[NickdaGreek]

Ah, empathy! I just got doored for the first time myself today!

The one thing everyone should take away from my (and Paekwon’s!) misfortune: ALWAYS GET INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER PERSON INVOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE! I am so embarrassed – I’d already read WABA’s “crash FAQ’s,” which clearly say as much, and I knew – like everyone knows – that you always leave any accident with documentation. But, for whatever reason, I didn’t get any info, let alone call the police!

I was heading east on Harvard NW turning left onto 16th. I generally avoid 16th as it’s so busy, but I was just heading one block north to Irving, where I was going to turn right en route the the Columbia Heights metro. A US Postal Service van suddenly opened its door, and the next thing I knew I was on my back. The driver and a bystander were standing over me almost right away – I was a bit dazed but “with it” enough to know that I was extremely lucky. I didn’t feel hurt, and there was only minor damage to my bike and the van. I think I was overwhelmed at how fortunate I was – I kept thinking about what would’ve happened had the door somehow caught my mouth.

Maybe that’s why, after the driver and I had our last round of “Are you alright? -Yes, I’m okay,” I didn’t take down any information. Considering what COULD’VE happened, I was more than alright, the driver manifestly remorseful, and all was right with the world. I hopped on my bike, and three minutes later I was standing outside the elevator at Columbia Heights. That’s when a woman told me – what an awkward conversation to have with another human! – that I was bleeding from behind my right ear. I couldn’t believe it, but, alas, there was indeed a huge laceration – I must have somehow caught the door with my head! I biked over to Washington Hospital Center and had seven stiches done.

Again, I’m embarrassed more than anything else at this point; I don’t know whether I want to try to track down this postal worker or whether I’d legally be able to get any help with ER bills even if I coulld.

The moral, children, is simply this: don’t be a moron like your Uncle Nick – whether it feels silly or not, get that guy/gal’s information, and do it AS SOON AS YOU CAN!

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