Megan’s Collision With a Pickup

My name is Megan.  I am a stay at home mother of three. I took up cycling as a way to spend time with myself. I needed something for ME. I love my family and adore motherhood, but I can’t let those that I love be all that I am.  

August 15th: I’d been riding on my own, thankfully, and headed home from my daily 14mi. Less than two blocks away from home, I pressed the crosswalk button, started through the path designated for pedestrians when I collided with a pickup truck. Admittedly, I saw the truck moments before colliding with it, but couldn’t brake or react fast enough. This truck had not been in the right most lane even though they’d turned right. 

I bounced off the side of the truck, flew into the air & ended up on the other side of the vehicle, in the lane they should’ve been in. The driver ran to my side, asked ifI was alright, and repeatedly stated he hadn’t saw me. He asked if I could roll over, his wife advised me not to even try and instructed her husband to call 911 & to refrain from touching me. Ithanked them for sticking around. They could have left me in the middle the road, and at the very least, they hadn’t.  

Once my partner and children had arrived at the scene, I was still in the middle of the road. I was sobbing, not because my broken clavicle hurt, but because I knew my babies could see their mother motionless on the ground. Thepolice officer handling the incident handed my partner a police report to fill out. The driver told my partner “I didn’t even see her,” and “don’t worry about the truck.” even with what appears to be admission of fault, the police officer handling the report filed it in the driver’s favor, Tried intimidating me over the phone (said there were witnesses when there weren’t, said  “he couldn’t have turned because he said he was going straight,” as if what I said was just false because the driver had the opportunity to say his piece first, the officer claimed I was supposed to have been behaving as a motor vehicle when that’s untrue, etc.) when I’d attempted to give my side of the story two days later (after having had some time to ween myself off of the opiates I was prescribed for post-surgery pain management) and ultimately made it nearly impossible to take to court without exorbitant expense. The way this officer spoke to me was truly jarring. All I had tried to do was respectfully give my side of the story and he continuously interrupted and challenged everything I said. 

Furthermore, this man wasn’t following the rules of the road and won’t even get so much as a slap on the wrist. I just hope he will take this experience and learn from it, because I certainly have. Although crosswalks are supposed to be the safest place for pedestrians, inattentive drivers still exist

I am grateful to be alive. I am healing. 

Moving forward, I need to repair and/or replace my bike. The bike I had been riding at the time of the accident was a generous donation to my cycling team and loaned to me. Due to the driver’s insurance finding that “the insured is not liable for any damages,” I’m left having to take care of costs myself.  I will need to replace my helmet. The EMTs cut my FAVORITE jersey (pictured) off of my body.  My partner had to spend 5wks at home with our children, without pay. I have three children under 5, and restrictions with lifting made it impossible to care for our youngest. The insured isn’t liable wages unless ~I~ was the one prevented from working.

Thank you for taking the time to read. If you’re not in a position to donate, I’d be so thankful if you could share.