@ltierstein 185121 wrote:
Unfortunately, I may be a contestant for the 2019 London Bridge Prize, but I need to get the rules clarified. Does going down count for the prize when your bicycle is hit by a car? It happened to me on Sunday afternoon, around 1:30, eastbound on the W&OD when crossing Lee Highway. A car turned right, right into me.
I posit that the car smacked right into the left side of my body, and I then fell to the ground, because the damage to said body was: a bruised rib (CAT scan required to rule out break and damage to the pancreas); scrapes on the left leg, around the knee (x-ray required to rule out a break); broken orbital bone on top of left eye (confirmed by X-ray and/or MRI, I forget which), with a minor (as these things go) brain bleed underneath, and a massive black eye. I don’t have any pictures of the crash or the car, since I was unconscious at the time. I remember coming to as my neck was being strapped down, in the ambulance. I was taken to Fairfax Inova, not the closest hospital, but the one with a specialized Trauma ICU (TICU) room. I DO have a picture of my face, with the black eye and stitches, if documentation is needed.
I was in the hospital for 24 hours — they needed to keep me overnight to ensure that my brain and eye were alright. The Arlington police officer who was at the scene stopped my room twice. The first time was a few hours after the crash, to ask me about it — I didn’t remember anything; the driver was given a citation. The second time was to deliver my house keys!! which I had told her during the first visit were in a pannier that was on the bicycle. I think I’ll send her a thank you note.
A friend came by to drive me home from the hospital and to pick up my bicycle at Arlington Fire House #6, right off the W&OD. Furthering my hypothesis that my injuries were caused by the car directly hitting me, and not by me bouncing off the pavement, was the fact that the bicycle seems to have almost no damage — the struts of the front fenders are detached from the fork attachment thingee, that’s all I can see. To be brought to the bike shop for a better check as soon as I’m able to ride again — so much for riding every day of Freezing Saddles.
I’m so sorry but glad you are mostly ok. Hope the driver or insurance compensates you. And hope your recovery is complete and you’re up riding when you feel able.
Really glad your injuries aren’t any worse!
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