So this Monday I got hit by a car while riding home from work. Now, people who get hit and live to tell about it always say it is completely different when it's you getting hit. I tell you this, when you see your feet above your head as you land on top of a 2009 Subaru Outback XT, things are different.
One difference is that you apparently forget all about the all the rage you have from years of being cut off by all the Nancy no-turn signal and Greg "get on-the-sidewalk" types you encounter as you commute in a major metropolitan area. By all rights I should have a given it to her with both barrels. I should punched her car, or her; I should have berated her right there in front of all those witnesses. Instead, I got off her car, dusted myself off, looked at my bike and yelled "FUCK". My leg was throbbing, I was shaking with adrenaline. SHAKING. I had t sit and take five.
Now I was very reserved. I didn't even mention the fact that she had just turned INTO a lane of travel and broadsided a pedestrian who had the right of way. Another difference as I am one to bestow a middle finger upon any vehicle who endangers my life. This lady was different. Oh, yeah, she wasn't even looking when she hit me. SHE WAS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY. With a cell phone in her hand. I failed to bring that to her attention. I also failed to call the police, mainly because she was in serious hurry to get me away from the scene of the accident.
All she gave me was her phone number. No insurance info, no address, nothing. She didn't count on the fact that I work in a auto insurance claims office. She doesn't know who she's fucking with. Within a half hour on Tuesday, I had her address, insurance provider, ALL her insurance policies, her date of birth, and her social security number. Time to settle my damages.
So after work I call this lady to give her a chance to explain herself as to why she didn't give me her information. I called the only number she gave me. It rang. It rang some more. It rang about a minute and a half. Hrmm. Kind of impressive for an alleged cell phone number. So I took that as yet another dent in the custom built wheel.
I called her insurance provider, filled a claim, and gave them all the info I had; except a police report.
I have filed the proper insurance claims for my injuries and for the damage to my bike. I brought my bike to B Rose at Shockspital, where he took one look at the frame and told me it's totalled. The top tube and the down tube have bulged, which means that the impact actually made the tubes bubble out. the Fork is also bent by about 20 degrees. All in all a huge loss. That bike meant a lot to me. This lady took advantage of me. She avoided a reckless driving ticket, I lost a very respectable bike, I get a huge pain in the leg.
So yeah I guess things are different now. I now know that people do stupid things all of the time. I know that with enough money, you shouldn't have to be held accountable for making bad decisions. I know that I am not going let this slide.
