TrevorInSoCal
04-01-2004, 09:45 PM
Got tagged tonight on my commute home.
We don't get much rain in SoCal, but when it comes it doesn't mess around, and CA drivers are totally clueless in the rain. Riding through the downpour (in my oh-so-stylish, improvised, trash-bag raingear.) on the way home tonight, only about 10 minutes from home, I smacked into a car that pulled out in front of me.
I was in the right-hand portion of the lane on a pretty busy 4-lane street and he was at a stop sign on a small cross street. I had my headlight on my handlebars, but he claimed he didn't see me and pulled out right in front of me. I didn't have time to brake, and in this case I think the fact that I was on a fixie (front brake equipped) was actually to my advantage. Had I been on a freewheeled bike I don't even think I would've had time to get to the brakes, and probably would have hit the carsquare-on at a lot higher rate of speed, doing more damage to my bike (totalled front wheel and fork at the very least, very possibly frame damage as well). As it was I saw him start to go and instinctively beckpedaled and went into skid, unfortunately there wasn't enough space to stop, but I did manage to scrub off a lot of speed before I came into contact with the car. I was sideways and impacted the car with my handlebar, right shoulder, and hand. Busted the driver-side window and got a few small cuts on my arm, but mostly bruising in my shoulder from the impact with the car. After hitting I bounced off and fell over to my left.
Surprisingly enough the guy actually stopped, as did another couple who were very helpful. They got his and my info and exchanged that for me, and also gave me a ride home.. As far as I can tell there's very little damage to my bike other then a possibly bent handlebar, and a scratch on the left chainstay where I fell over.
Should I report this? Being that I was technically "hurt" I probably shouldn't even have left the scene w/o calling cops, but I was freezing my a** off and just wanted to get home to a hot shower and a handful of ibuprofen.
I just want the guy to pay for my new handlebars (if, in fact, they're bent, I've yet to inspect them, closely. They could just appear bent because the dummy-hood twisted on the bar.) and a new light. I had a $30 LED light on there and the bars were nothing terribly fancy (Ritchey Biomax Pro) so he's probably looking at less than $100.
What's the best way to handle this? Should I call the guy and try to do the nice thing and give him a chance to pay without getting insurance involved, or simply contact his insurance company?
-Trevor
We don't get much rain in SoCal, but when it comes it doesn't mess around, and CA drivers are totally clueless in the rain. Riding through the downpour (in my oh-so-stylish, improvised, trash-bag raingear.) on the way home tonight, only about 10 minutes from home, I smacked into a car that pulled out in front of me.
I was in the right-hand portion of the lane on a pretty busy 4-lane street and he was at a stop sign on a small cross street. I had my headlight on my handlebars, but he claimed he didn't see me and pulled out right in front of me. I didn't have time to brake, and in this case I think the fact that I was on a fixie (front brake equipped) was actually to my advantage. Had I been on a freewheeled bike I don't even think I would've had time to get to the brakes, and probably would have hit the carsquare-on at a lot higher rate of speed, doing more damage to my bike (totalled front wheel and fork at the very least, very possibly frame damage as well). As it was I saw him start to go and instinctively beckpedaled and went into skid, unfortunately there wasn't enough space to stop, but I did manage to scrub off a lot of speed before I came into contact with the car. I was sideways and impacted the car with my handlebar, right shoulder, and hand. Busted the driver-side window and got a few small cuts on my arm, but mostly bruising in my shoulder from the impact with the car. After hitting I bounced off and fell over to my left.
Surprisingly enough the guy actually stopped, as did another couple who were very helpful. They got his and my info and exchanged that for me, and also gave me a ride home.. As far as I can tell there's very little damage to my bike other then a possibly bent handlebar, and a scratch on the left chainstay where I fell over.
Should I report this? Being that I was technically "hurt" I probably shouldn't even have left the scene w/o calling cops, but I was freezing my a** off and just wanted to get home to a hot shower and a handful of ibuprofen.
I just want the guy to pay for my new handlebars (if, in fact, they're bent, I've yet to inspect them, closely. They could just appear bent because the dummy-hood twisted on the bar.) and a new light. I had a $30 LED light on there and the bars were nothing terribly fancy (Ritchey Biomax Pro) so he's probably looking at less than $100.
What's the best way to handle this? Should I call the guy and try to do the nice thing and give him a chance to pay without getting insurance involved, or simply contact his insurance company?
-Trevor