Got hit by a car – legal advice?

[DismalScientist]

As someone who takes Clarendon every day, I suggest that one takes the car lane rather than the bike lane. Bicyclists will often be riding as fast as traffic, which is too fast for staying in the bike lane, particularly considering the proximately of parked cars and the condition of the pavement. In addition, this makes you more visible to drivers, particularly if you traveling at higher speeds. Drivers do not anticipate being overtaken on the right, particular by someone in the bike lane.

I would also suggest that the county convert this downhill bike lane to sharrows all the way from Clarendon to Rosslyn.

[Terpfan]

@dasgeh 27736 wrote:

I agree with most of what’s been said here, but I have to put a plug for calling the police in situations like this. It makes the world safer for the rest of us — it contributes to official statistics (which, for example, could help certain awesome county employees get more bike infrastructure), and it holds the woman responsible. It may be true that this is the only time she’s ever done anything like this. Or she may just be very nice and very cute and a very inattentive driver (a good friend of mine fits this bill). If she’s not cited, then any pattern that exists won’t be noticed, and she’ll continue to be a dangerous driver. None of need more of those, and getting multiple citations will help get her off the road.

I would second this commentary. I almost dusted off my own run-in with a crazy driver, but folks here and at work made the convincing point that if this happens again and someone is seriously hurt then how you feel? At a minimum it raises awareness and at a maximum it prevents something down the road. It does cost you some time though.

[Timur]

This turned out great for me afterall. This woman covered all my damages and then some. Revolution cycles quoted $650 in damages to my $400 bike. So now I am in the market to sell my cyclocross bike for ~$300 after i fix it up myself and buy a full carbon road bike for ~$1000. Thanks everyone!

[Author]

Posts