Bike accident advice

[streetsmarts]

@dcv 179919 wrote:

Hey team, a friend was hit by a car this morning on the way in. She seems fine but shaken up, a driver right hooked her at the Key Bridge Marriott parking entrance on Lee. She got the driver info but didn’t call the police. I thought I saw a thread with accident advice, can someone send link? She rode the rest of the way to work, just called the police and they said they won’t make a report unless she goes to a hospital? thx

So sorry this happened, and hope she’s OK.

From WABA’s website:

“What do I do immediately after a crash?

Stay calm and assess yourself. If there’s a possibility of serious injury, stay still and wait to be examined by EMTs or a doctor. High-stress situations spike adrenaline and endorphin levels so you don’t feel pain, so you may be more hurt than you think.

Don’t ride away. You may not realize the extent of your injuries until you leave the crash site.

I’m physically OK. What’s next?

If no one has, call the police—even if everything seems fine. An officer can help create an objective account of what happened, which is critically important if you develop injuries later or if insurance companies have to be involved.

And, in order for WABA to make cycling safer, crashes need to be reported as accurately as possible. By reporting your crash, you may save lives in the future. Some crashes without injuries or property damage will not generate an official crash report document but will be recorded as a reported crash.

The cops are here. Now what?

Gather information to ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of in the proceedings after a crash. You should know the following:
◾The names, driver’s license numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of any other drivers, bicyclists, or pedestrians involved in the crash. This means vehicle operators, not passengers.
◾The insurance companies and policy numbers of those people
◾The makes, models, and license plate numbers of any vehicles involved in the crash.
◾The names and contact info of at least two witnesses, if there were any. Passengers of drivers in a crash are not witnesses.
◾The police report number. Make sure the officer takes a cyclist statement from you. Not just the driver or witnesses.
◾The name and badge number of at least one police officer who responded to the scene. Most police officers carry business cards; ask for one.

If you have a camera or smartphone, take pictures of any damage to bikes or cars. Make sure you take pictures of all damage, not just damage to your property. If fighting an insurance claim, you want to have your own documentation.

As soon as you feel calm enough, and have time, write a description of the events before, during, and after the crash. Try to use objective, descriptive language and avoid assigning blame.

Our crash form and mobile app are helpful tools for recording this information and putting together descriptions. If you’re able, consider filling out our crash tracker. We use data submitted through the crash tracker to make recommendations to elected officials and police, and it’s important to capture data not recorded by official collection methods.

I’ve recorded all information I know of. Now what?

If you have questions, call WABA at (202) 518-0524 x225. Leave a message if calling after normal business hours and we’ll call you the next business day.

http://www.waba.org/resources/what-to-do-after-a-crash/

[musclys]

Ugh, that sucks. Glad she seems OK, though that’s always an open question for a few days. Judd shared this WABA link once: http://www.waba.org/resources/what-to-do-after-a-crash/.

Here is another good resource: http://bikewoke.com/post-crash/

And Subby had this advice when I got hit (HMMV):
1. Always wear black.
2. Always ride hills.
3. Always call the cops.

[dasgeh]

@dcv 179919 wrote:

Hey team, a friend was hit by a car this morning on the way in. She seems fine but shaken up, a driver right hooked her at the Key Bridge Marriott parking entrance on Lee. She got the driver info but didn’t call the police. I thought I saw a thread with accident advice, can someone send link? She rode the rest of the way to work, just called the police and they said they won’t make a report unless she goes to a hospital? thx

ACPD should take a report whenever asked. If she calls back and they won’t send an officer, please have her email me – bike [dot] gillian [at] gmail – and I’ll connect her with the correct person. By reporting it, she’ll be helping the next folks.

I’ve long thought that Arlington should get Marriott to close that entrance and route cars through the light at Nash.

[Judd]

I will add a couple of things based on my own experience being hit and seeing two other people on bikes get hit:

1. Always call the cops. You are full of adrenaline and in no condition to determine if you are ok.
2. Always request an ambulance. They will do a quick assessment including a screening for head injury. You can decline transport and it won’t cost you.
3. Get some “What to do after a crash” cards from WABA. Put some in your wallet or seat bag. Write your contact info on them in cases where you witnessed a crash and need to give the card to someone. I will be happy to personally deliver some to you.
4. If you witnessed a crash, stay on the scene and advocate for the person hit, including providing a statement, calling the cops, making the driver stay on the scene, advocating for the driver to be ticketed if they are at fault. Be pushy if you have to. Cops are often reluctant to write a ticket if the victim is “ok” even when the driver is clearly at fault.

[Steve O]

And this provides another opportunity to remind everyone to get your free copy of Bruce Deming’s “Surviving the Crash.“
Read it before you get in a crash.

If you do not have this book, click on the link above.

Yes, you.

Yes………now.

If you are still reading this and haven’t clicked, here’s the link again.

[peterw_diy]

@Steve O 180018 wrote:

And this provides another opportunity to remind everyone to get your free copy of Bruce Deming’s “Surviving the Crash.“
Read it before you get in a crash

Is he still doing that? I submitted a request, I dunno, maybe a year ago, and never received anything. I wish he would just publish a PDF.

dcv, good luck to your friend.

[KLizotte]

I’ve been to one of Bruce Deming’s seminars and it was excellent. So is his book. He has helped a co-worker of mine recover damages when he was hit (broken bones involved).

One of the take aways from Bruce’s seminar was to never, ever say you are okay. You don’t really know for sure. Just say “I don’t know.” You don’t want your words to backfire on you if you do have to sue/file insurance claims, etc.

[Judd]

@peterw_diy 180021 wrote:

Is he still doing that? I submitted a request, I dunno, maybe a year ago, and never received anything. I wish he would just publish a PDF.

dcv, good luck to your friend.

Yeah. He gives them freely at events as well. I’ve got two copies. Happy to give you one of them.

[Author]

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