PPB at it's finest. How can they not cite the cabbie. He was driving in the wrong lane and he hit youy. For future refertence, always tell them you got hurt. Here in Vancouver, if you have a minor accident, the cops won't even come unless someone is hurt. Seems like with what they get paid they could do something to earn it.

You can do a citizen citation. Search that phrase and you'll find a couple of resources on bike portland or websites for lawyers Ray Thomas or Mark Ginsberg. Then scour the ORS's for as many you can find that might fit (think the vehicle code is around ORS 811 though that's the top of my head).

Wait -- so the dude (or his employer) isn't even going to have to pay for your new wheel/tire/basket/whatever else?? And you ASSUME that his insurance rates MIGHT go up?? And he wasn't issued a citation even when he was clearly in the wrong, a fact that several witnesses attested to?? What the fuck, man?!

I was hit by a woman in a van, resulting in damage to my bike (and basket!) quite similar to yours. I certainly hit the deck hard, but my injuries were probably a little less serious than yours. She immediately made sure that i was alright and quickly offered me and my bike a ride home. I trusted her to give me her real phone number, but i memorized her license plate just in case.

I didn't call the cops, but if i did, i would've been just as shocked as you were if they refused to even take a report. Is that seriously standard procedure?! Especially when a commercial vehicle is involved?!

Later that afternoon i got a new wheel and tire, called her up with the total, and she met me the very next day to give me the cash. I guess i was lucky, unlike you, to have been hit by a non-asshole.

Glad you escaped relatively unscathed. Take two glasses of unadulterated scotch, followed by three bong hits, and call me in the morning.

keep clam and harden the :bear: up

Call Ray Thomas's office inna hurry, if for some inexplicable reason you haven't already. Oh yeah, they'll tell you to stop freaking blogging about it...

Always assume you are injured. I got ran over by an 89 year old lady who had to use a walker to get out of her car sitting stationary in my car in a turn lane boxed in by cars with nowhere to go. I had just answered the phone while I was sitting there waiting for the light to turn and helplessly watched the whole thing unfold as I narrated it to the person I was talking to. She ran over a stop sign and jumped right off the side walk and smashed the whole side of my car in. I didn't think I was hurt so the cops refused to come. I didn't want to go to the hospital because I hate doctors. I was fine at first but after a few days my neck and back were all fucked up. Even though I was in very good shape (gym 4-5x /wk) at the time and usually stay pretty healthy I have seriously had periodic problems with a spot on my lower back ever since then. I got paid a small settlement but it was a total pain in the ass and took a while.

Isn't it amusing how the cops will pull you over and want to search your vehicle for any minor (possibly nonexistent) traffic violation (especially in my hood) but they don't even respond to a situation like this? The cabby could have been high as a kite. Moral to the story is it is good to go to the hospital and get it checked out regardless and go after his insurance company for reimbursement and bike repairs. You never really know how fucked up you are and you are not ambulance chasing in a situation where the other person was clearly at fault for assaulting you with a motor vehicle.

Cite him yourself: http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/ti…

Good thing you're ok... this could have been a lot worse.

Go after the mutherfucker. The cab company too.

PPB is a disgrace.

I'm sure this incident is not connected with your recent Worst.Night.Ever entry. Not one bit.

I was hit by a car that resulted in five broken vertebrae in my neck and back. I, of course, was taken away in an ambulance.

It was completely his fault, and no citation.

That's fucking lame.

If you had been in another car, your insurance company would be suing the taxi driver's insurance company. Since you presumably were on an uninsured bicycle, it would seem you have no other recourse than to sue the bastard yourself. Not too many attorneys are willing to take a case on contingency, other than for medical malpractice, but maybe this will be an exception.

actually if you have his insurance info (and possibly even if you don't using your own car insurance PIP--which i believe applies to bicyclists) you have up to 15,000 dollars in medical benefits to get evaluated and treated, including acupuncture, chiropractic, massage etc.

Something similar happened to my wife a few years ago. We were in a crosswalk, with the right of way, when someone made a left turn off NE Broadway and hit her. Luckily she was not hurt badly, but she did have neck, back, and knee problems for a few years.

There were plenty of witnesses, some who voluntarily gave me their names and addresses. The cops? They didn't care. They didn't cite him. Our insurance company sued his insurance company, but he received no citation.

I'm pretty sure pedestrians and cyclists have to die before the cops bother to do anything.

I watch a lot of Judge Judy. Sue them!

Sorry that had to happen Dirk. We miss you at the Alibi. You're a great reporter and this incident just shows it all. Call my friend Gregory Gudger -- he has a Journalism Degree and a Law Degree and is a great guy and he sings, too! He and I have done Karaoke together. Reach him on Facebook as Gregory Gudger or Google him. He's at 3800 NE Sandy. You will like him and he can fill you in on all the legal details. My best to you. Jason

If you have a smartphone, take pictures, lots of pictures. Before either vehicle is moved. Assuming of course, that you are capable of functioning.

Whether you're insured or not, just file a claim against his insurance policy and the company will offer you a settlement.

Another stupid cyclist who failed as usual to obey traffic laws...

What, pray tell, was he doing wrong and/or illegal? Please enlighten us.

From the sketch, it would appear that the taxi driver drove his cab the wrong way down a one way street, thus hitting the bike and cyclist head on. The police wrote up a report. It's an easy win for Dirk, other than for the damages to his bike, and the delayed physiological, and neurological injuries to himself. He needs to see a doctor and a lawyer.

To me it looks like the cab turned left down a wrong way lane of a two way street.

That's what you get for riding such a low gear ratio. Get a real man's bike and go at least 46:16. Also, France.

Lawyer up and take him and the cab company to civil court. Then go to grad school for free.

By now I imagine the pain has set in. Go see a chiropractor, PT, accupuncturist, etc.

On a completely unrelated note, a reasonable rule of thumb has it that insurance co's often offer to settle for ~3x your documented medical expenses.