Run off road by Yukon = broken collarbone :(

[culcune]

Was waiting to turn left in an intersection's left turn light controlled by a red/green arrow. Two lanes both go left, and a Yukon pulls up (I was in the outer left-only lane lane since once I turn left, my street comes up 2 blocks and I turn right). We get the green left arrow, and nearly complete the turn, and suddenly Yukon comes into view from my face mask and closing --she decided the inside lane wasn't good enough, drifts across the dotted lines and she strikes me, throws me off balance while guiding me to the curb; before I can figure out brakes (and since I was off-balance could not reach either one) said Yukon keeps narrowing gap between Yukon and curb, where me and bike finally decide/realize momentum will toss us onto curb--which, as if on cue, we do! I roll onto cement sidewalk, then dirt/gravel lot, where I am looking at TMEC on its side with gasoline leaking out of cap. I sit up to see if anything besides scrapes and bruises have come over me. A sharp, yet familiar pain, is really hurting my right shoulder (I broke my left clavicle when I was 13).

Next thing I knew, firefighters are there (they happened to be at the intersection!) An accident investigator pulls up, asking me questions, and the firefighters put a neck brace on me, and put me on a back board. An ambulance is there, and before I can say "ambulance chasing commercial" I am at Yuma's hospital. Oh, and just to show that a small city can have small town charm, the fire captain on the scene rolled the TMEC the two blocks to my house rather than having it towed! He told my son what had happened (he and the others saw it happen) who tracked down my wife.

Spent several hours, and x-rays confirmed what I thought was the matter--broken clavicle :(
Came home, and in too much pain to look at bike. Will update soon...

[cheesy]

Hate to say it, but Been There, Done That, Got The T-Shirt.

Smartassery aside, glad you are somewhat ambulatory. Take the prescribed pain killers and rest. And rest some more. You think you hurt now, wait a couple of days. And I hate to say it, but get a lawyer. The other parties insurance company WILL try to avoid paying for any damages. On the plus side, you seem like you have some credible witnesses.

If the Fire Captain was able to roll your bike a couple of blocks, it my have come through fairly unscathed but have it thoroughly checked for alignment and hidden damage.

So, with the return of Samartassery, does this seem familiar?

[culcune]

Thanks for the lift (words and photo)! It was funny in that I was trying to get my bearings as to what hurts and such, my bike is on its side with gas leaking out the tank, the turn signal is still going (I never disconnected the loud 'beeping winker' so it's still loudly chirping), and two of the firefighters lift the bike up (and turn it off which turns off the 'beep, beep,...') and both were quick with a half joking disclaimer that they did it because of the gas leak, and did not want me to think they cared more about the bike. I still had my humor, and said that even if I did think that, if it had burst into flames, that would have shut me up real quick!

The other funny thing was that I was coming home from a professional development seminar (as teachers we are obligated to obtain 180 professional development hours every 6 years/avg 30 per year, and when we attend anything like teachers' workshops, we need to have proof of the hours in the form of printed certificates). My trunk case had opened up, spilling tools and papers which started blowing around. I asked them if they could run and grab the proof of attendance certificate sheet (it did have 5 hours on it!) for which they obliged. They understood since they have their own professional development hours obligations. Five hours is five hours!

[Weldangrind]

Good Heavens! I'm glad it wasn't worse than that.

Excellent service from the local FD! How fortunate that they witnessed the collision, and that they were able to help immediately. I hope you heal quickly.

[SpudRider]

Wow! I'm sorry you were injured, but I'm glad you were not hurt more seriously.

The stupid woman was probably talking on the cell phone. Did anyone get a license plate number? Did the woman flee the scene of the accident?

[culcune]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Good Heavens! I'm glad it wasn't worse than that.

Excellent service from the local FD! How fortunate that they witnessed the collision, and that they were able to help immediately. I hope you heal quickly.

Thank you! So far, so good! Lots of shoulder pain, and rib pain. Hip pain to some extent, and my right big toe has turned black and blue after a day. Other than that, we'll see what else starts hurting...

[culcune]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Wow! I'm sorry you were injured, but I'm glad you were not hurt more seriously.

The stupid woman was probably talking on the cell phone. Did anyone get a license plate number? Did the woman flee the scene of the accident?

Actually, she pulled over, apologizing profusely. Don't know what excuse she gave to the police--she told me she "didn't see (me)" which makes me wonder. I was already at the intersection when she pulled up to my left, the green arrow came up, and suddenly there was Tahoe (it was technically a Yukon) crossing lanes into me. She would have been better off getting behind me if her truck is so big she needs two lanes to turn!

Yes, the injuries could have been far worse! It was, for all intents and purposes, a slow-speed accident which helped, but also physics pushed me outward rather than getting thrown off balance and getting run over! That would have smarted much worse!!

[SpudRider]

I hope you are feeling better soon.

I'm glad to hear it wasn't a 'hit-and-run' accident. I agree with Cheesy; do get yourself a lawyer. Also, don't be in any hurry to reach a settlement; her insurance company will definitely try to cheat you.

[zingshoen]

best wishes for a good recovery! that woman could have impaired vision if she didn t see you, IMHO she shouldn t be on the road.

[culcune]

Originally Posted by zingshoen

best wishes for a good recovery! that woman could have impaired vision if she didn t see you, IMHO she shouldn t be on the road.

She was suffering what many people in the US have--truckis too gigantis

[SpudRider]

She also suffers from the common malady Cannotdriveitis.

I hope you are feeling better today, Culcune.

[Weldangrind]

I wondered about cell phone use as well.