If you've been in a serious accident - did you get your bike back? How?

As I narrowly avoided getting left hooked at a junction this afternoon, my lizard brain went "Well, at least I'm right outside my LBS - if I wind up getting loaded into an ambulance, I can ring the shop to get one of the lads to stash my bike until I'm out of hospital."

But if I hadn't been near my LBS - what would have happened? I guess if the police come to an incident, they'll secure your bike - is it straightforward to get back? What if it's more of a "cyclist versus tree" type situation where the police don't attend? What's your experience?