2014-01-05, rider down, Dalston Lane

Rode past at about 5.30pm to see a policeman picking up a brakeless fixie and a male cyclist being attended to in an ambulance. Couldn't see if any other vehicle was involved. This was by the bus stop heading east opposite Hackney Downs station. Hope the rider's okay. Anyone know more?

...that was me! Thanks for spotting me and for the best wishes... to explain -

I was riding down Dalston Lane, heading towards Hackney Central. Ahead of me, by the Tesco express, an articulated lorry was blocking traffic in the opposite direction, pulling out of the loading area (which to me seems way too small for such a big vehicle). Anyway, a car in front of me (about 5 metres ahead) approached the lorry, and the driver (of the lorry) flashed to let the car through (it was our right of way, after all) - I was literally right behind the car wearing a bright orange coat, so I assumed (perhaps niavely) that he was letting me through too, as there was no traffic behind me. However, it appears that the driver completely failed to see me, so after the car went through the gap, he started to move forwards. I didn't have the time to stop my bike, so either had the choice of smacking into the side of the Lorry and possibly doing myself a mischief under the wheels, or trying to make it through the gap. I did the latter and managed to get most of way through before being knocked by the lorry off my bike. My foot was in my pedal cage (drive side) and this got caught between the Kerb and the Lorry's cab and crushed for about 10 seconds before a bunch of people got the driver to reverse.

5 hours and lots of co-codamol later it turns out its a small fracture and lots of soft tissue damage. I'm on crutches, off work and can't walk... but thankfully ok other than that and just counting my lucky stars that I didn't cause the LFGSS logo to be black this morning. Bike is absolutely fucked though - rear chainstays bent out, crankset bent, rear wheel practically folded in on itself!

Thanks for the update. Sounds terrifying! Glad you're (mostly) okay. I noticed the state of the bike, so was pretty worried. Heal up fast :-)

If it was your right of way, could compensation be sought?

Yes. Even it was not your right of way there is probably still a degree of negligence by the lorry driver albeit damages will be reduced for contributory negligence had you not had the right of way.