Hello everyone. I come to you for advice in this hour of need. I was involved in a car - bike accident last evening. I was on the bike crossing an intersection in a residential area, where the speed limit was 40 km/h. The intersection was marked by 4 all-way stop signs. I was already engaged in crossing the intersection heading northbound, when a car approaching the intersection heading west (perpendicular to my direction of travel) did not come to a full stop and charged through the intersection. In order to avoid the collision, since the car was less than 6 feet away and was still moving, I steered left. Judging by the damage to my bike, the car probably hit the back tire of my bicycle, caused the bike to steer abruptly and consequently caused my fall. I fell to the ground, hitting the pavement head first (on my left temple) - it was a very severe shock and I started to bleed abruptly. I had blood all over my face, traces of my blood are still in the intersection as we speak. My glasses broke and I was thrown off the bicycle. The driver showed some hesitation and attempted to flee the scene (i.e. pass through the intersection steering beside me, leaving me lying on the ground with no intention of providing help). When he saw me looking insistently at his license plate trying to memorize it, it finally decided to stop.
Meanwhile still fallen onto the ground I was yelling at him to call 911, I must have requested this several times, but he was hesitant. Another car came from behind him, stopped, the second driver came out of the car. He probably heard my repeated requests, because he rushed towards the first driver asking rather angrily "Are you going to call 911 or not?" Another 2 -3 cars stopped afterwards and people helped me clear the intersection and sat me on the grass, while offering some water to drink and to wash my wounds. Somebody even drove home to fetch a first aid kit. A few minutes later the paramedics came, followed by a police cruiser. As I was attempting to give my statement, the police constable told me not to worry and let the paramedics first attend me since this was more important. I was then placed inside the ambulance and taken to the hospital. The police constable come to the hospital about an hour later, and when I asked if he placed any charges against the driver he said he had not, since no since of a criminal offence took place, I had no direct witnesses, and it was my word against the driver's. He said that the driver said that he obeyed all the traffic laws, came to a full stop prior to the intersection, and that I came from nowhere and he did not see me. I told the police constable that following the laws of physics, a bike needs several seconds to make its way 3/4 of an intersection, especially when starting from a stationary position, and cannot just appear out of nowhere in the middle of the intersection. The police constable said that there was no damage to the car or to my bike, and no skid marks on the road. In that area the pavement is covered in cobble stone which makes it impossible to trace skid marks. Therefore he refuses to lay charges against the driver and the file is closed. I ask him if he was going to let an irresponsible driver walk away, which seemed to irritate him. I even pointed that he could check the cameras from the school located at that intersection to gather the authenticity of what had happened, but he dismissed my point as something ridiculous.
Later on, while waiting at the hospital (it was going to be a very long night), as I was reading through the pamphlet he gave me, I came across a statement stipulating that when a body injury was involved, an official photo may be taken. I called 911 again asking why a photo was not taken, despite the fact that my face was disfigured, covered in blood and severely bruised. After much delay and dozens of useless questions, they finally put me through to the constable. When I asked him to come to the hospital to take an official photo of my injuries, he said that the file was closed, the conclusion was reached and no photo was deemed necessary. I asked whose responsibility was to reach that conclusion, and he said it was up to him. When I asked him to provide me with the contact information of the person in charge above him, he refused saying that he was the only one in charge. I pointed out that based on the police hierarchy, there must be somebody in charge above him, but he stubbornly replied that there was nobody else. This phone call was extremely frustrating and made me seriously consider that some type of cover up was taking place.
I underwent a series of examinations, x-rays, blood work, stitches and in the morning I was discharged. Follow up tests and examinations are necessary. I went back to the scene of the accident to gather evidence. I took pictures of the blood stains on the pavement, there was a trail of blood starting at the place of impact with the pavement, all the way to the corner of the intersection were I sat down on the grass. I was also able to locate one of the lenses of my broken glasses lying on the pavement. I took pictures of everything, I even made a video to show the intersection, and the location of the accident. I do not know why the police constable missed all this evidence.
I called 911 again asking to speak to someone in charge. The response was the same: the case was closed and no evidence was to be added. I complained that I was discriminated against, that the constable's investigation was conducted inappropriately, it had serious omissions and errors in it, and he did not take my statement before reaching his conclusion. I have a feeling of defeat and hopelessness, where the police has failed to protect a private citizen and there seems to be no recourse. I desperately need guidance. In my current state I cannot show myself in public, I cannot go to work, it will be weeks before all the swelling and bruising heals, not to count the side effects from the head trauma. I have an acute feeling of betrayal and hopelessness, how do I bring justice into this case? I tried to be as coherent as possible, it took me a while typing this rather long message.
