Crash - What to do?

pb21

Cycling home Friday evening on a cycle path I hit a temporary sign frame and fell off. This was a large frame with nothing in it just the metal bit around it and no warning or lights, I think it is there because of impending road works. Half of the sign was on the grass verge inbetween the road and the path, the other half on the path, it was probably 1.5m-2m wide.

Anyway I obviously didnt see it and came off. It was hard to see because it was dark there was no warning lights around it and I was cycling into on coming traffic with their headlights on which kind of blinds you.

I hit the deck and hurt my shoulder and more imporatntly my hip. I broke my hip quite badly back in May and have only been back cycling the last couple of months. I went to the hospital because I was in pain when walking. They did xrays and said there was no sign of new damage and sent me home. However I currently cant walk without my crutches due to the pain and have had trouble sleeping the last couple of nights. I am going to speak to my consultant tomorrow and see what he thinks. I hope it is just badly bruised but it really hurts and fear I have done something worse.

What do you think I should do? Does it sound like something pursuing with a compensation company? Obviosly I need to do something to stop this kind of thing happening again. They need smaller signs or at least warning lights around them. I suppose it is a bit my fault but someone who stopped and very kindly helped me said he nearly hit it too.

I feel really upset by all this and I wont be cycling again for a while I cant take any more risks.

cougie

so just a metal frame - sounds like it would be quite hard to spot in those circumstances.
Did you get the name of the person who helped you ?

I would take pics of the sign and location and your injuries and then phone up someone like Bikeline and see what they advise ?

Try not to let it pout you off cycling though - that does sound pretty rare.

pb21

cougie wrote:

so just a metal frame - sounds like it would be quite hard to spot in those circumstances.
Did you get the name of the person who helped you ?

I would take pics of the sign and location and your injuries and then phone up someone like Bikeline and see what they advise ?

Try not to let it pout you off cycling though - that does sound pretty rare.

Yeah just a metal frame. I have the name and number of who helped me and he said he wouldnt mind being a witness (he is a memeber of sustrans). He took a photo with my camera phone but its not great, we moved the sign afterwards as it was too dangerous. I will give bikeline a call and see what they say.

Well its put me off cycling for a while I am not going to go back out till my hip is as close to 100% as it is going to get. I could (if I havnt already) do something much more serious.

Thanks for the reply.

ChrisLS

...are you in the CTC? If not join, their legal cover is excellent...