beat the bus and accident question

Nice ride in this morning. Most of the lights went my way and I got to
work in 40 minutes, 5 minutes faster than the bus/subway. And not even
riding my faster bike. And for a change, no one passed me!

On the way home and SUV just had to go through the stoplight when the
traffic was backed up so she was still in the intersection after the
light changed. I started out to go into front of her, clipped in and
then she wheeled around to try for the slow lane ... right where I would
be in a millisecond. I braked to full stop while trying to turn behind
her, leaving me way overbalanced to my right and of course I fell right
down in the intersection breaking my pump mount with my knee and
bruising my hands.

My question is, should I have asked her to pay me $30 for a new pump? If
she didn't could she get a ticket for leaving the scene? This question
is for next time, as usual in an accident I get dumb and don't think of
what I should do until later.

Doug
For email, a sense of wonder.

dude I would call a lawyer immediately

"Doug Purdy" wrote in message
. cable.rogers.com...
My question is, should I have asked her to pay me $30 for a new pump? If
she didn't could she get a ticket for leaving the scene? This question
is for next time, as usual in an accident I get dumb and don't think of
what I should do until later.

Probably it would be good to tell the police what happened and ask them what
can be done.

On Wed, 12 May 2004 00:24:56 GMT, "Doug Purdy" wrote:

Nice ride in this morning. Most of the lights went my way and I got to
work in 40 minutes, 5 minutes faster than the bus/subway. And not even
riding my faster bike. And for a change, no one passed me!

On the way home and SUV just had to go through the stoplight when the
traffic was backed up so she was still in the intersection after the
light changed. I started out to go into front of her, clipped in and
then she wheeled around to try for the slow lane ... right where I would
be in a millisecond. I braked to full stop while trying to turn behind
her, leaving me way overbalanced to my right and of course I fell right
down in the intersection breaking my pump mount with my knee and
bruising my hands.

My question is, should I have asked her to pay me $30 for a new pump? If
she didn't could she get a ticket for leaving the scene? This question
is for next time, as usual in an accident I get dumb and don't think of
what I should do until later.

I don't know about the legal aspects, but according to my reading of your
post, she didn't actually touch you with her car, right?

In that case, I don't think you have one. A case, that is. Witnesses? Get
her name, and insurance co? I guess if she stopped and offered aid, that's
a good thing. If she didn't 'admit' responsibility in front of witnesses
whom you acquired contact info from, you're probably out of luck, IMO.

Sorry it happened to ya, though. :-(

-B

On Wed, 12 May 2004 00:24:56 GMT, "Doug Purdy"
wrote:
be in a millisecond. I braked to full stop while trying to turn behind
her, leaving me way overbalanced to my right and of course I fell right
down in the intersection breaking my pump mount with my knee and
bruising my hands.

My question is, should I have asked her to pay me $30 for a new pump? If
she didn't could she get a ticket for leaving the scene? This question
is for next time, as usual in an accident I get dumb and don't think of
what I should do until later.

Nope, there was no collision, she made a mistake and you didn't ride
defensively enough. I'd call it a cheap learning experience and
replace the pump mount with $5 worth of velcro.

Here's my today story:
Approaching a short, narrow bridge just before a moderately
dangerous intersection at 23mph, car horn honks behind me and passes
me ON THE BRIDGE, only to have to stop short at the intersection in
front of me. Then, with no other traffic at the intersection, my
young male instinct kicks in and I yell (in an angry white male
construction worker voice) "What, now I gotta wait behind you??!!
Move it!! GO!!". He yelled something back while I was yelling, but I
don't know what he said.

BTW, car was a new Nissan Z.

My response was NOT the best possible response. What would have
been? Claire, you reading this?
--
Rick Onanian

On 12 May 2004 00:44:06 GMT, (R15757) wrote:
dude I would call a lawyer immediately

For a broken pump mount and a skinned knee that could have been
prevented by more defensive riding and less trusting of a soccer mom
in an oversized SUV?

Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?
--
Rick Onanian

On Tue, 11 May 2004 21:23:12 -0400, Rick Onanian wrote:

Here's my today story:
Approaching a short, narrow bridge just before a moderately
dangerous intersection at 23mph, car horn honks behind me and passes
me ON THE BRIDGE, only to have to stop short at the intersection in
front of me. Then, with no other traffic at the intersection, my
young male instinct kicks in and I yell (in an angry white male
construction worker voice) "What, now I gotta wait behind you??!!
Move it!! GO!!". He yelled something back while I was yelling, but I
don't know what he said.

BTW, car was a new Nissan Z.

My response was NOT the best possible response. What would have
been? Claire, you reading this?

Zip by and hope the driver's side window was open? I mean we all have to
spit now and then, eh?

My story. I was tooling along the bike path at about 13mph, when suddenly
on my left a guy on a street bike buzzes me. Mildly startling. Enough so,
that I hollar 'be nice if you'd say passing on your left'.

Well he slowed to ride beside me and patronizingly explained how this is
not good, b/c some ppl move left. Then he asks me if I 'understand'. Well,
by this time, already in full testosterone workout mode, I'm starting to
fume. He says 'you're not talking...?'.

I was able to resist, but almost cussed him out.

Should I have? (he was fit and strong, but not at all in my league, should
it turn physical)

-B

"R15757" wrote in message
...
dude I would call a lawyer immediately

Thats whats wrong with people today. They have a little trouble and
immediatly want to make a federal case of it. Geez, calm down for a minute
and think.

Dan.

Badger_South wrote:

My story. I was tooling along the bike path at about 13mph, when
suddenly on my left a guy on a street bike buzzes me. Mildly
startling. Enough so, that I hollar 'be nice if you'd say passing on
your left'.

Well he slowed to ride beside me and patronizingly explained how this
is not good, b/c some ppl move left. Then he asks me if I
'understand'. Well, by this time, already in full testosterone
workout mode, I'm starting to fume. He says 'you're not talking...?'.

I was able to resist, but almost cussed him out.

Should I have? (he was fit and strong, but not at all in my league,
should it turn physical)

Well, if you were too mad to even talk, then I'd say you over-reacted just a
tad

What he SHOULD do (and hardly any "racer boy" types seem to subscribe to
this) is to announce his presence/intention from well behind you, so that if
in fact you do move left he can still avoid a collision.

A lot depends on the width of the path, and also the grade. If it's narrow
and fast, then passing like that is both rude and dangerous IMNSOEO (E =
experienced). OTOH, if he passed well clear of you on a slower section,
then just mutter to yourself "I could go that fast...IF I really wanted to"
and let it go.

Bill "favorite coastal route full of inconsiderate clubbies" S.

For a broken pump mount and a skinned knee that could have been
prevented by more defensive riding and less trusting of a soccer mom
in an oversized SUV?

Isn't that a bit of an overreaction?


Rick I got two words for you: LAW YER

No actually the proper response to the heinous assault which was
perpetrated on the OP is (1) pull a gun (2) call a lawyer. Oh and (3)
snap polaroids of the license plate. (You should be able to take
pictures with one hand and hold the gun with the other.) If she tries
to drive away, shoot her tires out. If she keeps driving on her rims,
unaware that her tires have been shot out (old ladies always keep
driving after their tires are shot out!) try for the engine block. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT THIS DRIVER BE REMOVED FROM THE TRAFFIC
SYSTEM. Also, collect the shards of the pump mount and take a
digital pic, and get an estimate from a reputable shop. Your lawyer
will know how to proceed as per the offender's insurance company.
This may involve getting a doctor's note for bruised hands.

Robert