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Taxi accident

EricinIkebukuro

Speeding Up
Jan 30, 2011
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On Sunday, I was knocked off my bike when a taxi suddenly changed lanes without checking his mirrors. His taxi bumped me and turned my front wheel sideways. We were doing about 25 k/m at the time and I landed on my shoulder first and then slide on my right side about 3 meters. Thankfully my brand new Fizik saddle didn't get torn up but I sure did. At first I thought I was ok, just a bit of road rash and some bruises but the second I tried to sit up I heard my collar bone snap and my right arm became useless. Thankfully a bystander was a nurse and he was able to keep me calm and collected until the ambulance arrived. I've broken fingers in the past but this was a lot scarier. The medics that came did a great job but the hospital they took me to was terrible. Basically 5 doctors and nurses came to me at different times all poking me to see what hurt. I told them all clearly in Japanese that my shoulder hurt and I knew a bone was broken. After hearing that they all proceeded to poke and grab my shoulder and collar bone to check if I was telling the truth. I swear if they were standing on the left side of the bed I would have hit them all. They weren't gentle about it at all. I felt like a test subject at a university hospital class. They let me out 3 hours later and I went to work ( a very bad idea). Either it was the pain killers, adrenaline or just being numb that got me through the day but once I got home, I was flooded with pain. Its been about 2 days but I can still barely move and I'm trying to deal with the insurance. Thankfully I read another thread earlier with a ton of great advice. Although I don't have insurance or legal representation, standing firm yet being polite has really gotten me far and the taxi company has agreed to pay hospital bills, bike repair and my taxi fare to work and back until I am better. It seems my summer ride around the Izu peninsula will have to wait until next year or maybe during fall. I'll keep you all posted about what happens.
 
I'm really sorry to hear this!

Did you really break you collar bone?

I broke mine when I was about 15 or 16 and it was by far the most painful bone I've broken, and I've broken both of my legs twice, my left arm in two places and my right wrist, as well as all of my ribs, and all of my fingers and both thumbs, but without a doubt the collar bone was the worst, they can't cast it! All they did for me was put this harness thing on my back the basically pulled both of my shoulders back, and I had to sleep in my dad's lazyboy chair for a week or so, I could not lay down.

They did take x-rays, right?

Again really sorry to hear about your crash, them bastards are out to kill us!

Don't know what I could do for you, but if I can do something give me a call, I do have two vans, if you need your bike taken somewhere etc.

Cheers!
 
Very sorry to hear about your accident.
Make sure they take X-rays and get copies of them.
Broken collarbones can sometimes heal significally faster if stabilized by surgery.
A badly healed break can cause you problems for the rest of your life so make sure that they know what they are doing.


Heal well and soon!
 
Eric, I'm very sorry about your accident and wish you a fast recovery! While most of them are quite professional I learned not to trust taxi drivers. Also, watch out for potential customers waiting at the curb suddenly raising their hands: be prepared for the wildest swerves by any taxi within the perimeter.

Anyhow, I hope your collar bone will be fine!
 
Eric - I'm really sorry to hear about this. I come across bad taxi drivers on a daily basis - it really does seem that they can get away with doing poor manoeuvres and stopping suddenly in dangerous places (e.g. junctions), and no one seems to care. For my part, I give them an earful where I can and just steer clear, but one can only be so careful.

I wish you a speedy recovery.
 
Like said, sometimes it's better to get surgery in this case, sometimes it will heal well, very quickly by itself. Get a specialists opinion if you can and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

And be demanding on the Taxi firm.
 
Please heal well, and hopefully heal quickly!
 
Oh, those things on the taxi wings are mirrors? Who knew? Certainly not your typical taxi driver. I do know they make a very satisfying crunching sound when I remove them.

Poor you. Hope you get well soon.

Don't be afraid of switching hospitals. Go somewhere else if you don't like the service you got at the first place. The ambulance only took you there because it was easiest for them.

And don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. I was very lucky in my recent accident. But we all know how easy it is to bite the tarmac.
 
I was flying up a hill today and from the opposite hill a taxi was dive bombing down on me across the center line... didn't touch him/his windscreen but made a whacking movement with my right arm at his face as he passed me...

Dickheads...

Hope you heel well and fast and get some compo...

It's a jungle out there... :D
 
Eric, that really sucks about your accident, I'm glad it wasn't worse though.

I broke my collarbone in March, but ended up getting a piece of metal in there to reinforce the bone until it healed. I don't know about yours, but mine was broken in three places, so it might be different for you. Anyway the surgery etc. is a pain in the arse, but the chance of the bone healing properly is a lot higher and I imagine you can get back to a regular routine quicker than without.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you. Try and find a hospital with a nice 整形外科, it might be worth going to a bigger hospital even though you have to pay an initial fee.
 
Everyone thank you for your support!

The taxi company has been "nice" in paying for my hospital bills and lost wages. We are still working on a settlement for the bike and compensation. I have my Japanese friend doing the translating to make sure I don't make any mistakes in dealing with them. I probably need a lawyer in the near future (Tim I would be glad if I could get you lawyer's contact info).

The bone only broke in one place thankfully but I am changing hospitals to one recommended by my friend. I want a second opinion because when I asked about the stabilizing surgery at the first place they said the bone will heal just fine in another 2-3 weeks. And by the way my body feels, I know they are spouting BS.

I got my x-rays and I'll post them soon!

Thanks again everyone,
Ride safe!

Eric
 
By the way - the ortho hospital wihere Yair had his surgey is well recommended. One of my friend's is a nurse there and claims they have some of the most proficient ortho surgeons in Japan.

It's located here: 35.69840, 139.69756
 
Eric, sorry to hear about the crash!

I broke my collar bone last year in February in a similar collision, and it wasn't fun. Healing in 2-3 weeks is insanely optimistic. It can take up to a year for the bone to grow back over, depending on the kind of break. My break was at the outer end of the bone, which is trickier and slower to heal than the middle, and it was about 8 weeks or so before I rode again, and probably 3+ months before I regained 95% motion in the arm. I chose not to have the titanium plate surgery, but I think if it happened again I might do the surgery--it would have got me back on the bike faster I think!

Did they give you a figure-of-eight brace, or at least a proper sling (not a piece of cloth)? If not, I'd definitely go for a second opinion somewhere, you want to keep things straight and as immobile as possible so it heals right.

Should point out the taxi company isn't being "nice" paying your bills, it is their (or their insurance company's) legal obligation to do so (at least, if they want to avoid court and a potentially bigger settlement). Depending on the type of accident, the insurance adjuster may delegate partial blame to you, although from your description it sounds more like it will be a 100-0 split. But even if it's a 90-10, say (as was my case), you should have all your losses made good, including missed days from work and pain-and-suffering equivalent (called 慰謝料 here). My own insurance thing is still going on as the bone hasn't healed 100%, so I haven't done a final report, but my own crash thread is https://tokyocycle.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=1753https://tokyocycle.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=1753.

Anyway, the important thing is to get fit and healthy and get back on the bike as soon as possible. Good luck!
 
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