Celebrate the 4th with an accident

[Mustang]

So there I was, less than a mile from home waiting for the light to change. Because of a high wall this intersection is blind to the left of the driver/rider so when the light goes green I hesitate as usual to let anyone running the red to go through. Just as well, a white car blows through the intersection followed closely (I mean only three feet behind) by a cop car...no lights flashing oddly enough.

I wait another second and pull out slowly, and as I'm looking to my left I see another cop car running the red light, once again no lights. I brake, he swerves, but not enough. His rear bumper catches my front tire, whips it to the right and I fly over the handle bars. Now my girlfriend who was following behind said I tumbled for a bit. In my mind it was all a blur, but when I laid in the road I was expecting the worse. Although wearing my helmet, gloves, boots and jeans, I only had a short sleeve dress shirt on. I'd brought my arms up to protect my face (only a half-helmet) which was the reason I only suffered the one case of road rash on my left elbow. Although stiff from rolling around everything else seemed okay.

Cop who hit me comes running back, asks how I am and I look up and see my girlfriend standing there nearly in tears. I seemingly said to her and him at the same time I was okay...I was so shocked I came out as untouched as I did! My bike couldn't say the same. Transmission fluid was dripping everywhere as it laid on its left side (clutch side)..forks twisted slightly and bent out giving the rake a chopper like stance...mirrors, grips front tire (which is spoked) all worse for wear.

I told everyone the Fort Lauderdale Police insurance needed to pay to fix the bike...wouldn't you know it, half the guys who turned up (and about six cars did) all rode!!! The sargent who took my statement rides a roadking! As matter of fact they were admiring my bike as it laid in the road...poor thing.....

Anyway he doesn't think I'll have a problem with the city and no tickets were issued against me....

Scary though!!!

Thank heaven for helmets since I'm sure it protected my noggin as I rolled around, You can see on the gloves where they saved me from road rash. I'm sure the jeans and boots minimized the damage too! Of course if I had worn my jacket, there wouldn't have been any injuries at all.

Scariest thing is, if I had pulled out slightly faster, I would've surely become a hood ornament and ended up in hospital...

I know from reading some of the spills on here I was truly blessed (this is my first crash...never even laid down my bike before now). Of course I'm still wired from the whole thing and can't sleep....

Thanks to this forum, I knew to stop the girlfriend from putting Hydrogen Peroxide on the roadrash!!!

I'll put some pics up when they're downloaded from the camera...

So the cop who clipped me rode and the other ones I spoke to as we waited for the tow truck for the bike told me they don't wear helmets or gloves.....I told them they were just stupid and should know better seeing the accidents they surely see.....

Just thought I'd share....

[Shorts]

Oh man, that's crazy one. I'm glad to hear you're alright. The situation of yours is one of our biggest concerns riding out here. Everyone runs late reds and takes of before green. You're smart to take care and use your intuition like you did.

Anyhow drink plenty of OJ and glad to hear you're fine. I can't believe the cops that ride don't do so with gear. That's pretty scarey.

[Gummiente]

Anyway he doesn't think I'll have a problem with the city and no tickets were issued against me...

I should "procreating" hope not! As you say, had you just pulled out instead of waiting a bit first then this would have ended a lot differently - you would have still been in the right, only you would have been "dead" right.

Glad to hear you're okay. Get yourself checked out at the doctor just to make sure, sometimes adrenaline and shock can mask damage to the body.

[black mariah]

I will never understand why cops have to have certain circumstances to use lights and sirens. They should have to use them ANY TIME a speed limit will be broken or car chased.

It was in a car, but this is kind of related. When I'm about 18 months old (I actually REMEMBER this happening, and not from people telling me about it) I'm in the car with my mom and grandmother. We're at a stoplight, light goes green, we pull out. Well, my mom didn't see the car... or the several cop cars chasing it... same deal as you. Obstructed view, no lights or sirens. Luckily she pulled out fast enough that the car being chased only caught the rear end of ours. We spun around and ended up running into a gas pump.

The cops were chasing a guy that had stolen like $20 worth of merchandise somewhere. The city we were in had a policy of using lights and sirens anytime they had to give chase, and none of the cops had their "poo poo" going.

Imagine how bad those poor cops felt when they realized that they were indirectly responsible for our wreck...

...and imagine how much WORSE they felt when they found out that my grandfather was their boss.

[KingRobb]

hit by cage with deep pockets who ran a light....get the police report

accept not their first offer to settle and see an attorney it will be worth your while

[bok]

glad to hear you are okay 'Stang

sorry your bike got hurt, but better it than you

[VermilionX]

glad to hear you're not seriously hurt.

hope you get your bike fixed ASAP.

[roscowgo]

Glad you're ok.

[Mustang]

Thanks guys.....been on the phone with the adjusters for the city...arranged to have the bike picked up and taken to a great dealership just south of here, Petersons...

Yep I was shocked that all these cops that turn up at motorcycle accidents don't wear the protective gear they should.....

BTW not going for the big claim, just want the bike fixed properly and I'm even with the city.....

[BigChickenStrips]

maybe i missed that thread? what this about the hydrogen peroxide?

(i personally dont use it, but i am curious why others say its bad as my g/f is an avid user)