Accident on my bike

[n0c]

So I was riding my bike home from summer school yesterday, been doing it for about a month, couple times/week, when suddenly a parked Benz opened it's driver's door. I had NO time to react, couldn't even say 'oh ****' in my head. I hit it coming down a steep avenue probably doing 15mph. I went flying over my handle bar, flipped, on to the ground on my back with my feet going forward. So I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Fortunately, I had a lucky fall or else it EASILY could have been ALOT worse as I was not wearing a helmet (ordered a helmet two weeks ago but it's backordered sad.gif). No head injuries so I really lucked out. My backpack saved me from most of the road rash and my gloves helped too. I did get a gash on my left lower back near my hips, road rash on my elbows and a fractured right pinky. I have to see a hand doctor to get my pinky fixed. My whole back and left hip is really sore. So all in all, I am EXTREMELY lucky to be here typing this. The doctors and nurses at the emergency were great.

So don't be an idiot like me, wear a helmet/protective when you ride a bike. Buy a hemet at a local bike store asap. And open your doors with care.

So now what do I need to do? Contact the driver's insurance company? Get a lawyer? Never been in a bike accident. The guys insurance will cover my medical? What would you guys do now? I am thinking about going to a lawyer after I get the Police report tomorrow.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/n0c/bikecrash.jpg

[evan938]

did you get their auto insurance info? dont go to a lawyer unless you get dicked around....when my sister was younger (like 11 or so) she was riding her bike and someone at a stop light went up a little bit while she was crossing the intersection, knocking her off her bike. it wasn't like she hit the hood or anything, it just tipped her over, she got a couple small cuts...the drivers insurance company ended up giving her 2,000$ to i guess "settle" the claim.

[n0c]

I was writhing in pain and the ambulance took me away quickly so I didn't get his info. A Police car was like 2 blocks away so they came in less then 2 mins and did write a report and took my statement at the hospital. Going to get the Police report tomorrow so his info should be on it.

[mtlelantra]

Well, up here, if someone opens their door without checking, it's their fault... Insurance co. will probably dick around some lowball figure, and chances are you'll need a lawyer to sue the insurance co. Get a lawyer on contingency only... they'll get 50% of the winnings and only get paid if they win. Don't go for %+fees e.g.~30%+service fees, where they charge $0.50 per page photocopying + $100/hr labor plus crap like that. If you don't win they won't get the 30% but you'll still be on the hook for fees.
My buddy got t-boned on his motorcycle. Broken leg, cracked kneebone, misc other injuries, including nerve damage to his leg around the knee that had the cracked kneebone... He had to be off his feet for a month, plus physio many times a week...
Here's the kicker- he was in grad school with me at the time working in a lab, so got our advisor to write a letter to his lawyer saying that the injury would delay him from finishing his degree by several months since he couldn't stand and work in the lab, and since there was such a high market demand for people with his training after finishing, and since he was a strong student, he would lose out on potential earnings for those months, plus have to pay extra tuition, rent, food, expenses etc...
Let's just say he got pretty good coin... Mind you, I'd hate to have gone through his injury to get it, but pretty good coin indeed.

[Mr. Dan]

I got hit by a taxi here a few years back. My helmet saved my life. You should have seen the thing after the accident. Scratched, broken and had two deep punctures in it. That would have been my head. :)

[CTele02]

Glad youre able to be here to tell us about it! Good luck!

[BlackElantraGT]

Great to hear that you're at least ok Noc. I hope everything works out in your favor.

I don't mean to laugh about the incident, but I found the drawing to be funny.

[SuperGLS]

I too am glad you are OK and also agree that drawings like these are always appreciated.

[03SilverBullet]

Hows the door on the benz?

[n0c]

Don't know but probably not too bad, I probabaly messed up his door panels or something.

Glad u guys like the drawing. :D

[hatda02]

Glad to hear you're okay. I've been riding for over 10 years and finally took my safety class last year so I'm officially licensed and now I can ride without a helmet if I wanted to. But I'll never do it and it is for the exact reason what happened to you. It always seems to be that other careless person not looking out for the person on the bike.

Make sure you get the police report. It should have the other person's insurance information. Keep detailed information on what has happened to you - time lost (work, school...etc), money lost (hospital bills, repairs to your bike, clothing you had on...etc), pain you were in and anything else you can think of.

Once you are out of the woods as far as pain and injuries, most lawyers will give you a consult for free and tell you what you could expect out of your claim. At that point you walk out the door. I'm pretty confident that persons insurance company will be willing to make you an offer to keep things out of court (if they know it is their fault). You can then compare what they offered to what the lawyer thinks you can get. I really feel most lawyers are crooks, but they are experienced with what you can get.

Remember, don't settle too early. You never know when an injury will creep up a week or two from now and it won't be covered. Plus the waiting lets the other company sweat it out a little.

Just my thoughts from what I have seen and been through recently.

[n0c]

Thx for the advice guys.

Tomorrow I will get surgery to fix my pinky, then off to the lawyer.

Anyone know how long it takes to get the police report. Been 2 days and they still haven't got a accident number for me.

[SLVR2003]

:confused: OK so the title says "bike" but I think some are confused as to what you mean by "bike". I guessed bicycle because you said there wasn't much damage done to the car except the door panel and also because of the drawing but that could just be your artistic skills.
Is it Bike as in a bicycle or Bike as in Motorbike/Motorcycle? :confused:

Glad to hear you're okay. I've been riding for over 10 years and finally took my safety class last year so I'm officially licensed and now I can ride without a helmet if I wanted to. But I'll never do it and it is for the exact reason what happened to you. It always seems to be that other careless person not looking out for the person on the bike.

[n0c]

Bicycle. :D

[badger]

i used to ride a lot, and made a habit of looking into parked cars ahead of me. if there was someone in the driver's seat, i pretty much assumed they were going to open the door.

[FordFasteRR]

What happened to you is referred to as being " doored ".

I am glad you are ok, and you are lucky to be alive considering you didn't wear a helmet + you smashed into a car door and then into the ground at a good rate of speed...

I hope you heal up nice, call the cops and get the report ASAP. without it you have no claim at all !

[n0c]

Thx man. Yea I am EXTREMELY lucky to suffer only minor injuries. I had some minor surgery done on friday and the nurse (experienced cyclist) was telling me that a doctor at the hospital was killed just that week by a tow truck while riding his bike on a bike path (no cars only bikes, rollers, and peds). There was a tow yard nearby. In fact I think 3 cyclist died that week according to the news.

As for accident report, I consulted with a lawyer and he is taking care of all paper work. Maybe I should get a copy of my accident report just to be safe. Hard to trust lawyers lol.