Have you ever had an accident?

The Chessplayer

Just curious to know what type of accidents any bikers out there have had. Most people I talk to have been in one or two minor accidents, and as a new biker I'd to be aware of what to look out for....just a few of the more unusual type of things that could go wrong that I might not be aware of.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

The best rule to go by while on a bike is, expect the unexpected, and treat everyone and everything as if it's out to kill you!!

Sounds a bit depressing, but it works

gipi

And assume that nobody's looking out for you, so make yourself as big and as visible as possible!

drunkymonkey

gipi wrote: »

And assume that nobody's looking out for you, so make yourself as big and as visible as possible!

this is true, im not calling myself a biker but i did have a 50cc scooter before a car :rolleyes: but the same rules of the road apply, what i always did even during the day was kept my lights on!! seriously you wouldnt believe how much they help cos its scary sometimes how much you could simply not notice a bike on the roads.

i had an accident actually on that scooter about 5 years ago, was driving along doing the speedlimit (could only go 30mph) and a car turned off the main road to go right and went straight into me and my friend who was a pilon passenger... i went head first into the windscreen (always wear a helmet!!) and my friend got thrown onto a kerb.

took 4years to settle as i had genunine injurys including my back and knee but the driver kept making the defence that i had no lights on (later proved i did!)

Keep lights on and keep alert and keep thinking other drivers are idiots! best advice i can give you just dont get too paranoid!

nc13

I hit a car that pulled out suddenly, I went head first over the car and landed badly. I dislocated my knee caps and was in plaster up to my nads for 3 months.

CourierCollie

drunkymonkey wrote: »

Keep lights on and keep alert and keep thinking other drivers are idiots! best advice i can give you just dont get too paranoid!

Totally disagree with the last bit there. Get paranoid, get very paranoid. Although everyone may not be out to get you, it's safer to assume that they are and act accordingly.
My worst accident was an artic driving over me when I was stopped at a set of lights. Couple of broken bones, I'd be dead if I hadn't jumped off the bike just before impact.

drunkymonkey

CourierCollie wrote: »

Totally disagree with the last bit there. Get paranoid, get very paranoid. Although everyone may not be out to get you, it's safer to assume that they are and act accordingly.
My worst accident was an artic driving over me when I was stopped at a set of lights. Couple of broken bones, I'd be dead if I hadn't jumped off the bike just before impact.

it was a joke (a bad one i know):p obviously get paranoid but dont be like crazy nervous you'l get a heart attack! man i hate explaining my jokes!!!

CourierCollie

When your paranoid all the time you get used to it, no reason to be nervous.:D

macnab

Bryn wrote: »

The best rule to go by while on a bike is, expect the unexpected, and treat everyone and everything as if it's out to kill you!!

Sounds a bit depressing, but it works

I totally agree with this

Dorsanty

And don't assume riding the bus lanes makes you safe. You can never assume your safe.

Last week had a guy in stopped traffic pull out in front of me in the bus lane. So he's 5 kph at best and now occupying the lane and I'm about 40kph. Add some raining hailstones and next thing you know I have to take to the pavement (driveway ramp at same spot so no mounting kerbs or anything). Was a case of "What the....rear locks up...back under control and exit stage left"

A biker who was behind, chased the car to the lights ahead and asked for an explanation.

The Chessplayer

Dorsanty wrote: »

Last week had a guy in stopped traffic pull out in front of me in the bus lane. So he's 5 kph at best and now occupying the lane and I'm about 40kph. Add some raining hailstones and next thing you know I have to take to the pavement (driveway ramp at same spot so no mounting kerbs or anything). Was a case of "What the....rear locks up...back under control and exit stage left"
[/I].

I wonder where the liability lies in a case like this. By the letter of the law, neither of you should be in the bus lane. The cops turn a blind eye to bikers in the bus lane, thankfully. They shouldn't have to turn a blind eye: bus lanes should be for buses, taxis and bikers!

The Chessplayer

CourierCollie wrote: »

My worst accident was an artic driving over me when I was stopped at a set of lights. Couple of broken bones, I'd be dead if I hadn't jumped off the bike just before impact.

Funnily enough, a similar thing happened to me. I was waiting for the lights to change and there was a dumper parked behind me. He obviously hadn't seen me as he proceeded to drive over my bike, only my screams alerted him to stop before much damage was done. The mad thing was that the traffic light was still red the whole time, so it was the last thing that I could have expected to happen.

Steffano2002

The Chessplayer wrote: »

I wonder where the liability lies in a case like this. By the letter of the law, neither of you should be in the bus lane. The cops turn a blind eye to bikers in the bus lane, thankfully. They shouldn't have to turn a blind eye: bus lanes should be for buses, taxis and bikers!

There was a court case last year I think (which I read about on this very forum) whereby a cager cut accross a biker who was travelling in the bus lane... Anyway, went to court and the judge decided that although the biker wasn't allowed to be in the bus lane, the cager was 100% at fault for changing lanes without checking mirrors thus causing the accident. And I agree 100% with that judge!

Steffano2002

Anyway, back on topic, as Bryn said you must ride "hyper-defensively". If you assume the blonde b!tch in her 206cc is going to pull out right in front of you even though she can see you coming you'll be safe as the b!tch probably will pull out right in front of you!

Always be 100% focused on your riding. Don't let your mind wander about thinking about work or the girlfriend or anything like that. When you're on a bike, your life is at risk: FOCUS!

Keep a safe distance from the traffic in front of you and don't let people drive right up your back wheel (in an emergency you will outbrake any car!). Check your mirrors often and be aware of what's around you. Don't listen to music with earphones. Listen to your engine and the traffic around you.

Don't ride on slippery surfaces, especially in wet / icy conditions! Avoid diesel (which is everywhere!), white lines, man holes, loose gravel, road kill, etc.

Don't ride beyond your capabilities. Brake before the corner. If you panic in a fast turn your first reaction will be to brake (not lean more) and you'll lose the front and potentially end up on the wrong side of the road on left hand bends...

Understand counter-steering. On a bike you turn left to go right and vice versa. If you don't understand this and master it, you might have a nasty surprise if you try and take evasive action to avoid a car/pedestrian/dog...
By that I mean, if a dog crosses the road coming from the left and you want to avoid it by going right, in a panic you might aim your handle bars to the right thus turning left and potentially hitting the dog! So understand counter-steering!

I could go on for ever... But you get my drift. Your life is at risk thus be careful!

Steffano2002

Oh and I forgot, get lessons! The more the better!

The Chessplayer

Steffano2002 wrote: »

If you panic in a fast turn your first reaction will be to brake (not lean more) and you'll lose the front and potentially end up on the wrong side of the road on left hand bends...

Understand counter-steering. On a bike you turn left to go right and vice versa. If you don't understand this and master it, you might have a nasty surprise if you try and take evasive action to avoid a car/pedestrian/dog...

If someone brakes suddenly in front of you and you can't go on the outside because of oncoming traffic, what should you do in order to crash as safely as possible? In orders words, you know you're going to crash - what do you do?

Obviously you shouldn't get into this situation in the first place, but how do bikers professionally crash if you know what i mean...

vektarman

Keep an eye on the road suface ahead and watch out for spillages from overloaded gravel trucks, as I found to my misfortune.

miju

Bryn wrote: »

The best rule to go by while on a bike is, expect the unexpected, and treat everyone and everything as if it's out to kill you!!

Sounds a bit depressing, but it works

110%. as for the original question. have had 2 minor scrapes on the bike and 1 major one that left me unable to walk for about months and leg pains for a further 2 years after that.

alls well now though thank christ

Steffano2002

The Chessplayer wrote: »

If someone brakes suddenly in front of you and you can't go on the outside because of oncoming traffic, what should you do in order to crash as safely as possible? In orders words, you know you're going to crash - what do you do?

Obviously you shouldn't get into this situation in the first place, but how do bikers professionally crash if you know what i mean...

The only correct answer to your question is (and you said it yourself), don't get yourself into situations like this. Full stop.

You can't just say "just jump before you hit" or "put the bike on its side" as there are way too many parameters to take into consideration.

Just don't get close to the vehicle in front of you!

Steffano2002

Oh and I never answered the original question... I've only had one road accident on two wheels. White van driver ran into me. Never saw it coming. Nothing I could have done...

Thankfully it was at very slow speed and there wasn't too much damage done!

cantdecide

I came off my bandit about a week into my bike ownership. I hadn't practised my slow stuff properly and I was blissfully ignorant of how worn my steering bearings were (and that the steering was in fact, dire).

Use common sense.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to take the bike out for a spin- within 5 minutes I had 3 stupid twat tailgaters later. I took the hint and headed for home.

FORDS AND TOYOTAS. WATCH'EM!!!! If their drivers cared about motoring one bit, they wouldn't have bought them. Call it a character reference!!

peanuthead

I never had an accident, as Ive never had a motorbike, but my dad did so I will share his with you:

He was in his 20's and out with his brother on the back. Now we dont know much about the circumstances before the accident as my father has never remembered much of it, but they were probably going too fast or something like that.

Anyway, he lost control of the bike and hit a wall. He remembers skidding along the wall vaguely. He then hit a post or tree of some kind. My uncle had minor injuries, but my father was unconscious for 3 days in hospital. Was very scary for my gran.

The funny part of the story is that a very old nun who was driving along the road saw what happened, and got out to help, bless her. It was a quiet road so God only knows how long he would have been lying there if it wasnt for her.

However, the silly old dear switched off all lights on her car when turning off the ignition, and it was creamed by a truck!!

But not one major casualty. A broken arm was the extent of my dads real injuries!!

Run_to_da_hills

1982 hit a car head on and technically wrote off a Triumph 200 cub. six months later did the same again. Third parties at fault both cases.

1987 hit a pot hole came off a BSA 500 sued Dublin gas contractors for botched roadworks.

2008 hit a car TPAF again. So far never had a claim against me touch wood

seanybiker

decided to park the bike upside in a ditch on top of me one night a few years back. Seen car on my side and woke up not knowing where i was lol.

lord lucan

had a slide on black ice,horrible as you've no idea its coming.

had someone fling open the passenger door of a car as i filtered through traffic,i creamed the door out of it and ended up in a heap.

had a car rear end me as i stopped at a t junction in slushy conditions. cager braked too late and ABS didn't kick in cause of the road conditions.

had a female cager drive into the side of me as i filtered past a junction box. luckily i was going slow but the bike got wedged underneath the car in front. she said she never seen me as she darted for the empty junction box(i'd lights on and a hi-vis on!!)

Fabio

I've not had an accident yet but have only been riding close on two months.

One thing I will say - watch out for and avoid manhole covers. They have no grip, I've slipped on a few but havent ever fallen thankfully.

Please look out for them and don't ride over them, especially under braking or leaning in a corner.

guil

like peanut i dont have a bike yet but my uncle had a bad accident a few years ago on a goldwing, he brought it to galway to get the engine rebuilt i think and after he collected it he was stoppin at a junction and a car hit the back of him and sent him into the back of another car and he landed infront of the second car

Odysseus

God this makes me feel old, the above reference to manhole covers reminded me; about 17 years about I took a slide on some leaves on a manhole cover as I was taking a corner on a RD125 my first bike. Result was a compound facture of my tib and fib and six weekes in hospital and lots of metal work in my leg.

faceman

Ive had 2 accidents, 1 which resulted in my bike being written off. Fortunately i was ok on both accounts.

First accident, a female learner driver changed lane without checking her mirror and knocked me over. Some cosmetic damage to the bike.

Second accident was practically a head on on a junction. Male learner driver broke a light to turn right (I was travelling straight) but drove in the wrong lane to try cut the corner. I didnt stand a chance.... It was as if I was invisible to him.

gipi

I wrote off a bike (many years ago) when a car coming towards me turned right and didn't see me (main road Phoenix Park, headlight on.....hmmm!). I crashed into her passenger door, thankfully didn't continue over the car but fell to the side instead (breaking my fall with my left hand and arm!).

Bike written off, broken wrist & finger and elbow damage for me, driver didn't make the train she was racing to catch!

I've also had a couple of slips on ice, scary but no harm done.

My father was knocked off his Honda 50 - by a pedestrian! He was filtering and the pedestrian was running towards a bus stop, ran between the cars which had stopped and knocked him off the bike. He broke his left wrist and right thumb - which make life very awkward for many weeks! Watch out for those darned pedestrians!!

Red Hornet

Got side swiped by a taxi when i had my RS125. He tried to say i ran a red light but there was a cop car behind me so i got a new bike and he got a nice day in court. Was out of action for 4 months with a busted leg and 3 broken ribs.

Steffano2002

Red Hornet wrote: »

Got side swiped by a taxi when i had my RS125. He tried to say i ran a red light but there was a cop car behind me so i got a new bike and he got a nice day in court. Was out of action for 4 months with a busted leg and 3 broken ribs.

Ouch... Bad one Hornet...

"Some" Taxi drivers can be very careless indeed! "Most" of them are liars!

manster

Slip this morning on black ice going through roundabout in Phoenix Park. Got lucky was going very slow and just had a few scratches and bruises. Might leave bike at home tomorrow if there's another bad frost.

thehomeofDob

Half dropped the bike the other day going into work - had another biker poke his wheel out from in front of a car without looking while I was filtering on the outside. The bike went down but I was able to keep my footing. I'd like to keep my accident stories to just that if I can help it.

Steffano2002

Yeah be careful out there with all the ice lads! Feet out - super slow - and not harsh braking/accelerating in these conditions!

sutty

Steffano2002 wrote: »

Yeah be careful out there with all the ice lads! Feet out - super slow - and not harsh braking/accelerating in these conditions!

Dont ever ride with your feet out, it changes the centre of balance on the bike. Also if you do come off at anything over 15mhp, you run the risk of breaking your ankles. Feet on the pegs at all times. It also makes it easier to control a rear slide.

I my-self had have a couple of small drops when I first got a bike, then one big one 10 months into riding. I wrote of a 125 Virago into the back of a Ford Focus. Took 3 years for the clame to go through. I then had no incedents till my second Duc. First one was a month after I got it in the UK, on the way to donnington I got rearended by a bloke on a R1 who didn't know how to ride as part of a group. (he had joind our 12 strong group at a roundabout with a mate) Clearly not knowing the buddy system he was up on the inside a lot and not giving proper distances for the very heavy rain we where in. Then at a junction he stopped behind me an then wacked open the trottle into the back of me.

Sadly last one was in the carpark in work. Gets an auful lot of gravel that I didn't notice had gotten really bad and I spun out the back on it at about 3mph

Fabio

Nearly had a bad one last night...nearly...

I was coming down a main road at about 50mph and a I see a taxi coming to a junction ahead to pull out. He stops where he was supposed to so I didn't slow down but as I get nearer he just pulls out and turns toward me to go in the oppoosite direction to me on the main road. I jam on the brakes but then the guy stopped while out on the road as if he had just noticed me!!!

My heart was jumping out of me like and I was just thinking for that second that I'd be hittng his car door and falling pretty badly but as it turned out he had stopped just enough out on the road for me to get by...

Scary though...

CrazyRabbit

I've had a few slides due to potholes, black ice, wet leaves & gravel but I was going very slow at the time.

And a few years ago and car tried overtaking me during a left hand turn on a road only wide enough for one vehicle. Giving the choice of hitting the car or the path, I chose the path. Somehow I managed to stay upright.

I was almost killed last week at the traffic lights on the clonsilla road beside the train station. I was stopped at the T-junction with the intention of turning right. I got a green light and started to very slowly accelerate due to some bike issues. I'd gotten about 3 feet and some muppet in a cage broke the red light and drove past me at 60-70mph. Missed me by inches. He was on his phone at the time.

If my bike had been working properly, I would have accelerated faster and he would have taken a direct hit from the right.

Worst case scenario = Dead
Best case scenaro = I lose my right leg due to crush injury.

Steffano2002

sutty wrote: »

Dont ever ride with your feet out, it changes the centre of balance on the bike. Also if you do come off at anything over 15mhp, you run the risk of breaking your ankles. Feet on the pegs at all times. It also makes it easier to control a rear slide.

That's weird because the "feet out" technique works perfectly well for me when the road in my estate turns into an ice rink! I'm only travelling at around 4mph mind you!

Schmowen

I've had a few over the years . Mainly minor ones and pretty much when I was starting out .

But I had one about 3-4 years ago . Filtering down the outside of traffic (still on my side of the white line mind you ) I noticed a woman coming in the opposite direction slow down and flash her high beams (no filth lads) . Initially I thought she was flashing at me in anger or warning . So I slow down (not that I was moving quick anyway) keeping an eye on her cos I'm so close and don't want her to hit me .
Next thing I know there's a car pulling out from my left and I'm way too close to stop . Anchors on and brace for impact .
I hit the drivers side right between the rearside of the front wheel and the drivers door .
I didn't go over , I just slammed into the drivers door , breaking 3 ribs and a collarbone . But the worst injury(in my mind) was the burst testicle after my nether regions slammed into the tank .
BIke was a right-off , and after I picked myself up off the ground , I went to it and wept . I'd only had it 3 weeks . It could have been the pain that made me cry , but I lost a good bike all the same . And a ball .
God rest ye both .

Keep her shiny side up lads .

Fabio

Schmowen wrote: »

I've had a few over the years . Mainly minor ones and pretty much when I was starting out .

But I had one about 3-4 years ago . Filtering down the outside of traffic (still on my side of the white line mind you ) I noticed a woman coming in the opposite direction slow down and flash her high beams (no filth lads) . Initially I thought she was flashing at me in anger or warning . So I slow down (not that I was moving quick anyway) keeping an eye on her cos I'm so close and don't want her to hit me .
Next thing I know there's a car pulling out from my left and I'm way too close to stop . Anchors on and brace for impact .
I hit the drivers side right between the rearside of the front wheel and the drivers door .
I didn't go over , I just slammed into the drivers door , breaking 3 ribs and a collarbone . But the worst injury(in my mind) was the burst testicle after my nether regions slammed into the tank .
BIke was a right-off , and after I picked myself up off the ground , I went to it and wept . I'd only had it 3 weeks . It could have been the pain that made me cry , but I lost a good bike all the same . And a ball .
God rest ye both .

Keep her shiny side up lads .

Ahhhh that last accident has my scared to death now!!!

Mind you, I have seen bikes filtering on both left and right (inside and outside). I always go up the inside, on the left, but is this correct?

Luckycharm

Thankfully I have had nothing major- about 6 years ago coming up to traffic lights in the wet - traffic lights went amber- I decided at last minute to stop braked too hard bike went from under me - I slid a bit but bar a couple of scratches was fine.
I drive through the city each day - go at a speed that I find I can generally stop in time- I am very wary of passing 4x4s and vans especially as cannot see in over them, through them etc. Most of my issues are with Pedestrians and cyclists who just pop out without looking. Also I try on a main road to stay right of centre to give me time to manouvre from traffic that decides to filter out!!

Also very wary of manhole covers and white lines etc as very slippy when wet.

boidey

1st time was when a taxi ran into the back of me. I was stationary in a traffic queue at the time and lit up like a christmas tree. After offering to buy me a new L plate(!) he did actually say in the presence of several witnesses, sorry I didn't see you.
2nd time was gravel. The road had been resurfaced about 3 weeks by this I was approaching a junction going about 10mph when the bike and I parted company.
I think if you are going to ride a bike then it is inevitable you will have a spill at some stage.
Be paranoid, anticipate the worst and keep your tires in good.

shaner

Steffano2002 wrote: »

There was a court case last year I think (which I read about on this very forum) whereby a cager cut accross a biker who was travelling in the bus lane... Anyway, went to court and the judge decided that although the biker wasn't allowed to be in the bus lane, the cager was 100% at fault for changing lanes without checking mirrors thus causing the accident. And I agree 100% with that judge!

I was in a similar accident. Told by the cops that it was 50/50 liability that they'd be recommending to the sargeant. Still waiting to hear from them "officially" though.

Always assume the cagers are idiots, always drive defensively...

maiden30403

Only had one spill, was nearly really bad. Oil on a roundabout at the back of the airport, going around and then bam back wheel gone. Was rush hour in the morning too and all the pricks in their cages were blowing at me as I was lying their on the ground. You can't see the oil when it's raining at all.

Best advice, treat each ride as it's your first or a learning experience, no matter how good you might think you are you can still learn more. Now if only those young lads in their Civics would do the same...

goz83

Hmmmm...let me see. The ones I remember are...

1) driving round a round about with female passenger on suzuki katana (50cc) and slip on gravel. Weight of me, the bike and the passenger pile drives my right knee to the ground where i do do damage on the gravel. Passenger has a scratch on her hand. Ouch!

2) Driving on very icy road (same bike) delivering pizza. Tap on rear brake at like 10mph and the bike just comes out from underneath me. I slide (with the bike) rather comfortably for 12 to 15 ft as the person I was delivering to watches me slide by their gate.

3) Driving to a new job on a 50cc gilera dna. Traffic moving nice and calm and all of a sudden the combi van in front jams on for no obvious reason. Once again my little wheels are cursed by the gravel on the side of the road and my new bike hits the ground hard and slides up to the van with a little thud. Turns out that a ****ing cat was crossing the road!!! That one hurt my leg and my pocket..and my new suit was ruined.

4) Yeah i know...i've had a few. So i'm a courier and driving on merrion square and intending to turn right to keep on the square. The left lane is clogged with traffic and my lane was free. Some feckin eejit decides to randomly walk out in front of me (without looking for oncoming traffic) with a bicycle. I'm too close to avoid so i hit the brakes hard. In slow motion...my bike rises to a 90 degree angle and falls down to the left just missing the car beside me. By the time I got up (not more than 10 seconds later) the eejit was nowhere to be seen. A few scratches to the bike and a broken rear indicator. My arm was in bits...early day for me. So thats all I have time for.

The message is.....be careful all you like but your still ****ed on 2 wheels.

reece

had one coming upto roundabout - Woodies lucan few weeks ago. Skidded on construction work gravel. Still bit sore. Nice scrape down one side of the bike. Resale value probably down the tubes.

speedy joe

always expect the unexpected, after 32 years biking i had my first come off when a guy with an artic tractor unit came off a side road at c60 mph and drove me 40 ft down the road, advice buy the best protective bike gear you can afford, i had good gear and got no cuts but got 7 broken bones, but ah what i still love bikes, lorry driver was banned for 2 yrs.

View Profile

Over the space of 7 years riding I was lucky only to have 3 accidents, 2 of them minor:

One involved a taxi driver who u-turned in front of me. Wrote my bike off. :mad:

The second when I entered a roundabout a tad too quickly for my level of experience and ended up dropping my bike as I mounted the kerb. I had slowed down sufficiently enough so it was minor damage. A bruised ego however.

The third was black ice in the city centre. Again a slow speed fall.

Lucky enough never to have had a major injury. (touch wood)

Like has been mentioned, ride like nobody can see you. Never presume the other driver see's you. EVER!
Don't be afraid to slow the bike right down in traffic if you feel a situation which may be dangerous. You will develop a sixth sense for potential accidents.
Taking just a couple of lessons with an experienced instructor will make a big difference. They will teach of all the danger's on the road, both from other users and road surfaces.

Good gear is crucial. Always wear full gear when riding. It'll help keep your skin on.