Watch those mirrors, you guys!

Message

liablemtl · Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:54 pm

It's been a while since I've been over here (damn life's keepin' me busy)... but I just wanted to use myself as a reminder to other riders to keep an eye in your review mirrors when you're waiting at a stop light.

I got creamed by an inattentive cager who didn't see me sitting there. Funny... you'd think she would have noticed the stopped traffic in front of me and the red light. But she didn't. She also didn't notice my brake light, the reflective red stripe around my Givi top case, the second brake light in my Givi top case, the reflective lettering and stickers on the back of my helmet, the reflective stripes and body work on my riding jacket and pants, and the reflective stripes on my shoes. She still managed to hit me from behind... fortunately, we were in a 25mph zone and she was doing near the speed limit. I believe she braked at the very last second.

I think the FJ is toast - cracked and bent frame, bent triple clamp (triple tree), broken body work in front, destroyed engine side cover, broken mirror and clutch lever. I'm ok, mostly just muscle strain and back and neck pain at this point.

But use me as a lesson... keep a watch in your review mirrors. I saw here coming at the last second and managed to position my body low across the tank for impact and grabbed the front brake harder than I was already holding it. She still managed to shoot me about 10 feet forward, but it could have been worse. It could have been a 35 or 45mph zone.

So becareful out there. Treat every cager as if they are trying to kill you. They may not think they are... but we who ride know better.

Sev · #2 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 11:43 pm

Awwww Geez man, these are the things I never want to read about.

The bike might be a write off, but I hope you are okay. Here's hoping you get lots of insurance money, and get a sweet "O Ring" bike with it.

scan · #3 Unread post by **scan** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:55 am

Sorry to hear your news. Insurance to the rescue? So glad you weren't hurt bad though. Like Sev said, it is hard to hear this kind of news. I hear many stories here and elsewhere and I can say, I could have avoided that one, but not in your case. You're always at risk out there. Thanks for the reminders too.

High_Side · #4 Unread post by **High_Side** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:47 am

It sucks to hear this, but I'm glad you are mostly ok. Scary dodo!

vulcanman500 · Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:15 am

I'm in the habit of flashing my brake light while i'm sitting still. But people still scare me with their inattentivness to their surroundings. Everything happens for a reason. Life is something you don't get a second chance at. I'm glad you weren't hurt worse. Be thankful she saw you at all. Who knows where you could be now. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Hope you recover Quickly!!!!!!!!!!

iwannadie · #6 Unread post by **iwannadie** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:35 am

i was at a stop light (in busy traffic) i saw a truck coming up behind me and saw she was not slowing down at all. i revd my engine up ready in case so i could take off, but the traffic was so thick in front of me i had no where to go. so i let loose and made a hard right turn into a bike lane as the lady in the truck made it about half way into the intersection before hitting a car.

Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:45 am

Sorry to hear about your rear ender liablemtl and thanks for the safety tips. (Moderators: this post should be in the Motorcycle Safety and Riding Tips Forum)

Glad to hear that you were mostly unhurt and it happend at a slow speed. Very sorry to hear about your bike... now what? New bike or will they fix it?

Personally I'm bad about checking my mirrors when I come to a stop. I have to practice more on doing that this riding season. I do notice when someone pulls up too close to me, but if someone didn't stop, I think my "get out of the way" reaction time could be improved....

Mike.

Keyoke · #8 Unread post by **Keyoke** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:46 am

Sorry to hear about the accident - let us know what bike you get next!

Hope ou managed to claim on here insurance - it's unbelieveable that somebody that inattentive is allowed on the road....

XJRJohn · #9 Unread post by **XJRJohn** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:24 am

really sorry to hear about your accident but glad to hear youre ok.hope you take them for all theyre worth and at least get the ride of your dreams out of it.silver linings and all that.good luck for the future mate.xjrjohn

liablemtl · Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:12 am

Thanks guys! I'm still working with my lawyer on the bodily injury side of this case. My back, neck and shoulders all feel like I've been given a boot job by a mob of angry hooligans... but that's what physical therapy is for. It'll get worked out eventually...

For now I'm gonna replace the (most likely) totaled FJ with a '83 Virago that I'm getting for a steal. That will get me back on the road for now. Once I settle for the injury part of this, I will look at buying something farely new. I figure I've got plenty of time to get out and ride every bike that peaks my interest. Then I can find a suitable replacement for my beloved FJ.

I think the thing that really raised my ire was dealing with my health care provider. I know I shouldn't complain, because health care is expensive and a lot of people don't have it; however, my health care provider treated me as though I was to blame for the accident. When I got to the hospital, the admitting nurse actually said, "I can't believe your wife would even let you on those things". To which my wife replied, "he was sitting still when he got hit. It wasn't his fault, it was the hazardous driver who hit him. Besides, he was wearing all of his safety gear..." The nurse just shook her head.

My doctor was no better. She wouldn't order xrays, physical therapy, or any other type of treatment because she "didn't think it was necessary". She actually had the nerve to tell me how dangerous motorcycles are. I told her, "I've been riding motorcycles for more years than I've not been riding motorcycles. The dangerous part about riding motorcycles is the stupid drivers who don't pay attention. They are the dangerous ones." She just looked at me stupidly and said, "well, I made my husband sell his motorcycle when we got married." And then she turned around and said, "You should expect to be hurt for a while, butyou're a big strong man... I don't see any reason to give you therapy, x-rays, or any other type of treatment" then walked out of the office.

Hmmmmmm... does anybody else see a bias here? I did... so I switched doctors. My new doctor rules. He shook his head at my old doctors diagnosis and prescribed PT, meds, and told me to call him in two weeks if I was still feeling poorly!

Anyway... I'll end my rant here. Like I said... take it easy out there. And thanks for all the well wishes!