Incident on bike trail. (Chicago: lawyer, money, business)

[bsdsys]

I was on the lakefront bike trail earlier, a guy passed me and "smacked" the sh*t out of my arm, on purpose, he said I was in his lane even though I wasn't. We were just really close that's all. I turned around, followed him, addressed the situation, he came towards me reaching out to grab me and I hit him. He ended up following me for 20 minutes and threatening me the entire time and tried to make me crash - I hit him again. The guy ripped my computer (bike computer) off and through it in my spokes. I was leaving it at that trying to go about my business, he flagged a cop down on the trail and he took our name, and address on a contact card. We went our own ways from there. What does everyone think about what could come about in this situation? I am really pissed right now about this jack off! Unfortunately I can't afford a lawyer right now so hopefully the guy will see it was his fault, and added several charges on his self if I wanted to do something about it and just leave it alone.

[Manigault]

"I turned around, followed him, addressed the situation," Well, you had the last clear opportunity to defuse the situation. Sometimes a person who needs telling off does not get told.

As it stands now, if you feel you were in the right, sue the person yourself. There are many self-help guides available, and a help-desk in the Daley Center.

[jgi]

Sounds like you need to take some anger management classes. You need to learn that the majority of people are idiots and if you're not careful it's quite easy to become one of them. Next time, don't ride so close to the other lane and don't succumb to the imposed aggression of others.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by Manigault

"I turned around, followed him, addressed the situation," Well, you had the last clear opportunity to defuse the situation. Sometimes a person who needs telling off does not get told.

As it stands now, if you feel you were in the right, sue the person yourself. There are many self-help guides available, and a help-desk in the Daley Center.

um, yeah, and since you hit the guy first, you have about 0% chance of getting anything out of a lawsuit. He "smacked into you" (which probably wasn't, but could have been an accident) and you went after him and ended up hitting him.....

I would just learn from this experience and let things go!!!!

[j33]

I would just let it go. There are a lot of jerks on the bike trail, and it sounds like he might have been one of them, but going after every jagoff with a lawyer will just leave you broke and angry. Even if you did win (and it seems like a long shot), what if he's broke, how would you collect?

[bsdsys]

Originally Posted by j33

I would just let it go. There are a lot of jerks on the bike trail, and it sounds like he might have been one of them, but going after every jagoff with a lawyer will just leave you broke and angry. Even if you did win (and it seems like a long shot), what if he's broke, how would you collect?

Yeah, that's what I want to do anyway. I had no interest in taking him to go for money. I just wondered if the guy could have me arrested. I talked to the 42nd Precinct and he said not to worry, the card the cop filled out is only for future references, so if something happens later on they contact both of us.

Originally Posted by jessiegirl_98

um, yeah, and since you hit the guy first, you have about 0% chance of getting anything out of a lawsuit. He "smacked into you" (which probably wasn't, but could have been an accident) and you went after him and ended up hitting him.....

I would just learn from this experience and let things go!!!!

First, no I didn't hit him first, second, I didn't say he "smacked into me", I said he "smacked me", literally, this guy reached out and smacked the crap out of me. Last, I still had no interest in getting money. I just wanted to know if something, like going to jail could come of this. I found out my answer at the police department. Kinda didn't want to go there, might have went to jail....lol. It's all good, just pissed that this guy felt the need to smack me because we were close to each other on a damn trail with thousands of other people. He might not be this lucky next time with someone else he decides to smack because he/she gets close to him.

[sharkylittleton]

I was reading an article about the comradery riders felt towards each other on the path. This lady fell down and 5 bikers came to her rescure. Quite the contrary in your situation. Let it go, invest your energy into something productive. IMO, people like that have it coming to them when they least expect it.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by sharkylittleton

I was reading an article about the comradery riders felt towards each other on the path. This lady fell down and 5 bikers came to her rescure. Quite the contrary in your situation. Let it go, invest your energy into something productive. IMO, people like that have it coming to them when they least expect it.

With any luck this guy will be the next plonker we hear about who gets T-boned because he didn't feel like stopping at a red light.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

Hey now. I did NOT "smack" you. It was a love tap.

Kidding.

Sounds like the guy was a real d-bag. The bike path, just like the streets, is filled with 'em. But yeah. I'd let it go.

[bsdsys]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Hey now. I did NOT "smack" you. It was a love tap.

Kidding.

Sounds like the guy was a real d-bag. The bike path, just like the streets, is filled with 'em. But yeah. I'd let it go.

Oh, yeah? Love tap you say? Well, hope you liked the kiss I gave you on the lips! Yes he was. I was so pissed! I will control myself better next time and let it go because I didn't like the feeling of knowing I could go to jail... not a good feeling and I do not want to feel that way again.