Bad luck...another crash

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by tsiah, Oct 27, 2009.

  1. tsiah

    tsiah New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    2 saturdays ago someone decided they were in enough of a hurry to cut me off on my motorcycle.
    I had just come around a turn and there's a driveway entrance about 150ft down after you come around the corner. I started accelerating out of my turn, got up to ~45mph and saw a guy going the other direction change lanes into the center turn lane. I saw his signal, I saw him change lanes, I never expected him to immediately turn in front of me! I mean really, who pulls in the center turn lane and doesn't bother to stop!?

    I had maybe 10 feet to try and stop so I wouldn't run into the side of the car. I tried to stop. Used both brakes and downshifted as we learned in MSF. It was a bad combination of cold road, cold tires, adrenaline and speed. I locked the front tire up and down I went.
    I went down the road on my back a ways, then on my arm and something caught and I flipped feet over head and landed on the grass. The bike went another 200 feet and ended up facing back towards me.

    My jacket has a hole in the sleeve, the helmet has a couple of knicks where it hit (I need to have an x-ray taken of it to make sure its still safe to wear...$400 helmet I hope its not ruined! its only 3 months old!) I'm gonna see if I can get the sleeve patched...its a $300 jacket :S

    The bike is pretty beat up. The whole left side is ground up pretty good, the frame slider has seen better days, my left muffler, grab handle, mirror are all chewed up. Left inner bar weight broke, bar end weight got thrashed...broken clutch handle, shifter ground down to a stub...

    lucky for me, all I picked up was a little road rash on my ankle and scraped on my wrist, and 2 of my fingers.

    Pics to follow-

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    got some road rash on the back too. forgot about that. Its almost healed.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. 02 VFR Rider

    02 VFR Rider New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2009
    Messages:
    2,286
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Glad to hear you are ok, as far as the helmet I would not wear it again JMO
    I have raced for years and sent all my helmets back to shoei arter a crash for them to X-ray and have it replaced. After reviewing the X-rays on even what I would consider a light crash, I was suprised to see the amount of damage to the helmet.

    In hind sight I should have replaced my moto cross helmets after crashing as well.

    Some companies will replace the helmet if you send it back to them so they can x-ray it and review the damage so give them a call and see.
     
  3. myke_w

    myke_w New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Athens, Ohio
    Map
    I've gotten to the point where if I see someone who looks like they are getting ready to maneuver I just slow way down and wait.

    Just the other morning I saw a guy who looked ready to pull out of a driveway, I slowed down and watched him as I approached, like I tried to see where he was looking, sure enough he started to pull out and I had to do some crazy evasive maneuvering to avoid impact. I've found that if you watch where people are looking it tells you a lot about what they are going to do, that's why dark tinted windows scare the shit out of me.

    If you get an insurance settlement, be sure to demand the value of a new helmet, jacket and whatever else got torn up.

    Glad to hear you are safe.
     
  4. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    Messages:
    9,239
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    O.C Suck
    Sorry about your mishalf, I am glad you are ok. Fix her up and ride soon. As for the helmet get a new one. BTW isn't other driver as fasle...? I would make him pay for all the damaged.
     
  5. ilovheros

    ilovheros New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Cincinnati
    Map
    I try to ride like Iam invisable. Glad your ok!
     
  6. KingTito

    KingTito New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2008
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    It's gotten rough out there with Blackberry's, iPhones, in car Wifi, whatever you want not to mention the BigMac in the other hand.

    I do the same and watch the driver carefully. I'm always covering the brake and slow way down just in case.

    I pretty much stopped commuting to work because I feel like people are more dazed than ever not to mention working the cell, checking the email, and chugging the 20 oz latte.

    The bike can be replaced and the helmet can be replaced and I'm glad you are OK but we have to stay on the defensive and the offensive and assume no one is paying attention and can see us.
     
  7. afpierce489

    afpierce489 New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2009
    Messages:
    512
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Cape Cod, MA
    Map
    Glad to hear you're ok. As an EMT I highly recommend just getting a new helmet. You don't know for sure what damage it's sustained. Good job applying what you learned in MSF. It should be a little comforting to you that the training paid off when it counts. Again, glad to hear your ok.
     
  8. Cyborg

    Cyborg New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    841
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    33
    In 1984, my MSF instructor told us to remember two simple rules if we remembered nothing else:

    A) Everybody on the road is looking to kill us.
    B) Always expect cagers to do the stupidest thing possible.

    I can't say how often Rule B has saved my ass...
     
  9. Keager

    Keager Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2007
    Messages:
    1,359
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    East Moline, IL - my own 'hood
    Map
    Good to hear you only got some small road rash. But, once a helmet has hit pavement anything above waist height it is time to think about another one.

    I hope that the other person's insurance covers you, that may be the only saving grace. Get the money for a new lid & jacket thru insurance. You brain is not worth trusting a maybe lid. Is the other driver's insurance going to cover, or because it was your fault that you started to break early? What did police say, if anything?
     
  10. TimRav

    TimRav New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2006
    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Sorry to hear about the crash and damage, but glad you're generally OK. :wink:

    Please tell us the police wrote a report and cited the cager for failure to yield or whatever. Dude had absolutely no excuse. I would have felt like beating the shit out of that guy. :mad:

    +1. Good idea to get it checked out by the mfr, but if you can get the cost covered in a settlement buy a new one no matter what.
     
  11. jaimev34

    jaimev34 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    508
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Oceanside, Ca
    Map
    Glad you're alright!! You got out of it fairly unscathed. The cager seems to be at fault, so looks like you'll be getting your bike repaired and some new gear.
     
  12. VFRShorty

    VFRShorty New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2008
    Messages:
    976
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    NW Oregon
    Wow that poor bike! Glad you came out better than it did. I agree with everyone else, a new helmet would be a good idea!
     
  13. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2006
    Messages:
    9,756
    Likes Received:
    269
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Atascadero, California, United States
    Map
    Sorry to hear that. Good thing you are ok. Is the other driver gonna pay? Did your bike slide into him/her so that it's obvious they were at fault? I'm assuming if you only had 10 ft to stop as you said then your bike had to had slid into him but I don't get the "bike slid another 200ft" part. You were heading towards each other right and then he cut you off or did I picture this wrong in my head? If it's the way I pictured, you clearly had right of way making the other driver entirely responsible for damages including your medical expenses and helmet, gear, bike etc...

    As far as wearing a scraped helmet. I know everyone always says "just get another one, it's not worth it" etc. But, IMO, even a dinged helmet from the last few years is still way way better than the helmets we wore just a few years back and would protect you in all but the most serious situations that you would be screwed in anyway. I know I know... It's not worth it... It's too risky... Whatever. We ride motorcycles. Choose the risks you are willing to live with and go.
     
  14. drewl

    drewl Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2007
    Messages:
    5,760
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Virginia Beach, Va
    Map
    Could not have said it better myself.

    Hopefully insurance will help replace everything. Buy some boots too to protect those ankles. OUCH.
     
  15. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2006
    Messages:
    627
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Los Altos, California USA
    Map
    tsiah,

    Prior to the impact you said you saw the car move into the left turn lane.
    You also stated that you didn't expect him to turn so soon......why not?
    Did you go into a defensive mode?
    Did you adjust your lane position?
    Did you cover both brakes?
    Did you adjust your speed?
    Perhaps you could have swerved first instead of braking.

    Sometime in the near future you will find it beneficial to find an empty parking
    lot and practice . . . swerve/brake swerve/brake, then practice brake/swerve.
    Do this until you can do it quickly and smoothly every time.
    MSF teaches four fingers on the front brake, but I think two (like the racers) is better.

    Remember, anytime you identify a possible hazardous situation go into a defensive mode immediately!

    Good luck ~
     
  16. e cabrera

    e cabrera New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2009
    Messages:
    192
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    San Luis Potosi, MEXICO
    Amigo.
    I'm sorry for the accident, I hope you can recover fast and fix your bike asap, take care and best wishes.
     
  17. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    OMG that is a Pearl White you put down. That sucks. But as has been siad here already numerous times, even at $400.00 if you have to pay, that is cheap assurance of proper protection. A new helmet is in order. ANd while you are at it, I would go for the proper boots like Drewl said. He is really smarted than he looks.

    Glad you are OK. Hope the bastard pays.
     
  18. motorhead1977

    motorhead1977 New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2006
    Messages:
    284
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Albany, NY
    Map
    Ditto on dropping the Pearl white! Glad you are OK. I too ride as if I am invisible and assume everyone is trying to kill me, but that may be because I practiced law as a defense attorney for 20 years and everyone WAS trying to kill me! Anyway, be glad you are able to post up about it. Any crash you can walk away from is a win! Bite the bullet and buy a new lid. As the old helmet adverts from 30+ years ago said: "If you have a $10.00 head wear a $10.00 helmet!
     
  19. ZonaMan

    ZonaMan New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2006
    Messages:
    580
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Tucson
    Accidents suck and are sometimes just unavoidable no matter how much skill you have or perception given to the situation. Glad you're ok. Get some new plastics from Hong Kong and get ridin again.
     
  20. tsiah

    tsiah New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    The other driver took off.
    I don't know how my bike didn't hit his car. I almost wish it had...then he would have had some hefty fines + ticket + insurance stuff to pay for.
    Maybe he didn't have insurance and that's why he ran.

    I'll go get some pictures of the road there. At second glance, I'm exaggerating some of the distances...but my tire skid is definitely less than 10ft from the driveway he pulled into.

    The frame slider saved the bike a ton of damage, my helmet and jacket saved me (I went to work after the police report was all done! :crazy: )
    I'm planning on new stuff and a fixed bike by spring.

    Maybe someone will get me a new jacket or helmet for Christmas! :pray:

    I wasn't thinking like that. I should (as said above) have expected him to do the dumbest thing possible...but I didn't. I assumed (there's a stupid word!) "there's no way this guy is going for this turn" He was probably oblivious and doesn't even know he caused a wreck...
    I didn't really have a whole lot of reaction time, but in hindsight, I should have started to slow down a lot sooner than I did.

    I wish my instinct had been to try and swerve instead of brake. I might have made it around him.

    I will take you up on that parking lot thing...get some cones or something to have to swerve around. I kinda try to give myself practice swerving by going around man hole covers, but my reaction (another bad word! I should have taken smart action instead of placing myself somewhere I had to react) in this situation definitely got the better of me.
    I love it...everyone I know keeps telling me "maybe this is a sign you shouldn't be on 2 wheels" (wiped out on my pedal bike last summer...got some nasty road rash on both hands and my knee...:eek: that one was my fault for hauling ass and trying to turn to hard on skinny worn out tires.) but everyone on the internet is telling me "good luck, get back in the saddle" :tongue:

    Live and learn eh?

    I have boots...I just don't wear them when I ride to work because they don't fit inside my work boots :frown:(I work in a clean room) I really should just start carrying the extra shoes like I've told myself I would start doing so many times.
    My ankle hurts quite a bit and having boots would have saved me that much pain at least...

    I definitely had right of way. The other driver was being a moron.
    The 2 cops that were there said they would have cited him if he hadn't run...or if I had a plate.

    I wish I'd been in any state of mind to jump on the bike and chase after him myself! Believe you me, I would have!(for a plate number...and maybe to throw something heavy through his window :biggrin: ) ...unfortunately, even if I had, the clutch handle was broken so I wouldn't have been able to.

    One witness came up to me and said "I've been riding for a lot of years and I think I saw that happening before you did. I tried to follow the guy and get his plate but he was gone"


    I've heard that but there's nothing on Shoei's website about that...I was reading their warranty stuff tho.
    Worth a phone call to find out. I'll try tomorrow :thumbsup:
     
Related Topics

Share This Page