The Chainlink

Buddaa38 got doored today on Clark Street/Bike Safety

This is just a reminder that this Friday during the NSCM we are having a guest speaker talking about Bike Safety and other things that will help us to ride and enjoy ourselves without getting hurt. Tony and I were doing the pre-ride of the map for Friday and were on our way home. Unfortunately I took off before he did and I was a block away and made a right hand turn on Gregory by the Jewel on Clark. I stopped and noticed he wasn't behind me. I turned back and started riding south bound where I saw another biker standing facing south on the northbound lane and other people around someone. I looked over and saw Tony laying on the street holding his shoulder.
I was really upset and when I saw blood on his shirt I was more mad at myself for not waiting up for him.
There was a parked Chevy Suburban and the man driving was apologizing because he didn't look before he opened his door causing Tony to hit his right shoulder and his front wheel ride upward while he fell back. The paramedics came and took him to ER where he had x-rays and we are going to visit the Ortho tomorrow with the x-rays. They said he has a Acromioclavicular seperation and we will need to see the Ortho to see if he will need surgery. He is in a lot of pain but I am taking good care of him. He says the Doc took away his wheels....LOL. Well he will be out of his wheels for a least 2-3 weeks and we will know more after seeing the Ortho Doc. His arm is in a sling and has to be immobolized. This is why it's important for all bikers to come out and get great, free information on bike safety. It seems that within the last couple of months we've heard about quite a few accident involving our fellow chainlinkers. We want everyone to ride and be safe! Come on out to the NSCM and give your input on what you are facing as a rider and get free tips on how to be able to deal with some of these issues.Some of these tips could save a life. See you guys on the rode!

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 10, 2009 at 12:38pm
Wishing you a speedy recovery and no long-term pain reminders of this injury. I hope that the guy's insurance will take care of your medical bills. Take care and let the shoulder heal thoroughly before you start testing it too much, even if the waiting is making you crazy.
Permalink Reply by cutifly on August 10, 2009 at 12:44pm
Hope your gonna make it B. All anyone can really do is pay close attention all the time and try to spot the drivers in the car, try to stay away from the cars far enough if it looks like people are getting in and outm it is like a video game. I got the door on the tall bike last week by some lady, but it only caught my basket and all I did was end up denting her door. It was actually a nice feeling doing a little damage to someones car instead of it doing damage to me. She was not very happy but I just could not help laughing my azz off while I rode away into the ally dragging my metal basket......
Permalink Reply by Reddog (Cliff) on August 10, 2009 at 1:04pm
I hope Tony heals up quick. Best wishes for a problem free recovery.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 10, 2009 at 1:29pm
Best wishes for a speedy, minimally-invasive recovery. Doors are almost as scary as flying monkeys.
Permalink Reply by Hector on August 10, 2009 at 1:39pm
Tony hope you heal fast and pain free. Although I think that train has already departed. Just heal fast. We might ned up getting on the bike at around the same time.
Every one else be careful out there.
Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on August 10, 2009 at 1:40pm
Damn Damn Damn Damn Damn!!!!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on August 10, 2009 at 5:06pm
Tony- also wish you speedy recovery for sure! If yu are under 100 pounds I can trailer you...

No but seriously, does anyone have a trailer that could carry tony (if he is feeling up to it?).
Permalink Reply by cutifly on August 10, 2009 at 5:40pm
like a Hearst Bike ?

Permalink Reply by Mrs Buddaa 38 on August 10, 2009 at 8:04pm
Hi Everyone.....Thanks to all of you for wishing Tony a speedy recovery. The doctor took his wheels away for the time being so no riding for him or golfing OUCH!!!! I have the laptop by the bed for him to view so I will let him respond to some of these well wishes! Daniel Brown those are some of the safeguards we also take to make sure we're safe from getting hit by a door. Unfortunately sometimes even as careful as we are we can get hurt. Being alert as possible is always a good thing. Be safe and you will see us both on the road together again when he recovers. :-)
Permalink Reply by buddaa38 on August 10, 2009 at 9:42pm
Daniel,

Tony says he always does this and he saw no heads and the side view mirror was pushed in so he believed this was a good indicator that there was no car door opening. The person in the car though was bent down looking for change for the freakin meter and just pushed open the door without even looking out. So even when I was trying to move to the left there was a another SUV to my left but so close to me that my butt would have landed in his window and he would have dragged me along....probably a worse option than getting doored. :-(

daniel brown said:
this really stinks - so sorry to read this.
hang in there and ask for help - we can all help out as needed.

as long as we're on the subject :
I'd like to know what others do to anticipate a door.

Here is what I look out for :

flashers on

brake lights on

car up ahead just pulls into spot

(sometimes) I look for a head above the seat - a sign that the door could open soon
(sometimes) If I think there may be a door about to open : I will point to the car with my right hand :
this may get their attention better and it alerts cars (and fellow cyclists)n behind that I am moving
out of the 'door zone' (to the left). Usuall a car will not hassle me when I do that...
Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on August 10, 2009 at 10:16pm
Tony:

I got doored and broke my collar bone about 4 years ago. Before I pedaled off one-armed to the hospital, I made sure the police filed a report and I got the driver's insurance info.

Long story short, I submitted the police report and my medical bills to his auto insurance company and they covered it. They also covered the cost of repairing my bike and the cost of a jacket that was torn when I hit the tarmac.

They also offered me a somewhat substantial sum of money for "pain and suffering"...which of course I accepted. Just to be clear, I had no intentions of suing anybody or collecting anything beyond medical expenses and damage to my stuff. But they were preemptively offering it in exchange for signing a document saying I wasn't going to sue the guy or seek additional reimbursement for medical expenses later on.

So my advice to Tony would be to get a copy of that police report and contact the guy's insurance company ASAP. However, DO NOT try to collect from them until you are completely healed and 100% certain that further medical complications will not pop up in the future. Once you settle with them, the medical bills are all on you.

I hope this helps...and I hope you feel better soon.
Permalink Reply by Joe on August 11, 2009 at 2:31am
Wow. Tony, I hope you're feeling better soon!

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