Another one bites the dust...

[EPOJoe]

So my brother Rich (occasional poster here under the pseudonym of Saxon) and I start out for a late ride last Saturday. Little did we know, the dreaded “little old lady” was out there waiting for us in her big, domestic sedan. About four miles into the ride (so we didn’t even get the ride in!) the aforementioned woman pulls suddenly in front of my bro, causing him to slam his breaks, hit the car and somersault into the air, with his beautiful, limited edition “Lance” Pnuemo cracking against the car’s side door, and his shoulders breaking the passenger window glass. The woman never stopped during the collision, so he was bounced and twisted around a bit before contacting the concrete. She claims to have never seen him, as she had just had neck surgery, and “couldn’t turn her head to look”. As I peeled him off the road, the first words out of his mouth were “how’s the bike”. An ambulance ride and hospital visit later, it turns out that he was pretty lucky, with nothing broken; just big time bruising and road rash. He’s hobbling around with the help of a walker right now, but we have no reason to doubt he’ll make a full recovery. The worst part is, as Len J had said in a previous post, that since this wasn’t the result of some mistake the rider made, and there’s no way to say “well, if I take this corrective action, this can’t happen again”, psychologically, it’s going to be a ***** jumping back into traffic on a bike. Yet another problem is that Sax was on his Trek OCLV at the time, which slammed against the side of the car, but didn’t suffer any external signs of damage, aside from a bent wheel. Now we don’t know if there’s any significant structural weakening of the frame that's hidden, and you can damn well bet that no insurance company is going to pay for damage they can’t visibly see. Thirty years of riding without an accident. I suppose it was bound to happen eventually...

And, for purely clinical purposes, I now present Saxon's pain in the butt...

[BURCH]

Oh man that is terrible. Sorry to hear that. If he is gun shy after recovering, maybe get out on the mountain bikes (if that is an option). No cars out there!

As far as the frame, definately take it back to the lbs for a professional opinion.

Hope he feels better.

[dsimon]

:bike: :D that hurts, reminds me of a few of my numerouse crashes when i was learning to ride and on a wet road somehow ended up under a car that sucks too

[93legendti]

Trek will x-ray the frame for him and let him know if there is any structural damage...at least Trek used to do it. Trek did it for my OCLV in 1998.

[shinomaster]

YUK!! And I thought I had a chubby butt!! Ha ha...just kidding!!! Sorry to hear of the accident seriously! I hope all the skin grows back soon!!

xxoo Shino :banana: :banana:

[Needs Help]

Well, consider it your civic duty to hire a lawyer and sue her in civil court for enough money, so she can't ever drive again. As part of any settlement, demand that she surrender her license, as well.

[Kevin]

Ouch.

Kevin

[Too Tall]

He is one lucky SOB.

[Bill Bove]

"just had neck surgery so she couldn't turn her head to look"!!! What was doing behind the wheel? I really don't like getting lawyers involved in things BUT they do have a purpose, and this is it. Sue, sue her, sue her kids, sue anybody at her address with the same last name (it can be done). None of us will ever be safe as long as we don't take action when this kind of thing happens. Sorry for the rant but I live in one of the worst states for bike/car accidents so it hits too close to home.

[William]

Hey! What happend to the Porn filters on the forum?? :confused:


Just kidding. ;) OUCH, that looks painfuls. Glad to here he's otherwise ok.


William

[Len J]

and that really was a picture I didn't need to see first thing in the morning.

Sounds like your Bro was lucky.......that kind of hit on a car could easily have broken his Collarbone at a minimum.

At least he wasn't riding a good bike, like a Serotta......Just kidding.

Trek should be able to tell him if the frames OK.

As to the "What else could I do" as it relates to getting back on the bike.......just tell him to take it slow. He'll be OK as long as he doesn't overload.

It is a dangerous hobby......."playing in traffic" as it were........it's part of the cost of being alive I suspect. I concentrate on what I can control, which is mainly my own vigilance.

Good luck to him.

Len

[Kevan]

that's one of the better pictures that's been posted on this forum.

It has always been my theory that if the guy asks about his bike first, then he's going to be okay.

Hmm... I think I'll go to spin class instead today.

[Russell]

What happened, my screen went blank. Oh my God, I'm suffering from hysterical blindness!!!!

[Ozz]

awwwwwwwww maaaaannn! yuck....as stated previously....not the first thing in the morning you want to see. :rolleyes:

Best wishes for speedy recovery and sue her a$$.

[bostondrunk]

Nice ***........I recommend more training though.........
Oh, and who cares if the bike is broken or not, just sue the biatch! Aren't there like 10 lawyers on this forum?! :beer:

[Jeff N.]

Hate to sound like the litigious type, but I don't think there's an lawyer in the country who wouldn't jump all over a case like this! He could have an Ottrott or two hanging in his garage after its all over. Oh...and thanks for the VISUAL!! Jeff N.

[coylifut]

that dude's got the ugliest @ss ever. She does wish for a speedy recovery though

[jeffg]

I got taken out going downhill at about 40 mph (choices were head over the cliff, hit the car coming head-on, or hold the line and pray). That was some harsh road rash, which brought me to the wonders of Duoderm (after two weeks, from legmush where I couldn't walk/sleep for the first few days) to completing a very tough DC with no scabs, just pink new skin wrapped from UV protection. Anyway, I am lawyer and I didn't sue -- I just asked the dude to fix the minor my bike, which he did. Not saying you shouldn't sue, but I was moving and just wanted my frickin bike to be made whole, since I couldn't be made whole anyway unless I got a proverbial pound of flesh from the guy ... ;)

http://www.campyonly.com/images/ride_photos/2003/06-28-03_tt/IMAGE0390.JPG

BTW, it was 118 that day on Skagg's ... not an easy first day back. After being a bit conservative on the first tight descent, I had a good day after that (not a bad pic of the Hampsten either).

[Roy E. Munson]

Looks like a morning after shot from the Neverland Ranch!

[sspielman]

...Sort of gives new meaning to the term "skid mark"....

[pjm]

Looks like a morning after shot from the Neverland Ranch!
Thanks Roy, I needed that laugh this morning! :p

[slowgoing]

I liked Len J's comment, "Man that stinks."

[OldDog]

You guys promised if I donated to the SN team sponsorship I would not have to look at anyone's arse!!!!

Best of luck to your brother.

Sue the driver, this one will never hit the courtroom, insurance company will be glad to settle.

[weisan]

As my kids would say, "That looks really Ou-wee" (sp?). Sorry to hear about your brother's incident, hope he heals well. Another cautionary tale for us all. Be safe.

[cdmc]

Realistically, if your brother doesn't have any lingering injuries, the insurance company will be happy to pay any claimed property damage, no questions asked. I would strongly encourage your brother to wait on signing any releases for personal injury for at least 6 months to be sure he has no latent injuries. Just make sure if he is injured, that he does not miss the statue of limitations to commence an action if the situation is not resolved (1-3 years from the date of injury depending on the state).

The personal injury and property damages can be handled and released seperatedly by the insurance company.

[spiderman]

i can almost hear the scraaape
...and the sounds of ripping flesh...
i'd have to almost say
...i even smell the ripeness of blood
or is that the cautery in my office?!?
the tunnel typist
myopic spidey

[BURCH]

Realistically, if your brother doesn't have any lingering injuries, the insurance company will be happy to pay any claimed property damage, no questions asked. I would strongly encourage your brother to wait on signing any releases for personal injury for at least 6 months to be sure he has no latent injuries. Just make sure if he is injured, that he does not miss the statue of limitations to commence an action if the situation is not resolved (1-3 years from the date of injury depending on the state).

The personal injury and property damages can be handled and released seperatedly by the insurance company.

A friend of mine was hit in Dec '03 in Elicott City and was able to walk away from it. His bike needed new carbon handlebars and he his bibs were destroyed. The insurance company paid for everything to be fixed and gave him $500 for personal injury and to sign a waiver. My buddy, a very honest guy, said he didn't need to get paid to sign a waiver. The insisted and he took the extra cash. He knew that he physically fine so the waiver was not an issue for him, but it goes to show how the insurance companies know that a banged up cyclist could become a skyrocket claim.

The elderly lady that hit him got out of the car and said, "Oh my! This is the second time I have hit a cyclist!"

[Kevan]

"B." sent me this email just minutes ago and I know her to be so good natured she won't mind too much if I share her email with you folk:


-----Original Message-----
From: B
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:21 AM
To: Kevan'
Subject: RE: Serotta

Kevan,
This is a very difficult note for me to write today. Coming on the tail of what you wrote below, you're probably thinking that it has something to do with my not want to be seen associating with people of the steel frame ilk - or perhaps you think I found it very very offensive being called a "volcano hugger" - but no, for these very valid reasons you'd still be wrong. Perhaps you think it's fading fondness for you, one of my oldest and dearest friends but this too would be in error. Are you thinking I'm submerged in red hot lava? Once again dear friend you'd be incorrect.

The reason this is a very difficult note for me to write is that I'm doing it more or less one handed. You see - I got hit by a car yesterday on my way home from work. The scene: Becky flying down the road before a tailwind. Big grin on her face as she's zipping by yards and yard of stopped cars. Thinking 'suckers' you'd be flying too if you rode a bike. Scene shift to 84th and Killingsworth. A car is at a stop sign waiting for a gap in traffic in order to make a right turn. Shift back to Becky approaching the intersection. Picture inner mental dialog along the lines of - this guy is going to pull out and I'm going way too fast to stop or steer around. Slo mo action shot of applying brakes and steering left. Regular speed shot of body slam against the left front fender. Slo mo shot of bicyclist body and bike flying four feet over car - coming to rest twisted together. Overhead setting shot of dozens of shocked motorist staring at scene. Point of view shot of cyclist looking around in extreme pain up at surrounding cars*.

Anyway, lying there I knew I took a major hit. We've all taken tumbles before, I know I have. Funny how accurate your first impression can be. I knew I wouldn't be completing my ride home and I knew I needed to go to the ER. The guy that hit me was really good about the whole thing in that he accepted complete responsibility for the accident. Despite all, that made me feel good about how things were going. Anyway he and his son took me to the ER where I work. So there I am, lying on a gurney seeing all my friends walking by.

Turns out I've got a torn cartilage between the first rib and sternum which explains the huge lump and also a broken collar bone. I know, I know Tyler Hamilton finished the TdeF with a broken clavicle but hey, he was getting paid for riding and I'm becoming a wimp in my dotage. Anyway, I'm sitting here with my right arm in a sling, doped up on vicodin and caffeine and doing all I can to get this note written to you. Once finished I'll re-hook up the life support machines and rest for the rest of the day. You can't believe how much this is taking out of me - but I have to get it done!!! B.

PS - oh and my bike? Seemed to be OK but then I haven't taken a close look at it. When I got back to the hospital, a nurse I work with took it upstairs for me. It was my Tetra-Pro. Also, guess it was time to buy a new helmet anyway. Funny how we tend to think helmet so dopey (especially those of us old enough to recall the millions of hours we rode as kids before they ever invented such a thing) when we first started wearing them - but now I swear to carbon fiber that I swear by the things. Wouldn't leave home without it.

* Funny how cars look so big when you're lying down in the middle of the road.

[lnomalley]

eeek.

[Roy E. Munson]

and while i was healing up from it i got banged by a 72 year-old lady from behind

Strap-on, or very good surgery?

[William]

that dude's got the ugliest @ss ever. She does wish for a speedy recovery though

Aww man, talk about kicking a guy when he's down. :no: :)

Tough crowd.

William

[Saxon]

Thanks for the support, guys! I'll take the verbal hits on my arse cause it's been a long winter (and the ice cream has to go somewhere) and I'm glad I had more padding down there when I hit! I'm not sure what to do legally yet. I'm hoping I'll just be fine and dandy in a month or so, but there are doubts when I need a walker to stand up and walk. The body's doing it's thing, so I'm hoping for the best. Beside running the scene over and over in my head to see how it could have been avoided (can't think of anything yet) I'm put in the position of feeling some responsibility for not doing something about all the dangerous older drivers that I see on the road every day and just say "They're going to kill somebody someday". Something really has to be done but I'm not sure what to do. There needs to be added DMV testing for these people that have no business behind the wheel. I'll write the Governor and see if I can get some action (yeah, right!).
I am thankful that I was on my older OCLV and not my beautiful CSI which was hanging safely in the garage.
Thanks again for the support and if any girls would like a shot of my arse all healed up and in shape, let me know and I'll get you a shot by the end of summer :)
Take care out there!
Rich

[oracle]

maybe you should try selling the photo to some bondage/torture fetish website to help with costs? get well,

oracle

[Bradford]

I’ll avoid the cheap shots about your ugly a$$, those of us over 200 lbs shouldn’t throw stones.

I will chime in on what to do next, though. When I got hit I walked away but my bike didn’t. I’ll share my experience in case it helps.

I decided not to sue (completely different circumstances, so don’t take this as advice on whether you should sue or not sue), but I did want replacement value of my bike. I went through a lot of trouble to find the actual cost of replacing my bike with a similar frame even though I knew I would be buying a better frame. I came up with a number of $1,500, which was fair.

The insurance agent told me that his boss wanted to deprecate the frame, but he could get me the $1,500 if he depreciated the bike then added in a personal injury settlement up to $1,500. He would do this because I was a good guy and not suing them. Although this is all I wanted, and I was happy, I was being scammed. What he was doing was making sure the he was capping his liability and then I would not come back later and asked for more. I’m sure if I said I needed $3,500 to replace the bike, he would have come back and said fine, I can get you $3,500 because you’re a nice guy, but some of it will be personal injury…”

Do what you want you think is right about suing her or not, that is your call. But, in my opinion, at the very least you should contact her insurance company and tell them they will replace your bike at today’s retail cost. If I had to mine again, I would have called the young lady’s insurance company and said $4,000 or I get a lawyer and sue you.

[William]

maybe you should try selling the photo to some bondage/torture fetish website to help with costs?

I've already done it. Just put in the order for my custom Legend. ;) :D



William

[hillweinie]

Here's to a speedy recovery both mentally and physically to Saxon. Man, you just never know, do you? Looks like he was a lucky man, all things considered.
Sounds like she should've engaged a temporary driver until she was physically fit to drive. You know, your brother could have been driving a Peterbilt and cut her in half.....'cause she apparently wouldn't have seen that either. What was she thinking? Evidently she was not, unless it was what a swell dye-job she'd just gotten at the salon. It could've just as easily been you, Bud. So maybe you were both lucky this time. Watch yourselves out there, Guys.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . I’ve found my new desktop wallpaper picture. Should get people’s attention as they walk by my desk at work . . .

BBDave