Injured cyclist struggles financially a month after hit and run

More than a month after being hit by a truck, cyclist Tim Lane is struggling to make do with limited finances and no legal recourse.

Lane was badly injured on St. Margaret's Bay Road near Upper Tantallon on August 22 — and the truck driver took off.

The driver refused to help or take responsibility, even though an off-duty police officer witnessed the whole crash and rushed to help. 

"It's certainly affected the financial situation," Lane said in an interview with CBC's Mainstreet on Thursday. 

Since being hit, he hasn't been able to return to his IT job with the provincial government.

"I'm still getting paid by work, but eventually that will decrease as I go on different forms of long-term illness or disability," he said.

Injuries, wheelchair are costly

Among Lane's injuries, he suffered a fractured skull, punctured lungs, a fractured jaw, a fractured orbital bone around his eye, broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. 

The worst was breaking his left femur in several places, which has kept him in a wheelchair, adding to the family's expenses.

"Getting the wheelchair I'm sitting in now, the crutches, the walker I use at home, some of that is covered by our auto insurance, but we're not clear on what the extent of that coverage is," Lane said.

• Off-duty police officer helps save cyclist after 'senseless' hit and run

'A whirlwind'

While he recovers from his injuries at home, his wife, Stephanie Lane, said her life also has been affected. 

"It's definitely been hard having your partner who helps with every aspect of our home life not being able to help," she said.

"I've had to take on extra, and it's just been a whirlwind."

As for pursuing the driver in court, little can be done until he or she is identified. Lane said he remembers little from the accident, and his only memories are from getting ready for work the day before. 

"The next thing I knew, I was in hospital and it was two or three days later when I can remember being aware of anything," he said. 

'Never be any closure'

Although police and RCMP are investigating and actively updating the Lane family, his wife said she can't believe the driver hasn't already come forward.

"It shocks me that [someone who] lives in our community could do something like that," she said.

"I really hope they find the person. If they don't, I feel like there will really never be any closure on the whole accident." 

The truck involved in the collision is described as black truck with a flat deck.

Nova Scotia RCMP has asked anyone with information to call police or Crime Stoppers.