Author Topic: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?  (Read 16499 times)

fuzzhead1506

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Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« on: December 09, 2015, 11:08:44 AM »
I debated resurrecting this particular thread: http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/bike-commuters-have-u-been-hit-by-a-car/

however, I ultimately decided against it....thought it deserved to be in this thread!  =)

6 months ago on my commute by bike I was coming down a hill (on a road with a bike lane) and as I approached a particular intersection toward the bottom, there was a minivan that stopped and looked both ways before continuing into the through road - I didn't have a stop sign or a street signal of any kind.  I saw that the van was pulling out about 100 ft or so from the intersection and figured they were turning in front of me.  When I was about 25 ft or so from the intersection, she finally realized that I was coming through - the same time that I realized she was coming through.  I tried making a little bit of a turn into the intersection but at 25 mph on the bike, it was both difficult to slow down and make evasive maneuvers...  I ended up dismounting my bike at the very moment she came to a stop and collided with my bike.  I had been t-boned.  My momentum carried me across the hood of the van and off onto the asphalt.

I sustained a grade 3 A/C separation and fractured the radial head of my elbow, along with some minor cuts and scrapes and a pneumothorax (separation of the lung from my ribcage).  After all of my adrenaline left me, I nearly feinted too.  This put me out of commission for quite a few months: no work, no physical activity, no mental stimulation (drugs have a way of ruining the metaphorical capacity of your brain). 

If my regular bike path hadn't been under construction *slash* under 6" of water in places (due to flooding), I wouldn't've been hit.  Quite the scary incident, but I am glad it wasn't worse.  If I had been 1 second earlier to the intersection, I likely would've had the tail of my bike clipped and would've gone spinning into the intersection.  If i had been 1 second later to the intersection, I likely would've t-boned her and had a ruined bike and a ruined neck as I collide with the passenger sliding door. 

I've thought to myself many a time since then, if a cyclist with more experience would've gotten hit had they been put in the same situation?  hard to say... but I never hope this upon anyone!

Share your stories!! =)

MandyM

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2015, 11:41:30 AM »
My story is not nearly as severe.

It was actually way back when I was in middle school. I was riding into school in the morning and was crossing an intersection (where I had the ROW). There was a car that was stopped and looking to turn into the intersection and ended up starting to creep out when I was right in front of her. Essentially, she bumped me just enough to knock me over. I was uninjured, although frazzled and embarrassed. Nowadays, I try to make sure that stopped cars see me before I cross in front of them, although I am not a particularly fast rider.

The worst part of the story is that a school bus of my classmates went by and saw the whole thing. I was a fairly shy kid so having people come up to me all day commenting on it was horrible, even if they were all being nice.

Trudie

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2015, 11:50:13 AM »
I was hit by a car while running, not biking.  I was in a lighted cross walk.  Luckily, she was going at a low speed, I was knocked on the butt hard and tossed clear of the car.  Scary experience though.  Bumps and bruises only, and I did not hit my head.

brotatochip

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2015, 12:10:10 PM »
I hit a pothole 2 summers ago on my motorcycle doing 40mph and was thrown off my bike.  A lot a rehab and a few months out of work and I still have pain from the crash once in  while.  I'm still alive though!  However, I will never get on a motorcycle again.

Gone Fishing

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2015, 12:15:34 PM »
Got hit in a low speed collision when I was 16 or so.  As the police informed us (they called my parents), I was improperly riding on the sidewalk on the left hand side of the road (major 50 mph corridor).  A fellow pulling out of a parking lot in a utility van was looking left for oncoming traffic and drove straight into me knocking me out into a busy road.  I knew I was in a bad spot and quickly jumped up and got out of the road.  My bike was sucked halfway under the utility van and was drug back into the parking lot as the fellow back up to prevent a second collision.  Got some pretty deep road rash on one elbow and a mild sprain to my left knee (side I was hit).  My parents took me to the doctor to get checked out and I hid the sprain just to get out and get home as soon as possible.  My bike suffered a fixable warp to the rear wheel and small broken plastic piece on the brake caliper.  I was very lucky that day.

MandalayVA

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2015, 12:39:05 PM »
I got hit by a car on my bike when I was 14, courtesy of someone going a little too fast on a curvy country road, and did a faceplant on the windshield hard enough to put the surface smash in it.  I walked away with a spectacularly bloody lower lip--the only time in my life other than dental surgery that I've needed stitches--a sprained right index finger and some bruises. 

rugger

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2015, 07:12:38 PM »
I had a car pull out in front of me, and I t-boned it on my motorcycle.  I was lucky enough to walk away.  I cycle all of the time, and people texting scares the hell out of me.

Vertical Mode

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2015, 08:00:27 PM »
As a pedestrian, I was knocked clear out of my moccasins by a motorcycle while crossing a street in Italy. No injuries to report. As a cyclist, I've been doored twice, but my worst wreck was self-inflicted.

I was riding down a rather steep hill shortly after acquiring my bike, and was still getting a feel for it. Was a n00b and was carrying something in the pocket of my jeans, which predictably fell out as I was barreling downhill. Heard it hit the pavement, panicked, and hit both brakes while my center of gravity was too high.

Physics.

Went over my handlebars at probably ~25mph, had a nice all-you-can-eat buffet of asphalt for dinner that evening. My helmet is the reason I still have a face. Betcha can't tell which teeth are still real! Nothing else broken, but road rash that left my hands scarred. Before that, it had been about 20 years since I'd crashed on a bike - not a pleasant bit of nostalgia.

In more recent news, my GF was t-boned by a semi-truck just last week, driver misinterpreted the traffic signals and ran a red light. Totaled her new Specialized that was less than a month old. Amazingly, the bike looks like the aftermath of the apocalypse, and she has just a few bruises and scrapes. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it.

Paul der Krake

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2015, 08:03:34 PM »
Everyone be safe out there.

Better alive than right.

Abe

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2015, 08:10:17 PM »
I've been side-swiped at low speed while riding my bike. A car was taking a turn at higher than posted speed a slid into me. I rolled over a couple times and rolled into a fence. Bystanders called EMS; I had a concussion but was otherwise fine.

Two years later a terrorist drove through my college's main quad at low speed and hit several people. The most seriously injured had a closed femoral fracture and some vertebral fractures that I helped stabilize (while other students were panicking and telling me I was "doing it wrong" by not helping him get up and walk).  the rest were ok. 

sol

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2015, 08:21:39 PM »
I've been hit twice while riding my bike, about a year apart, in college.  At the same intersection, in the same fashion: a driver was looking left while turning right and hit me after I came up behind her in the bike lane to go straight through the intersection.

Neither time was I wearing a helmet.  Neither time was I seriously injured.  Both times I required new wheels.

But I was young and careless.  I don't pass cars at intersections anymore, and haven't been hit again in 18 continuous years of regular bike commuting.


I do have regular close calls on my bike.  People speed up to pass me and then slam on the brakes and cut in front of me to turn into a driveway or alley (about every six months).  Cars drift into the bike lane on long straight sections because they're futzing with the radio or something (maybe once per year).  Kids, usually high school boys, throw trash at me (like 3x in my life). 

The newest hazard for me is that my current commute takes me through several major intersections where my light turns green immediately after the left turn arrow turns red.  I'm faster off the line than most cars are, but I've learned to pause before proceeding because people in the oncoming lanes are always squeezing the lemon on their left turn arrow and by the time they get all the way over to where my bike lane is, my light has been green long enough for me to get into their pathway.  I've yelled at a few folks.

dodojojo

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2015, 08:27:28 PM »
Luckily, it was a very slow speed crash.  I was riding alongside a row of parked cars.  The lane to my left was loaded with cars so traffic was almost at a standstill.  Everything was great as I was bypassing cars--until I got near an intersection and a taxi lurched to the right and wiped me out.  I went over the hood and landed on my head/shoulder.  I was wearing a helmet.  I blacked in and out all the way to the ER.  The worst part was right after the crash, the taxi driver dragged me up by my arm--I could hear him yelling at me but I had absolutely no way to respond.  I felt like a rag doll.  I could hear a woman telling the taxi driver to not move me because I could be seriously injured.  Then it was fairly quiet as we waited for the police and ambulance.  Again, I was aware of what was going on but just couldn't see, do or say anything.  I just laid on the street with people surrounding me.  How many, I'll never know.

The paramedics talked to me and finally I could respond somewhat. I remember saying I didn't want to go to the hospital (!).  And then the next thing I knew, I was in the ER so I must have conked out a for a bit.  The damage wasn't bad considering...just some road rash and a concussion.  The latter was very painful and the doctor recommended I stayed overnight but I insisted on going home.  A friend took me home and stayed the night with me.  I probably would stay in the hospital if it had happened today.  A few days later I flew cross country for work and then flew some more for a wedding.  What an idiot.

The bike was taken by the police and it was perfectly fine since I was sideswiped rather than hit full on.  My helmet had a noticeable hairline crack.  The biggest insult to injury though was the police officer coming to the ER and ticketing me ($10) for riding "abreast a lane."  I wasn't even coherent enough to respond.

sol

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2015, 08:59:38 PM »
The biggest insult to injury though was the police officer coming to the ER and ticketing me ($10) for riding "abreast a lane."  I wasn't even coherent enough to respond.

In September of 2006 I was laying on the side of a very rural road in central Pennsylvania, full of broken bones and unable to move, with a crowd of paramedics around me, while a police officer wrote me a $185 ticket and tucked into my jacket pocket for me.  It was a single-vehicle crash (mine) but he had driven 45 minutes to get out there and damned if he was leaving the scene without writing someone a ticket. 

My respect for traffic cops diminished significantly that day.  Something about the little ticket book takes away their humanity.

JZinCO

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2015, 09:06:40 PM »
A few times riding a bike. I had chipped teeth and concussions as a result. I've been hit as a pedestrian at ~5 mph. Fell onto their hood, got up and gave them a stink face. Then kept on walking.

Tyn

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2015, 03:31:22 AM »
I was in a collision with a car as a teenager on my way to school.  Ended up with a fractured skull (wasn't wearing a helmet) and no memory of the incident (could've been my brakes failing on a hill, could've been the driver not paying attention at lights).  First thing I was aware of afterwards was being wheeled through the hospital and someone asking me if I remember my name and knew where I was.  Spent a while passing in and out of consciousness while they were checking me out and patching me up.  Spent a week in hospital recovering and had headaches and balance issues for a couple of months afterwards.  Only lasting effects were a chipped tooth, an ache in the back of my head occasionally (I think this is due to air pressure changes) and I tiny scar on my hand from the IV.

I cycle to work now, but I definitely lean towards slow and steady rather than trying to be as fast as I can, and I wear my helmet if I'm riding on roads.  Only injuries since then have been self-inflicted and minor.

steviesterno

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2015, 05:57:35 AM »
my wife got t boned by some dumb ass running a red light 3 days after my birthday this year. Slammed right into the drivers side door. Oh yeah, she was 6 months pregnant at the time! totaled her car (little audi A4 convertible) and the minivan that hit her. night in the hospital since contractions started, but thank everything they stopped and after 2 weeks of home care all is well with mom and baby. We just got the remainder of the glass out of my wife's face 3 days ago.

anti-moustachian choice: replace her car with another audi, since it saved her and my baby's life.

pro-moustachian choice: used audi we can work on, and invested left over insurance money from the first one in vanguard.

iknowiyam

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #16 on: December 10, 2015, 01:21:40 PM »
Yup. I was on roller blades, left the car's windshield spider cracked... somehow my knees and elbows got all scraped, not sure how it all fits together. I only know everything that happened because my brother witnessed the whole thing. I do remember it, just not in a sensible and descriptive way.

BCBiker

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2015, 01:52:42 PM »
Two minor collisions both in the same situation that I now avoid at all costs.  I was riding on a side walk on a busy street going the opposite direction of traffic.  I approached a car that was exiting the parking lot who was turning right but had a stop sign. The car blows through the stop sign while looking left towards traffic and not where he/she is turning (in my direction).

In some ways, the situations were my fault because the driver was not expecting me. But the drivers were also careless in not stopping or looking.  The truism of bike riding is that you can never expect a car driver to do the right thing or expect that they will see you.

Since the second incidence I will never ever ride on a side walk going the opposite direction of traffic even if I have to cross a busy street twice to do so. I rarely ride on sidewalks anyway which is generally a bad idea but I am most cognizant of opposing traffic.

Both situations my knee and rear wheel of my bike got tweaked.  The second time my loafer fell off... No long term damage other than the wheel eventually was too bent to be able to be trued.

I have been witness to dozens of potentially catastrophic events.  Cars rarely stop at stop signs in low traffic neighborhoods; texting and driving fender-benders, frank reckless driving where cars plow into fences and poles right in front of me.  I feel like I have a good eye for erratic behaviors that has served me well.

As MMM has pointed out, people overestimate the danger of bike riding.  Just like car driving, you have to be reasonable, avoid bad situations (as desribed above), drive defensively,  and don't ever be in too much of a hurry.

jorjor

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #18 on: December 10, 2015, 04:35:22 PM »
I was hit 3 years ago. An oncoming car turned left into an alley right in front of me. I was going downhill at a decent clip (not speeding) and had cars parked to my right. I had nowhere to go.

We hit head on (the car hit its brakes at the last second, so wasn't going too fast at contact). I was able to turn a bit and the car was at an angle when we hit. I was thrown from the bike, rolled up the hood and windshield and ended up on the roof of the car. I dented the hood and shattered the windshield on my way up. Funny enough, when I stopped it was sitting on the hood with my legs dangling over the drivers side window.

I was mostly fine. I refused the ambulance ride and hospital stay that they suggested. I had a sore shin where first contact was made. I was lucky that the leg that hit was up, because if it wasn't the side of my knee would have gotten hit and that would have been real bad. I was also lucky that I did a barrel-roll instead of face first. I have a sore neck sometimes now.

The driver was cited. He was a 16 year old driving with him mom. He freaked out and started screaming about how he just hit someone. Later he said "I was going to turn right and my mom said turn left and I did it without looking."

Their insurance company paid to replace my bike and for my medical bills, plus a bit extra for my trouble.

I attached some photos.

JLee

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #19 on: December 10, 2015, 04:39:28 PM »
My brother has been hit ~3 times in the last year, I think. Fortunately no severe injury.

sweettea

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #20 on: December 10, 2015, 05:01:51 PM »
I took up bike commuting in March of this year. Since then, in 3700 miles, I've rear-ended two cars, been right hooked (although that was basically equivalent to me rear-ending them), slid on gravel on a turn once (the only one of these that damaged me), slid into a wall once, and flipped my child trailer on its side on turns twice.

I have taken up lower acceleration when the light changes, and slower turns, as a result.

dodojojo

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2015, 07:33:24 PM »
I approached a car that was exiting the parking lot who was turning right but had a stop sign. The car blows through the stop sign while looking left towards traffic and not where he/she is turning (in my direction).

This scenario is so freaking common.  This also happens a lot with drivers who want to make a right on a red light or a stop sign.  They keep looking left for oncoming traffic but never once look to the right for pedestrians heading into the crosswalk.  For those who really look clueless and it's clear, they're going to gun it without ever looking right, I just stand, wait and let them make the right turn, even though I have right of way.  Usually as they make their turn, they realize the error of their ways. Some don't care but others--I can see the shock or embarrassment on their faces as they turn and realize I'm inches away from their car.  I do give them the death stare to ensure they get the message.  Some do wave apologetically.  Today, a guy did stop midway and brusquely waved me to cross. As if he was doing me a favor.  I made sure to take my time.

As a pedestrian this scenario is really annoying. But as a cyclist, it frightens me and a big reason why I don't like riding on sidewalks.  I've tried, to no avail, explain to well-meaning friends who advise me to ride on the sidewalk, why I prefer biking on the road.

Cressida

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #22 on: December 10, 2015, 07:53:38 PM »
My spouse was hit by a car on his bike about (counts on fingers) 13 years ago. His right arm was permanently damaged, but he manages OK. The cops said it was his fault. I wasn't there, can't say.

Oh, and today he commutes on a bike every day, rain or snow or 90 degrees. Freaks me out, but what can I do.

Jakejake

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #23 on: December 10, 2015, 07:57:45 PM »
One more cyclist here who's been hit by a car exiting the parking lot looking left and never right. In that spot, there is no shoulder to ride on and no sidewalk on the opposite side of the street, so I don't have much choice but to keep riding there. She shoved me into oncoming traffic but I wasn't hit a second time there luckily, and it was slow enough that I wasn't hurt.

I was bruised up more when a goose attacked me last year. I hate the geese more than the texting oblivious drivers at this point.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #24 on: December 10, 2015, 07:58:34 PM »
Only as a pedestrian. Twice by cars. One that I just didn't see at all and didn't hear because I had a bad cold and my ears were blocked, they had poor visibility exiting their driveway, I walked directly into their path. Can't blame them. One rolled back when stopped at a red light on a hill, causing it to hit multiple pedestrians who were crossing the road at, you know, a pedestrian crossing!

Annnnd once by a bus that mounted the kerb and hit multiple pedestrians on the footpath.

Never been badly hurt, but it's still a shock when it happens.

Cressida

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #25 on: December 10, 2015, 08:02:44 PM »
Annnnd once by a bus that mounted the kerb and hit multiple pedestrians on the footpath.

jesus. I think that would put me off ever going outside again.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #26 on: December 10, 2015, 08:05:23 PM »
Annnnd once by a bus that mounted the kerb and hit multiple pedestrians on the footpath.

jesus. I think that would put me off ever going outside again.

Our local transport authority (that operates the bus line) wouldn't even investigate it properly! Apparently I was the only person who even reported it. All the other pedestrians who were hit just walked away and never bothered to call up and report it.

MasterStache

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #27 on: December 11, 2015, 09:35:30 AM »
Not quite as exciting as many of these stories but when I was a dumb young teenager I thought it would be a great ideal to hang on to my friends car so he could "pull" me down the street on my bike. So I grabbed the back door handle and as soon as he hit the gas I face planted. The only memory I have is being able to smell the back tire as it brushed right past my nose. He was probably an inch or two from running over my head (no helmet).

I have a couple wicked car wreck stories in which both cases I was lucky to hobble out alive

bigalsmith101

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #28 on: December 11, 2015, 09:50:22 AM »
This is an account from the blog I wrote during a rather lengthy motorcycle trip. I was hit by a truck in Barranquilla, Colombia.


-------------------------
Hello everyone. Here follows an account of my motorcycle accident that occurred yesterday, August 3, 2011.

Yesterday Tom and I left Cartagena, Colombia, at around 12pm. We made it about 80 miles north to a city called Barranquilla

Right about that the entrance to the city there was a lot of traffic.

We needed food, and we needed gas as well, and I saw an opening in the left oncoming traffic lane, (A big opening)

SO, I looked behind me, looked ahead of me again, and then took the left turn
Tom was behind me, and behind him, out of NOWHERE came a BIGASS box van/cargo vehicle. (Think 5 tons)

Apparently he was moving too fast to slow down for Tom and me, and instead, he saw an opening in the left lane (oncoming traffic) to pass us (on a double yellow line). Well instead of passing us, he just straight up clobbered me while I was crossing the left lane heading to the gas station. I only saw him at the last second and had the time enough to punch the throttle wide open. He hit my motorcycle behind my where me body sits, and impacted squarely on my left pannier case, destroying the pannier rack (the pelican case is alive, and fully protected the motorcycle).

My rear end slid out to my right, then the rest of my motorcycle caught up to me, and I went down on my left side and started sliding. While sliding I hit a 17 year old pedestrian who later ended up with 3 stitches in his wrist but nothing more. He walked away from the accident.

I too walked away, straight into an ambulance to the hospital.

Vehicle insurance is compulsory here in Colombia, and Tom and I bought our insurance on Tuesday the 2nd. The insurance took effect at 12:00am on Wednesday. The accident occurred around 3pm. The motorcycle insurance covers my health. I am hoping that the truck drivers insurance will cover my motorcycle. (I know he has insurance as he presented it to the police at the same time)

I was completely fine, EXCEPT, my motorcycle landed very hard on my left leg and pinched/compressed it between the pavement, and fractured my left fibula just above my ankle.

I was taken to the hospital where x-rays were taken, and I was shown the diagnosis describing my fracture.

I had two options.

Option Number 1: Either a cast for 6 weeks, resulting in immobilization of my ankle and foot, resulting in the necessity of physical therapy after my ankle bones and muscles atrophied for a month and a half.

OR

Option Number 2: Receive a small’ish incision under which would be placed a plate with screws to correct the break in my leg and help me heal in 3 weeks. I would maintain mobilization, and it would further reduce the need for physical therapy.
That was yesterday.

This morning (August 4th, 2011) I received a healthy leg swabbing, and an injection into my back between my vertebrae (Similar to an Epidural I believe) which numbed me from just above the waist, all the way to my toes. When I could feel no pain nor move my legs, I had a 5inch or so incision cut into the left side of my left leg just above my ankle.

Soon thereafter, a plate was inserted, and connected via 8 (EIGHT, f’ing) screws to my fibula, securely supporting the break.

I was then stitched back together with 11 stitches, x-rayed again to confirm success, and then dismissed with Tom to go to the hotel room that he secured.


Like I said, Tom and I bought obligatory motorcycle insurance on Tuesday August 3rd, yesterday. The accident happened 32 hours later. Today, I left the hospital not having paid a dime. Also, before my treatment, the police officer told me straight to my face, regardless of my insurance, that Colombia has a common health insurance policy and that no matter what, that I shouldn’t pay a cent. It didn’t come to that however, and gratefully my insurance wasn’t a problem.

The last thing to see is how much I can get from the truck drivers insurance to help me replace side case racks, side cases, and top case.

Currently the police are hashing it out, confirming damage inquiries with the insurance adjuster of the at fault party. The police officers (there are 3 (?) of them, 2 in their late 20’s/early 30’s, and one who’s 40’ish) took Tom’s account of the story, and my account, and stood nodding as I recounted my story, confirming after that what I said must be the truth, and that the truck driver was being less than honest. (The truck driver claimed to be next to Tom when I turned left. Tom HEARTILY denied that)

An account of the accident, please keep in mind the rules of the road are not necessarily the same here in Colombia as they might be where you live. I am not an expert either.

We believe that the truck driver never slowed down when he came up behind Tom and I. (I lead in front of Tom). As there was ample space on our left side (against oncoming traffic, though a double yellow line) we believe that the truck driver saw that as opportunity to maintain velocity and also pass us as well. Unfortunately for me, he never left his lane (the one we three we traveling in) until the precise moment that I made a left hand turn into the available gas station lot. As there was ample free space and no oncoming traffic, I used the opportunity to slow down in the opposing lane of traffic before entering the slightly dipped entrance to the gas station.

Before taking my left turn, I looked ahead against traffic, behind me, and again ahead against traffic. Then I made my move. I first saw the upcoming, fast moving truck when I was nearly perpendicular to the road at a 90* angle. Upon seeing the truck, I accelerated quickly and was able to move my position forward slightly. The truck then impacted me and the rest is history as written above.

I would like to think that there was something that could have happened differently. Of course, I could have waited to turn left, but I saw amply room. I could have not slowed down, but I didn’t want to enter a closed gas station lot at 25mph. I could have looked one last time, but the truck wasn’t coming until I turned.

I asked Tom, who was directly behind me less than 20 ft in the opposite lane position what happened from his point of view. I was leading in dense traffic in the left hand lane position. Tom was behind me in the right hand lane position.

He told me: I saw you make a turn for the gas station, and just as I went to follow you a truck appeared to my left, moving rapidly. The truck obscured my view, and I only heard the sound of the crash. But, that truck must have been moving very rapidly in comparison to the rest of traffic or it would never have been able to accelerate into you as fast as it did, nor would it have appeared in my field of vision as quickly.

It was Tom’s observation that the truck must have been moving rapidly in consideration of an attempt to pass us. It was then that I turned and was clobbered.

Having written all of this, please know that I am fine. Yes I have a plate and screws in my leg, but I am alive and well, and have no plans on stopping my journey. My pannier racks are toast, and top case a write off, but my motorcycle is just as it was and is in ride-able condition as proved by the police officer that loved every minute of his ride to the police station on a bike with 450cc’s more than his standard issue DR200. Yes my girlfriend arrives in Bogota in 17 days. I hope to be there then, and continue traveling south with her to Peru. If anything I’ll be able to have her bring me down some new equipment to replace my battered stuff.

Forever onward! 
-----------------------

Rubic

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #29 on: December 11, 2015, 11:15:08 AM »
Hit by an elderly driver when I was riding in the bike lane.  He just flat out turned right into me.  Because there was some minor bleeding, someone called an ambulance but I walked away from it.  Amazingly, no damage to the bike.  Re-trued the front wheel and everything was okay.

Sloeginfizz

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #30 on: December 11, 2015, 09:46:33 PM »
Multiple times over the years, mostly on bike, but once as a pedestrian. Never seriously hurt thankfully.

First and worst time I was riding through the intersection, had a green light, but the driver coming from the right was not able to completely stop in time and t-boned me. I was thrown off the bike and had major bruising. The bike was bent beyond fixing. Driver was mildly intoxicated, so I ended up having to testify at a court hearing, but the police made a minor procedural mistake so the case was thrown out.

Second time. Hardly worth mentioning. Idiot on her cell phone didn't stop in time at the stop sign and rear ended me It threw me off the bike, but I didn't get hurt nor did it even damage my bike. Like I said, she was stopping, just not fast enough.

Third time. Riding home in the rain and approaching darkness. Four way stop sign. It was my turn to go, but the woman (coming from the right again) claimed she didn't see me, despite the fact that I had three head lights on my handle bars and one on my helmet, all standard bike reflectors, plus some reflective tape wrapped on each spoke, plus was wearing a high viz jacket in lime yellow and high viz rain pants. Luckily, again, low speed collision, bent the bike a little but not me.

Fourth time. again, hardly worth mentioning. Lady in SUV heading into parking spot right hooked me. I didn't see her doing it soon enough so I hammered the breaks hard and was thrown over my handle bars into the side of her SUV, but only hard enough to irritate me. Really, kind of more my fault than hers.

Fifth time. I was doored. That kind of really sucked. I kind of count this one as my fault too as I was probably too close to the row of parked cars. The woman was sitting in her dark car, then suddenly threw open the door, right as I passed it. Actually, that was probably better than if she'd opened it just before. I wasn't thrown over my handlebars but to the side. Out of my accidents, probably the scariest becasue from my point of view, one minute I'm cycling, the next I'm flying to the pavement. I was just bruised but the door hit my pedal hard enough it bent the crank to the point it couldn't spin any more.


As a pedestrian- it was dark, raining. I was crossing the street with the light and crosswalk signal, but someone decided he could make a left turn and didn't see me in the cross walk. I don't remember it exactly. One minute I'm walking, the next I'm flying to the pavement. He must have hit me with the driver's side rear view mirror because that was the only thing damaged on the car. I was thrown to the pavement and landed on my arm hard enough that I let myself get taken to the emergency room, it hurt that badly. I thought my arm was broken. After x-rays, no break, just bruising. The spot that hit the pavement first was numb for months afterwards.



Anyway, that seems to be a lot, compared to most people, even when you consider that this was over about a 20 year period. So i sat down and thought about it one day. The common factor seems to have been me riding (or walking) at times when it was dark and wet or with other low visibility factors. Even though I made efforts to light myself up, that was not enough. So I stopped riding my bike at night or even if was raining hard enough. Just not worth it to me. I didn't replace those bike rides with driving (we don't have a car). Mostly I walk instead. I have taken the occasional cab if the distance was further than 2 miles.

We no longer live in the near suburbs now but in the city proper. Previously, I was biking to work at all times of the day or night (yay retail!), so I think my exposure to traffic was higher than some. Especially at times when people are tired, like early morning and late evening hours. But now, I can walk to and from work at a sensible time. I can take a bus or the el if I'm going further than walking distance.

neophyte

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #31 on: December 11, 2015, 10:20:14 PM »
I approached a car that was exiting the parking lot who was turning right but had a stop sign. The car blows through the stop sign while looking left towards traffic and not where he/she is turning (in my direction).

This scenario is so freaking common.  This also happens a lot with drivers who want to make a right on a red light or a stop sign.  They keep looking left for oncoming traffic but never once look to the right for pedestrians heading into the crosswalk.  For those who really look clueless and it's clear, they're going to gun it without ever looking right, I just stand, wait and let them make the right turn, even though I have right of way.  Usually as they make their turn, they realize the error of their ways. Some don't care but others--I can see the shock or embarrassment on their faces as they turn and realize I'm inches away from their car.

So, so, so, so common! As a pedestrian I've also nearly been hit by cars making a left turn on to the road I'm trying to cross.  I feel kind of bad for the ones that realize they've made a mistake, but some drivers lean on their horns or even roll down their windows and cuss me out. I always want to slow down when that happens.

Bardo

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #32 on: December 12, 2015, 06:35:23 AM »
I had a collision while on a bike with a truck that pulled out in front of me.  It knocked me off my bike and across the road.  Thankfully I was wearing a helmet, so all that happened was a quick trip to the emergency room and a prescription for pain-killers.  The guy that hit me didn't see me because of the morning sun.  He was really nice about the whole thing. 


shitzmagee

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #33 on: December 12, 2015, 07:00:04 AM »
I was hopping curbs on a bike when I was in elementary. I fell into the street and was hit by a car as I was getting up. Witnesses said he was going about 40 mph in a 15 mph housing area. He didn't bother stopping...and I ended up waking up in the emergency room. I don't remember lying in the street or the ambulance ride, but after I woke up a few hours later I had no injuries.

Jakejake

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #34 on: December 12, 2015, 07:18:59 AM »
The common factor seems to have been me riding (or walking) at times when it was dark and wet or with other low visibility factors. Even though I made efforts to light myself up, that was not enough.
When I was hit it was daytime, but I share the frustration - I had a couple dozen spoke reflectors, hi-vis gear, etc. It doesn't help if their eyes are on a cell phone, or looking to make sure THEY don't get hit, vs. making sure they don't hit someone else. In some ways though I prefer night time driving, because my problems generally come when cars are turning from a dead stop. During the day, I don't have a good way to catch their eye. At night, I can turn my headlamp to flashing mode and aim it into their eyes. I've taking to doing that unapologetically if it's clear they are engaged with their cell phone, or not even thinking "hey, perhaps I should check if a person's in the crosswalk."

squeakywheel

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #35 on: December 12, 2015, 08:24:34 AM »
I was very narrowly missed (but still seriously injured) when an elderly driver ran a stop sign and did not see me jogging on the sidewalk (at dawn, not wearing reflective clothing). That was two years ago and I just had what is hopefully the last surgery on my foot last week.

One thing I have not seen mentioned: getting the contact info of the driver at fault and/or calling the police. I did not do this, was just too traumatized to think straight, and I have regretted it very much. Not only would her insurance have had to pay for all of my resulting medical care, but hopefully she would have lost her license or at least her family would have been made aware that she is a menace.

SnackDog

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #36 on: December 12, 2015, 08:54:05 AM »
I've had three serious bike accidents. One involved a jogger who did a quick u-turn into my face.  Second was a car which slammed on its brakes on a slippery road causing me to lose the bike entirely (it just vanished beneath me!).  Third was a van that braked hard in front of me and I hit his rear door with the top of my helmet.  All three were  at least partially my fault for going too fast, unable to stop/react in time.

My close friend was hit by a car ten years ago and never quite recovered.  Still works from his bed.

Another close friend was hit from behind (run over) by a drunk driver in 2012 and took about a year to recover.

A guy at work crashes on his commute at least once a year but has escaped serious injury so far.

A relative was hit by a car cross the bike lane into a parking lot. He was released from the hospital the same day.

A scientist I knew went off a mountain road on his bike and was killed.

My advice is to wear your helmet, slow down, and ride as if everyone else is hell bent on killing you.

dodojojo

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #37 on: December 12, 2015, 08:59:13 AM »
I now walk with a small flashlight or bike light at night.  When I approach an intersection, I point the light to my left and right.  If I see oncoming traffic flashing their right turn signal, I flash the light at them as I cross.  It really is dark in many suburban and residential areas.  Even as a pedestrian, I saw how often I couldn't see someone walking towards me from only 20-30 yards away.  Last week, I was 1/3 through a crosswalk and even with my little light, the car only saw me/the light late.  The car came to a sudden stop as I came to the middle of the crosswalk.

I shake my head when I see cyclists without any lights at all. 

GuitarStv

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #38 on: December 12, 2015, 09:22:43 AM »
I've been hit by cars three times on my bike (all while cycling on the sidewalk).  I don't cycle on the sidewalk any more, take the lane when necessary, and have outfitted myself and bike with high visibility stuff . . . and the problem seems to have largely gone away.

I've been hit twice while walking (once while on the sidewalk where the motorist decided to back out quickly while closing her eyes and hoping for the best, once while crossing an intersection).  Not really sure what to do to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.  Maybe never leave the house?

I've been hit twice in my car, once rear ended by someone who wasn't paying attention, and once by someone who changed lanes directly into my car without checking to see if the way was clear.  Not really sure what to do to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.  Maybe never drive again?

:P

Mr. Frugalwoods

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #39 on: December 12, 2015, 10:09:24 AM »
I've been hit twice. 

First was a hit and run, the guy totally knew he hit me and gunned it to get away.  Nothing broken, but sore enough that I couldn't ride for a couple of weeks.  Bike needed about $200 of parts + new helmet.

Second was a dooring.  The driver stayed, was totally nice, and paid for my bike repair and new helmet.  I was riding again in about 1.5 weeks.

The key in both of these was the relatively slow city speeds.  The car that actually hit me was probably doing 20mph, and hit me with his mirror so I fell away from his car.  The dooring happened while I was going uphill and probably less than 15 mph.

I don't ride on streets with speed limits above 30mph.  Much less chance of walking away from an accident.

sol

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #40 on: December 12, 2015, 10:58:32 AM »
The lesson I am taking from this thread is "cars are really dangerous".

MauiNut

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #41 on: December 12, 2015, 12:23:27 PM »
Northwest side of Chicago.  Year 1987.  Young 20-something pup.  Sitting at a red light in my Mustang when I see a truck in my rear view mirror going way too fast.  Oh sh*t.  Brace.  He plowed into my a$$-end, I swear that each of my eyes went in 5 different directions within 2 seconds.  Of course, his "brakes failed".  Bullhockey.  Car should have been totaled, but my insurance company said no way, fixable.  A month later, I had my car back, but the repairs were totally Third World.

Dollar Slice

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #42 on: December 12, 2015, 03:15:57 PM »
I've been hit twice while walking (once while on the sidewalk where the motorist decided to back out quickly while closing her eyes and hoping for the best, once while crossing an intersection).  Not really sure what to do to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.  Maybe never leave the house?

I practice what I think of as "defensive walking" - never walk in front of a moving car without seeing the driver's face/making eye contact, head is on a swivel when crossing streets, looking down the driveway before crossing it, etc. And STILL I have had some close calls because of drivers who were complete nutjobs. Like screeching through a left turn without signalling or slowing down while I was crossing the street in a crosswalk, or - this one happened twice, amazingly - a car illegally parked in the middle of a crosswalk starting to drive while I am walking around it, without looking to see if anyone was in front of or in back of the car when they started driving. In one case it was a cop (who gave me shit for giving him a dirty look when he almost ran me over without looking), in the other case I literally had my hand planted on the center of their rear window when they started backing up because they'd completely blocked the crosswalk and I had to climb over a snowbank, using the car as leverage, to get past them.

In high school I had a very low-speed accident between me (driving) and a bicyclist, it was dark and he was driving against traffic, with no lights, and on the sidewalk. I was coming out of a completely blind-to-one-side driveway and he shot out in front of my car just as I took my foot off the brake to ease out far enough to see whether there were cars coming. No idea how I could have avoided that one, but it really shook me up. (He didn't even fall off the bike, just wobbled a little and stopped to yell at me.)

irishbear99

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #43 on: December 14, 2015, 12:09:32 PM »
I approached a car that was exiting the parking lot who was turning right but had a stop sign. The car blows through the stop sign while looking left towards traffic and not where he/she is turning (in my direction).

This scenario is so freaking common.  This also happens a lot with drivers who want to make a right on a red light or a stop sign.  They keep looking left for oncoming traffic but never once look to the right for pedestrians heading into the crosswalk.  For those who really look clueless and it's clear, they're going to gun it without ever looking right, I just stand, wait and let them make the right turn, even though I have right of way.  Usually as they make their turn, they realize the error of their ways. Some don't care but others--I can see the shock or embarrassment on their faces as they turn and realize I'm inches away from their car.  I do give them the death stare to ensure they get the message.  Some do wave apologetically.  Today, a guy did stop midway and brusquely waved me to cross. As if he was doing me a favor.  I made sure to take my time.

As a pedestrian this scenario is really annoying. But as a cyclist, it frightens me and a big reason why I don't like riding on sidewalks.  I've tried, to no avail, explain to well-meaning friends who advise me to ride on the sidewalk, why I prefer biking on the road.

I was nearly hit in a crosswalk (pedestrian) in pretty much the same scenario. I was walking from the driver's left to right in the crosswalk. He rolled up and looked left and, apparently since he didn't see any cars coming, planned on doing a California roll through the stop sign. I was nearly right in front of him when he rolled into the crosswalk, probably doing a good 10 mph or so. Luckily his window was down, so I yelled, "HEY!" to get his attention. He slammed on the brakes and missed me by inches. Looked like it scared the shit outta him. I know it scared the shit outta me. Hopefully that's one person who thinks twice before doing a California roll any more. But that's probably wishful thinking.

A coworker of mine was hit twice on his bike, about a year apart. The second time left him with permanent injuries (MTBI that left him with a spotty short term memory and the inability to taste anything).

Trudie

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #44 on: December 14, 2015, 12:15:46 PM »
I previously wrote about my own experience being hit by a car in a lighted cross walk.  Luckily, my injuries were minor.

But, I just read that a pedestrian was killed at 7 AM this morning by a hit-and-run driver near the student union at one of our major universities (Iowa State.)  It's just tremendously sad.

kendallf

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #45 on: December 14, 2015, 02:14:40 PM »
There are probably non-cyclists, or casual cyclists, reading this thread and freaking out.  For those people: I have been riding daily for many, many years (usually more than 5000 miles per year, a few years more than 10k).  Never been hit by a car.  I have had some close calls, but by adopting some of the precautionary tactics mentioned in this thread (ride in the lane, act like a car, be well lit at night, etc.) I have had zero impacts thus far.

I just rode 350 miles solo down through FL from Jacksonville to West Palm Beach, fully loaded and camping along the way.  No issues, great trip, including some miles on the side of a busy highway under construction (US27 near I-4) and some very isolated, 2 lane roads (nearly 100 miles on either side of Okeechobee).

reader2580

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #46 on: December 14, 2015, 02:47:26 PM »
I rode my bike all over as a teenager in the 80s.  I got hit in the front wheel by a car turning left one day.  I wasn't hurt and didn't crash, but handlebar stem was off by 90 degrees after the hit.  The bike was still rideable after I put the stem back in the right position.  I did have to have the wheel trued.  I don't recall if I was at fault or if the car was at fault.

fuzzhead1506

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #47 on: December 14, 2015, 03:18:52 PM »
...(once while on the sidewalk where the motorist decided to back out quickly while closing her eyes and hoping for the best...)

:P

DID EVERY READER WHO HAS OPENED THIS THREAD (since 12/12) COMPLETELY GLOSS OVER THIS!?!??!

I absolutely cannot even imagine talking with the driver after having them divulge this to me... what state issued this person a driver's license?  I'll make sure to never visit....


***
also, i didn't mean for this to turn into a scare-everyone-away-from-biking thread - it was more meant to show that getting hit happens, and people get up from it all the time! I feel like after my accident, I have talked with at least 100 people about what happened and no fewer than a dozen had stories about how their "brother-in-law was hit in pretty much the same situation" or whatever.  After being hit and before chatting to people about what happened, I was actually thinking my sitch was pretty rare.

mm1970

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #48 on: December 14, 2015, 05:06:22 PM »
The biggest insult to injury though was the police officer coming to the ER and ticketing me ($10) for riding "abreast a lane."  I wasn't even coherent enough to respond.

In September of 2006 I was laying on the side of a very rural road in central Pennsylvania, full of broken bones and unable to move, with a crowd of paramedics around me, while a police officer wrote me a $185 ticket and tucked into my jacket pocket for me.  It was a single-vehicle crash (mine) but he had driven 45 minutes to get out there and damned if he was leaving the scene without writing someone a ticket. 

My respect for traffic cops diminished significantly that day.  Something about the little ticket book takes away their humanity.

ah, gotta love the PA police...my home state

mm1970

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Re: Who has been hit by a car, and lived to tell the tale?
« Reply #49 on: December 14, 2015, 05:15:20 PM »
I approached a car that was exiting the parking lot who was turning right but had a stop sign. The car blows through the stop sign while looking left towards traffic and not where he/she is turning (in my direction).

This scenario is so freaking common.  This also happens a lot with drivers who want to make a right on a red light or a stop sign.  They keep looking left for oncoming traffic but never once look to the right for pedestrians heading into the crosswalk.  For those who really look clueless and it's clear, they're going to gun it without ever looking right, I just stand, wait and let them make the right turn, even though I have right of way.  Usually as they make their turn, they realize the error of their ways. Some don't care but others--I can see the shock or embarrassment on their faces as they turn and realize I'm inches away from their car.  I do give them the death stare to ensure they get the message.  Some do wave apologetically.  Today, a guy did stop midway and brusquely waved me to cross. As if he was doing me a favor.  I made sure to take my time.

As a pedestrian this scenario is really annoying. But as a cyclist, it frightens me and a big reason why I don't like riding on sidewalks.  I've tried, to no avail, explain to well-meaning friends who advise me to ride on the sidewalk, why I prefer biking on the road.
When I was on mat leave with my first son, I went for walks every day in the neighborhood.  I varied my route every day.

One day I was crossing a street.  I was walking along the main street, but there were side streets crossing.  Main street = no stop sign.  Cross street = stop signs.  I was IN the street with my baby in the bjorn and a car ran the stop sign.  I could have smacked her side window.  I couldn't believe it.

I live across from a street that joins my street in a T.  That street comes down a hill and most people turn right at the bottom.  Yesterday I was looking out the window and someone drove down the hill, stopped at the stop sign, waited 5 seconds, and then turned right.

That never happens.  Generally people just run it.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!