Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 23, 2009 at 6:07am

This is great. Mind if I condense this into the flier I'm working on?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne on January 23, 2009 at 6:47am

yeah that is a good idea!

GabeW said:

This is great. Mind if I condense this into the flier I'm working on?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GabeW (not the other Gabe) on January 23, 2009 at 7:17am

Another thing is pictures. I was lucky to have my camera on me one time when I was in a car accident. The police weren't helping. I was hit head on by a left turner, and even though my car was going straight down the south lane, and the other car was sideways across the street, half in my lane, when the officer arrived on the scene, the police report had me at fault cuase the lady said I was speeding. I guess evanston police was quick to believe an older woman in a jeep more than a young guy in an MG (that wasn't powerful enough to speed on that road). So the lady sued (she had no insurance) and I won, despite all testimony and a police report against me, cuase I had pics. Do you believe her court fine for not having insurance was $50!!!

I took some of the pics to the police dept too. My main problem with them was that they threatened to put me in the back of a squad car when I pulled out my camera. At the meeting I had with them later they said it was cuase I was in the road. I explained that the other person who hit me was in the road too, but they didn't threaten her. They said she wasn't. Then I showed the pictures proving it. The meeting started to go in my favor after that. I got as much of an apology as could have been expected.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clare on January 23, 2009 at 11:17am

Make sure when you call the police, report "an accident WITH INJURIES," no matter how uninjured you may feel. My husband and I were in identical crashes a week apart. Whoever called on my behalf reported injuries, and a squad car and ambulance were there within a minute or two (I was a little banged up, but OK). My husband called in a traffic accident, said that nobody was hurt, and the police never showed. (he ended up going to the hospital later that day after his elbow swelled up to a softball size). Seems if nobody's hurt, the police just don't care. And no police means no report.

In a related thought, I found that the driver's insurance had no problem paying off me and my husband for our bike repair and doctor bills. They are so used to car repairs that run into the thousands, that a little $500 bike repair was like nothin to them. Plus, they have no idea what a nice bike costs.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne on January 23, 2009 at 11:30am

that's a really good tip, I'd not heard of that distinction before.
Joking: I'd say to the dispatcher that there is aBOUT to be an injury 'cuz I might smack the driver around.
thanks!

Clare said:

Make sure when you call the police, report "an accident WITH INJURIES," no matter how uninjured you may feel. My husband and I were in identical crashes a week apart. Whoever called on my behalf reported injuries, and a squad car and ambulance were there within a minute or two (I was a little banged up, but OK). My husband called in a traffic accident, said that nobody was hurt, and the police never showed. (he ended up going to the hospital later that day after his elbow swelled up to a softball size). Seems if nobody's hurt, the police just don't care. And no police means no report.

In a related thought, I found that the driver's insurance had no problem paying off me and my husband for our bike repair and doctor bills. They are so used to car repairs that run into the thousands, that a little $500 bike repair was like nothin to them. Plus, they have no idea what a nice bike costs.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim "Niterider" on January 24, 2009 at 9:10pm

Another thing to add Anne, get the scene secured. Get the traffic stopped so you are not run over by some one that is rubbernecking the scence, and make sure no one trys to move you! I was hit by a drunk driver in March of 1999. She hit me at 50-55 mph. I almost blackedout from the hit. I was face down in the street and bleeding. I had to tell the peolpe that came to help me to get traffic stopped since cars were still driving around me. I had a do-gooder try to move me and had to tell them not to touch me. I did not know how messed up I was. And yes get a police report and ask the police to take pictures if you can't find someone with a camera. GabeW, hope you have this flier done before the weather gets nice. Do a kick ass job and give a few to the Chicago Sun Times to print. They love human intrest stories, I get sick of hearing about all of the shootings, and crime as most people do. This would go a long way at helping bikers in the city and burbs. Thanks, Jim

• ▶ Reply