<p>D was thrown off her bike onto to the ground by the collision at 11 p.m. at heavily travelled well-lit intersection with lots of students. The headlight of the car shattered and there was broken glass which cut her hand. Her bike wheel was also damaged and she was bruised and lying on the roadway with no memory of how she landed. Student witnesses yelled that 911 should be called but the driver said that campus security was already called.</p>
<p>When campus security arrived, they asked her her weight, name, where she lived and what happened. At her request, they got her a band-aid for her hand. They also asked if she needed EMTs (she declined). She then was told she could go. She asked if the driver fled but was finally told that the 2nd campus security officer (conferring with the officer called to the scene) was the one who struck her. She got NO information about the driver, insurance, officer on the scene or witnesses or anything else.</p>
<p>She was NOT offered any escort and campus security never called to be sure she got home safely. There was also no follow up by them the next day. </p>
<p>Hubby & I are very upset about how poorly the incident was handled and that they didn’t show more concern for her safety and well-being – particularly getting home safely! I just finished writng and sending a letter to that effect to the VP of Student Affairs, so hopefully other students will receive better treatment.</p>
<p>Thoughts? Fortunately, she is recovering well, but I still find it extremely wrong that she was not escorted home or even called to be sure she made it home safely. It would not have taken them long or they could have even called the free campus escort service! (The health center doc she saw the next day was amazed at how intact she was considering her experiences.)</p>
<p>From your description, campus security obviously mishandled things and I would pursue it with the administration. If your daughter continues to experience difficulties from her injuries and requires continued medical treatment, I would also consult a lawyer. Without intending to shift the ultimate responsibility for this accident, please also make sure that your daughter is taking appropriate steps to safeguard her own bicycling safety. Make sure she always wears a helmet and if riding at night, it is critical that she have lights mounted on the front and back of her bike, regardless of how well lit the roads and intersections are. It is just too easy for car drivers to “not see” a bicyclist, particularly at night with the darkness, shadows and glare of other lights. Also, make sure she is stopping at all traffic control devices, just like a car, and using hand signals to indicate turns. Defensive driving takes on a whole new level of meaning when you are not surrounded by a couple of tons of metal.</p>
<p>I am sure this is a very upsetting incident for you . My friend’s daughter was struck by a car while crossing the street to go to work. She wasn’t seriously hurt, but the woman who hit her just sort of leaned out the window of her SUV ( leaving a restaurant from having lunch , and they suspect a few drinks ) and asked if she was ok…the off she drove.
I think the campus security has some splainin to do, as well as the admin.
It is always good, when biking at night to have flashing lights on both the front and back of the bike.
I hope she is okay !</p>
<p>Wow, that is really shocking. There must be an incident report detailing all those things you mentioned. They should have called EMTs anyway, and not taken the accident victim’s word for it! She could have had a concussion and not even have known it.</p>
<p>I would be very upset if I were you. I guess you have to have your cell phone at the ready to take pictures in case anything like this happens, you at least have a record.</p>
<p>Not a doctor here, but my doc H has always said that if you don’t remember a piece of time, you had a head injury. They should not have just sent her on her way.</p>
<p>I was hit by a car while walking several years ago, and the EMTs brought me to the hospital for a “broken leg.” It most definitely was broken(requiring surgery and admission), but it wasn’t till a couple days later that I was also diagnosed with a concussion after some troubling neurological symptoms. I didn’t know I’d hit my head, and the EMTs and ER doc didn’t check. (It also turned out my other leg was broken, too…)</p>
<p>So caution her to be wary about this, maybe see a neurologist to be certain.</p>
<p>I’m glad your daughter is OK. But I would discuss with head of security. First, the driver should not have a job requiring driving. Second the incident was not handled well. Third, they should pay for bike repairs.</p>
<p>If she doesn’t remember it happening, she likely got a concussion. I’d have her seen ASAP.
Your story is shocking! If the security vehicle that hit her left the scene, he or she should be fired.</p>
<p>Injuries can show up later- and become quite problematic, even if initially seemed OK.
I am really surprised she was given the choice to turn down evaluation, because she wasn’t really in a frame of mind to make that decision.</p>
<p>I hope one of the students at least took pictures with their cell phone-</p>
<p>They should have taken her to the hospital to avoid a lawsuit. </p>
<p>(Seriously, I would not want to go through the hassle of a lawsuit–especially if the kid is fine–but they ought to be scared, very scared because there are so many things wrong here. At the very least they ought to buy your D a new bike!)</p>
<p>You didn’t say if she was wearing a helmet. I hope she is okay. I second the advice about having her checked out. Does she know if there are witnesses? The school handled this very poorly, and needs to be not only held accountable, but needs to change their procedures.</p>
<p>My D’s best friend was hit by a campus bus on her bike and suffered a severe head injury a year and a half ago. She was hospitalized for 7 months, and is working very hard to regain her life. </p>
<p>After you make sure she is okay from a concussion standpoint I would address the school and campus security problem.
If you cannot get a good response from the campus security, and administration, I would contact the media. Provide them some photos of the bent bike wheel, and the scene. Ask them to look for witnesses. It sounds like there were plenty of people around.</p>
<p>First, I’m glad your daughter wasn’t seriously injured. Car vs bicycle crashes can often turn out differently.</p>
<p>I think a lot of the posts so far are taking the idea that it was a marked security vehicle (and not an off duty security employee in his/her own private vehicle) and that the driver is the one at fault for granted. But more details are required to figure even these two important bits of information out. The driver of the motor vehicle is not always the one at fault. Bicycles are treated almost exactly the same as cars when traveling on the road. Which means that since it was dark, it would probably be illegal to be riding a bike on the street without front and back lights. Also, to expect that campus security would call her to “make sure she got home safely” is pretty unreasonable. </p>
<p>That being said, they did mess up several things quite badly. First, an ambulance should have been called immediately, regardless of whether the campus security guy that hit her was on duty or not (sounds like he wasn’t, which is why its weird that other students didn’t call on their own accord). And second, they should have facilitated the exchange of information that is required by law in the case of an accident like this.</p>
<p>Icarus, you raise some interesting points, but where I live leaving the scene of an accident where a person, animal or serious property damage results, which is what the driver did, is illegal. Doesnt matter who was at fault. And leaving the scene generally puts the driver in a very bad light as to who was at fault. As to “illegal without lights” - dont know about your state, in mine it is only reflective material, and most bikers have that.</p>
<p>“Wow, that is really shocking. There must be an incident report detailing all those things you mentioned. They should have called EMTs anyway, and not taken the accident victim’s word for it! She could have had a concussion and not even have known it.”</p>
<p>Please have her see a doctor today. There have been people who have died after not going to the hospital after having a possible head injury. Actress Natasha Richardson was the most recent well publicized example of this.</p>
<p>Where does the adult right to refuse treatment play into this? Can that be suspended with the apparent disorientation of the cyclist? Natasha Richardson supposedly did not appear disoriented at the time she refused treatment. This turned out to be a fatal mistake, but the Canadian authorities insist that due to her refusal, their hands were tied.</p>
<p>Also, it’s not clear to me whether or not the car driver fled the scene. I know the daughter asked that question, but I’m not sure that the answer reflects that he did as related by the OP. Maybe I missed it somewhere.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear about your daughter’s accident. I went through something similar when my daughter was hit last year. A couple of things for you to think about:</p>
<p>1) get a copy of the accident report–campus security should have one</p>
<p>2) call a personal injury lawyer and consult with him/her about what should and shouldn’t be done. At the very least, the driver should pay for repairs to the bike, new lights, and A NEW HELMET. (The old one is no good after an accident and should be thrown away.) I’m assuming it was not your daughter’s fault. However, if your daughter was crossing against the light, it might be.</p>
<p>3) your daughter may or may not need some counseling for PTSD. Just because she’s not that upset now doesn’t mean it won’t make her afraid to bicycle later. </p>
<p>Good luck and I hope your daughter makes a smooth recovery. Please feel free to PM me if you have questions.</p>
<p>D did present at the student health center the next day & was checked out there. The doc on duty was amazed at how well she appeared, especially after he heard about the accident the night before. He did prescribe some medication in case she had neck (or other) pain & stiffness.</p>
<p>We were fortunate that we saw D the day after the accident & spent the weekend with her & S. That was when she told us about the accident. We observed her over the weekend–she slept and rested a lot but otherwise seems to be doing well. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. We have urged her to go back to the health center doc for follow up care.</p>
<p>The driver did NOT flee the scene but did not provide D with any info about himself, including his name, insurance or contact info (basically he tried to blend into the background & hoped he would be forgotten). We have told D that she needs to be a defensive biker, especially at night. We have told D she needs to wear more reflective clothing and blinking lights, signal, wear a helmet. Not sure how much of this D will actually do, but we have urged her & S about these things. D was NOT wearing a helmet :(.</p>
<p>I’m troubled that they would just take the word of someone whose bike was hit by a car & was thrown off the bike that s/he was OK enough to make her way home. I’m also very upset that even if she waved off treatment that they didn’t have someone escort her home to be sure she got there safely.</p>
<p>D was mainly upset that campus security appeared to uncaring of her plight and welfare. We will see about whether she’s interested in counseling–generally she has a pretty strong aversion to them. D said she would get a copy of the accident report (assuming it exists). I’m mainly concerned that the next biker whose bike gets hit is treated better than D was on general principles, regardless of fault and that campus security clean up its act.</p>
<p>What happened to your daughter was so dangerous and incorrectly handled that I suggest that you call the dean of students and the college president. I only suggest that parents get so involved in students’ college concerns when there’s a life threatening situation like this.</p>
<p>I did just send a letter to the Vice President of Student Affairs and will see how he responds. Things could have ended up much worse and they need to have better procedures in place and better training for their campus security officers for the welfare of the students.</p>