just got struck by a car

Post Reply New Topic

I'm glad you're okay and that you're still alive. Take it easy and take care of yourself.

I got hit on my bicycle back in HS once. I rode across the intersection and a car made a right turn behind me and clipped my back tire because he never looked right. The cops actually said it was my fault because I hadn't walked my bike across the intersection. Had I done that, he'd have hit me in the legs and not just my tire. Let's see, broken leg or two vs mangled back wheel and scraped leg. With those options I'd rather be the one at fault.

Over the last ten years or so of riding daily, I've been struck twice while on a bicycle. Both cases were when a car was pulling from a driveway onto the road without paying attention, though both times the driver got out and admitted fault. In a more recent incident, I accidentally struck two pedestrians...who were casually walking in the bike lane

I ride defensively and generally assume that the drivers do not see me (if the driver is looking in the other direction or talking on the phone, it's probably safest to wait and then wait to make eye contact before moving). I check for cars in the turn lanes before crossing the street, use lights at night and a helmet all the time

Sorry to tell you this, but it was your fault.

Bikes are not pedestrians. Vehicles have to legally stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. They do not (but should) have to stop for bikes.

In addition, unless a bike is on a "bike trail", it should technically never use a crosswalk. Sidewalks are for pedestrians - using a bike on a sidewalk (and thus crosswalk) is illegal in most states, although I've never seen this actually enforced.

These are the laws in most states. Your state may differ. It's not fair, and it sucks.

Glad you're ok.