pm
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This happened to me once while riding in front of some apartments down the street from where I used to live.
I got the same feeling of being too startled, or in this case, dazed to ask any questions or obtain info.
In this case, I do remember the driver on the verge of tears and myself telling him to toss the wreckage in his backseat and drive me home.
bentstrider04.1.09 - 7:41 pm
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This must be some sort of thing like a battered wife complex...I was hit on a crosswalk at a stop sign in Santa Monica and the driver rolled right into me and swallowed my bike and I was knocked off. Not my fault in any possible way.
I looked at the driver and she was pretty so I got all flustered and pulled my bike out from under her car. She looked horrified so she opened her door and I was like "Are you ok are you ok?" and she nodded her head yes and I was like "I think I fucked up your license plate." and she was like
"I hit YOU!
I was like, "your ok though..?"
I'm a dumbass, she probably had a rich daddy.
damn.
I rolled away on a crooked bike. But it was like everyone else was sayin..I was too flustered to treat the incident like car on car accident.
Hair04.1.09 - 8:01 pm
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"My dad has spare (really nice) 700s, but they're for 7 gears and mine is 8. Can that work? "
Maybe. You can probably reset the limit screws on your rear derailer so it only shifts within the 7 gear range. Just remember to reset them again when you go back to an 8 gear rear wheel.
JB04.1.09 - 8:04 pm
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@Jazzy Phat Nastee
Which definition of "homely?"
There are several, and not all positive!
adj., -li·er, -li·est.
1. Not attractive or good-looking: a homely child.
2. Lacking elegance or refinement: homely furniture.
3. Of a simple or unpretentious nature; plain: homely truths.
4. Characteristic of the home or of home life: homely skills.
homeliness home'li·ness n.
@ everyone else
Thanks for sharing your stories. I've been really pissed off at myself all day and it's good to know I am not alone, especially since I see some names in there that I've come to really respect on this board.
I do, however, want to start like, educating people on this, you know?
HappyLand04.1.09 - 8:30 pm
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I have been hit 4 times by cars over the years. None of them my fault.
The first two times, I just dusted myself off and rode away, on wobbly wheels and in a condition of mild shock.
When you are hit, you are the worst advocate for yourself. You're in shock and maybe injured.
The last time I was hit, I was really dingy. I was feeling OK, and about to say I was alright when a cop (someone called 'em) realized I had blacked out while sitting on the curb and insisted I be taken to a hospital. You really need someone (who's on your side) to speak for you.
Anyway, it's vital that you get the driver's info, even if you think you are OK and your bike isn't damaged.
Creative Thing04.1.09 - 9:45 pm
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I meant to imply that despite everything you have on your site it's still very simplistic and doesn't bombard you with all sorts of images and links and such things.
It's very comfortable, and the writing blends itself with the rest of the site.
Jazzy Phat Nastee04.1.09 - 9:49 pm
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Sorry to hear about your bad experience today. (also sorry about USER1's left handed brow beating).
Most importantly Glad you are ok. Don't beat yourself up over this. Thanks for sharing and trying to make everybody conscious of what to do in this situation. You sound like a great person from everything you written on this post.
sexy04.1.09 - 10:30 pm
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Oh, I just checked out your profile. By the looks of your writings and your pictures, you look like a very pretty girl who exudes elegance while dealing with your complexities.
sexy04.1.09 - 10:37 pm
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P.I.D. for your life indeed.
Riders need a checklist and a plan BEFORE an accident.
I've been in quite a few bike and motorcycle accidents.
It's amazing the instinct to pick up your bike and f*#k off.
We all do it unless we stop ourselves and follow a game-plan.
Call 911. Get the INSURANCE and DRIVERS INFO no matter what!
I've even had people try to refuse to provide that info at first.
One key point here:
IN LOS ANGELES, YOU DON'T GET A TRAFFIC REPORT WITHOUT THE AMBULANCE SHOWING UP ON THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
Everyone got that? Tell them you got hit by a car on your freakin bike.
YES you are hurt. YES you want an ambulance to be sent.
This will force an lapd car to go and write a report.
Otherwise you got NOTHING.. and I mean it.
You don't have to go with the EMTs.
But' you'll be glad they checked you out.
HappyLand: Glad you are okay and learning (a lot) from this.
Be safe out there my lizards.
adamthelizard04.2.09 - 12:06 am
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I am so happy with the discussion that this is generating! I hope that others may learn from me so that if faced with this situation, they will react more wisely than I did. If I can educate someone, then all is not lost.
Tremendous thank you to all of you for your comfort and your words of wisdom and advice. This is a wonderful community.
And omigoodness! Thank you sexy and Jazzy Phat Nastee for the compliments!
Hope I get to meet you all on one ride or another! Just look for the pink and red Dawes roadie or the blue and silver Gary Fisher mtb!
HappyLand04.2.09 - 1:09 am
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Hey HappyLand,
Hope you're better today.
Does your pops want to sell those wheels if you're not going to use them? I may have something to trade if there's something you're looking for.
User104.2.09 - 6:04 pm
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@ User1
I was singing your praise in another thread, did you see that?
I don't think my dad would be willing to sell them. He has this really nice steel Italian roadie and the different wheels were for different riding conditions (Yeah, he was THAT into it)...and giving them to me would be a father-daughter thing, you know?
HappyLand04.2.09 - 6:30 pm
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Hey Happyland,
Yes I saw you gave me props in another thread. Thanks, I'm very appreciative of that. It's always nice to have another supporter. I can only hope that I'm as worthy towards you.
For the record I wasn't trying to chastise you for what happened to you. I was just trying to make a point. If there's ever any contact, you have a legitimate reason to file a report and make a claim.
I understand your father wanting to keep the wheels in the family. I was just giving it a try. I wouldn't mind seeing this Italian classic, as I'm into Italian classics myself. So feel free to start a thread called Italian classics with your father's bike posted.
Hope to meet you one day.
User104.2.09 - 7:57 pm
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@ User1
Oh, don't worry. I never felt chastised. I've learned my lesson. Unfortunately, I learned it the hard way, but I hope I can teach it to others the gentle way.
Yeah, when I go to my parents' house this weekend, I'll snap some photos of the bike. I've been meaning to. It's a very purty bike!
HappyLand04.2.09 - 8:03 pm
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