Head on Collision

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Just before Christmas I suffered a catastrophic head on collision with a Van travelling in the opposite direction (North Sydney), while commuting to work by bicycle.

I spent the next 10 days in the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital, recovering from multiple fractures to the spine and skull... More about that later...

The Van travelling in the opposite direction, crossed the double yellow lines and came into my lane, collecting me on the windshield. It was a complete surprise to me and I had no recourse but to take the hit. It was ugly to be sure.

I heard subsequently about many other people who had similar injuries to myself, but suffered these injuries while trying to swerve away from a car or van that creates a dangerous situation. As a result of not hitting the vehicle but rather the curb or a parked car, the Bicycle rider is actually in a much worse situation. They have multiple injuries, but the person that caused the injuries gets off scott free. You have no one to sue for medical bills, and if you caused damage to the parked car, its up to you to compensate the owner of the parked car.

Adding insult to injury, while you recover from your painful injuries, you begin to realise that according to NSW law, there is little compensation for the pain and suffering that you experienced (assuming you could easily prove it was the other persons fault). You need to have suffered at least a 10% loss of body function before you can make any claim whatsoever for pain and suffering.

The moral of this story? I'm not sure, other than if you are going to get into an accident then you may as well hit the person that caused the accident... since at least you will have some recourse for your medical bills. In addition, the police can get involved and discipline (charge) the driver.

Strange but true.... :eek:

Yep, that'd be our justice system at work :rolleyes:

The moral of this story? I'm not sure, other than if you are going to get into an accident then you may as well hit the person that caused the accident... since at least you will have some recourse for your medical bills. In addition, the police can get involved and discipline (charge) the driver.

Strange but true.... :eek:
[/QUOTE] Good to read that your on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, if your going to have a collision might as well be with the idiot causing it than hit someone else avoiding the first. As cyclists we are, obviously, very squishy.