Left Side Lorry - the smell of fear

I've just felt the length of a lorry's left hand side. Fuck me I think I've come as close to death as I've ever been.

Rural village, A road. Lorry behind for length of village with me not quite in primary nor in kerb (note for file - grow a pair). Lorry suddenly pulls out and overtakes 80yards from substantial bend. Initially leaves room then car comes round bend (what a surprise - it's 5.30pm!). Car stops, lorry moves in and in and in. Kerb 1' from substantial wall. I see the side of lorry, feel the side of lorry, start to graunch along the kerb, start to graunch along the wall (no pavement, wall less than 1' from kerb) press myself against wall, get pressed against wall, do fucking anything other than go under the rear wheels I can see, then finally I'm out and on the fucking floor.

Surrounded by people, can't move, get up, fall over, tirade at driver, photos, witnesses, photos, responder ambulance, ambulance, treatment, police, traffic police, lift home from mate, stella, more stella, soon to be even more stella. In the end I have 2 witnesses, various copper statements, photos, insurance details etc.

Bill so far that I can see - left arm and shoulder, badly grated, back out, watch, front wheel , levers, bar tape, rear mech, ?crack on rear brake bridge, shoe, helmet and a recurring flash of that fucking green side going on and on and on.

Somehow I have this insidious feeling that I've been irresponsible in putting myself at risk even though I couldn't do anything about it.

Glad you're alive though pal.

fucking hell. Congrats on surviving, and good think there was witnesses. That sounds horrible.

Jesus. close call dude.

Wow. So glad you are ok.

glad you are ok
find a good solicitor for your claim

As you've lived to tell the tale, make sure you see this through. There have been many more less fortunate.

fucking arsehole lorry driver... very glad you are ok.

in that sort of situation i guess primary position would have made it more difficult to do what he did...

i wonder what he will get charged with?

Somehow I have this insidious feeling that I've been irresponsible in putting myself at risk even though I couldn't do anything about it.

You haven't been irresponsible at all. You cycled in a reasonable position and weren't given enough space by a vehicle that driver's are specifically taught carry an additional threat on the road, particularly to vulnerable road users.

Jesus christ, that sounds terrifying. Glad you're still with us, though.

Like TSK says, you haven't been irresponsible.

Unfortunately your experience pretty much sums up the danger on rural roads with commercial vehicles. Where I live the biggest risks to cyclists safety come from commercial / professional drivers of trucks and coaches squeezing past through gaps that don't exist because they are too impatient to wait for a more appropriate space. I think the problem stems from their perception that they are on "the open road" and shouldn't be subject to the same hold ups they experience in town.

The recent crash in Le Tour (when Hoogerland was tangled in the fence) illustrates perfectly how drivers will behave in these situations.

Nothing you could have reasonably done would have prevented this. There are occasions when I move further out towards the centre of the road but you have to be really sure of the situation to do this. Knowing that being squeezed it is a possibility can help to minimise the risk - by being ready to brake the instant the other hazard appears or being prepared to wave the larger vehicle through if you are already concerned about their driving.

I'm glad you're OK and wish you well with bringing this particular idiot to justice.

fucking hell. this is almost more shocking to read than the reports of the people who didn't "just" make it with their lives. absolutely chilling.

glad you're ok.

Fuck.

Glad you're still with us.

I hope the driver gets done for driving without due care and attention, glad your ok though. Thats the main thing!

Damn!!! Horrible stuff. Did the lorry stop afterwards or trundle on oblivious?

Truly terrifying!
Glad you're basically OK. Heal up fast!
Screw the bastard for every penny you can extract and do not settle too soon or for too little. List every little extra this costs you and fight for it.
GWS!

Sounds horrific, glad your still in one piece though, another few feet in the wrong direction and you might not still be here.
A lot of motorists emit so much anger over loosing a few seconds of their journey its almost pathetic, I drive 20-30k a year, many different vehicles, some I'm not always that familiar with and every time I come across a cyclist I always make a conscious effort to go round in good time/place and if necessary drive in such a way that it forces others behind/oncoming to give the cyclist room as well, few people think like that though, only the seconds they might loose from their journey.
You've done the right thing, 2 note able witnesses, details and police incident number straight away; its just a matter of time until you get the claim ball rolling. But don't let it take over your life, carry on as best you can, spending too much time flustered over it will only take you back to the incident in your mind.

My god that must have been scary, in hindsight do you think there was anything you could have done differently?

I laughed only because the description was so brilliantly entertaining. Glad you're relatively unscathed. I agree, make this as expensive as poss for the driver and employer. Claim for everything that can't be ruled out. It's the only language they seem to understand.

Well done on doing what you could to stay alive.... stuff like that changes your perspective on life.

My experience of lorries, or for that the matter the majority of careless, inconsiderate drivers is that as soon as they overtake and you are out of their forward vision, they treat you as a stationary object and pay no more consideration. I have this daily at one spot and I go well beyond primary position & if the vehicle looks reckless/dangerous, I pull over & get off to let them pass.

Well done on getting out of this pretty much intact

Did the lorry actually stop?

Sounds terrifying, glad you're ok (physically at least!)

That scared the crap out of me! I've had it with cars, but not with a wall to my side.

Certainly sounds like completely the lorry's fault from your description. One thing I would say though, if you knew the route your were taking, and were aware of the lorry driver's maneuver going ahead, then I may have made a prompt stop; I've learned to do this at times with buses pulling in, and idiots overtaking prior to suddenly turning left.

Hope you feel better about it soon, and good luck with taking your case forward.

Thanks all. Feeling bruised but relieved.

Lorry stopped - details all round - I left the scene with a huge amount of paper which now resides in a box file. Witnesses contacted for statements, photos sent to police, and utterly psychopathic solicitor retained.

I might have been able to brake had I realised it was going to carry on coming in. Trouble is by the time I realised that I was fighting to stay upright against the kerb and braking hard would I think have made things much worse.

Never normaly take the route, probably about 100yards from turning off......

Glad you're okay, reading your account makes my blood go cold. Close call!

Phewww