What do you do when you get hit?

[david p.]

So... I got hit on Tuesday.  Classic right hook.  He tried to sneak in, in front of me.  Clipped me and sent me flying into the street.  Fortunately, I just have some nice road rash as a keepsake and my bike was fine.

He didn't know english very well, and was pretty confused.  After berating him, I wasn't sure what more I could do.

I thought about calling the cops, but... I was late to school... and... I wasn't injured enough (nor my bike) to warrant 3rd party intervention.  But now I'm kind of thinking that guy deserves to sweat it out with the cops since he hit me.

What do you guys do, or have done, when you get hit?  Should it be standard to call the cops?  I mean, if my bike was trashed, or I had a broken ____ (random body part) then you bet your a_ _ I'm calling the cops.

I think this is something that should be addresses as a community of cyclists, so we kind of know our options and know what to expect should we take a particular course of action.

Thoughts, recommendations?

[Kieron]

Get the driver's information.  File a report (with the police or with the DMV).

If you don't file a report, your bike-related collision will pass completely under the radar.  This happens way too much and statistical analysts have no idea how many bike-related traffic accidents actually happen.  Thus, city planners/educators/drivers don't really see a problem with their current bicycle plan.  These city streets are mean but no one on the outside of the bicycle world is going to realize that until the statistics show up in our favor.

[mihai]

I got right hooked heading south on Westwood - my bike and body were mostly ok, but her car was scratched up.  The lady turned out to be polite and even though we exchanged phone numbers, I didn't report anything and I assume that neither did she.  But then again, she may have to report it to get her side view mirror covered by insurance, I dunno how all that stuff works.

Kieron's right, these accidents have to be reported so there's data on them.  But the one thing I fear is ignorance/incompetence on the cops or insurance companies' side.  What if you do call and the cop comes to the scene and calls you an asshole for biking in the street?  Or the insurance company makes up some shit and you end up paying for damage on some idiot's car?

I look forward to the day that cyclists get equal respect and due process.  Until then, it would be nice to have a Cyclists Road Incident Guide like David P. mentioned.  We gotta get Stephen Box in on this, he probably has experienced or knows about more run-ins than anyone else.

[david p.]

i felt the same way as mihai.  what if you call the cops, and they hassle you. or try to pin it on you?  then the whole thing rests on  your word vs theirs... and it seems to me that i've heard way too many motorists get off with the carte blanch excuse "i didn't seem them."

oh, so it's ok, because you didn't seem him. for some reason that works when you mow down a biker, but another motorist and there's hell to pay.

i think we should get together, pool our collective experience and publish a little "what to do when you get hit" document.  something we could laminate and carry with us.

and on the back of the card it would have a hand giving the finger, or something class like that.

[Jaz]

If you are nice. Get his info, talk to him about any injuries, if he refuses to pay, then bring in law enforcement.

If you are an ass, (only do this if you want to be an asshole.), next time you get hit, begin screamin in agony if you aren't hurt, say you are really hurt but really you just need cash right now, and that you'll forget it all if they just give you all the cash they have, equalling at least a certain amount of money. (I've met people who do this, and stage getting hit.)


I'd say just be prepared, but hope for the best, aka the first situation. Be nice, get the info, get a check up, and go from there.