My first crash!

eoinkildare

So I was on the way home from work tonight. Windy, wet roads, rain had stopped but very greasy. Guy ahead of me in the bus lane (I was in the driving lane) and he pulled out into my path. I guess i hit the front brake a bit too hard and a bit to jerky but the front wheel locked and down went the bike and me...

I felt myself hitting the ground without too much impact or pain and things seemed to slow down enough for me to be conscious of what was happening. My left leg was trapped with the bike as I slid down the road and I thought to myself, ah feck I think my leg is probably going to get broken as the bike kind of overtook me and spun me around a small bit, but thankfully i came to a halt then and so did the bike. A taxi was behind me and he stopped straight away and shortly afterwards so did another. I sat up and then lay back down to assess whether I was hurt but felt fine and so got up. Fair play to the taximan who lifted up my bike for me and helped me push it off the road. The other taxi man waited a few minutes and after I insisted I was okay he headed off but was genuinely concerned. (One irish one african taximan).

Anyway, long story short, the bike needs a new clutch lever by the looks of things but not much else. I have an icepack on my knee which is stiffening up a bit but nothing else really.

Thank feck I had all my gear on. The first point of impact was the palm of my hand which was protected by my good gloves. Seems the next and most major point of contact was my right knee (not really sure how as the bike went down on its left side) and that was protected by my biking trousers. After that I noticed that all the leather on my left toe is badly scuffed up so luckily I'm not some trainer wearing biker.

Anyway, just said I'd post this up and sing the praises of always wearing the correct gear.

I'm blessed that I got away lightly in terms of injury to me and to my bike. And hopefully this will serve to ground me in my future biking life. Definitely won't turn me off biking though I can safely say.

Anyway, I'll open this up to the inevitable slagging now...


Cheers,

Eoin

monkeysnapper

Good that you came through it ok man . Rest that knee and then get back on that horse son

Esel

Expect a lot more pain in the areas of impact, and probably elsewhere too....

Glad that you are well enough to be posting anyway.

CianRyan

Just blowing through the forum really but from experience (not on a motorbike mind), try and keep that knee elevated and rest it well.
When falling putting your hand out does feel right but it's an easy way to break a wrist. On road bikes and skateboards when I fall I aim for my arm/shoulder and roll with it. I can see how that might not work with a motor bike coming down in you though.

Glad you're alright. I've seen enough horrible bike accidents between my uncles, cousins and brother in law.
My mam says no motor bikes 'till I move out. Haha

Wonda-Boy

Fcuk Eoin really sorry to hear that man, especially just starting out. But as you said you did not fear too badly but you might be very sore for a while. I was out yesterday all day and the roads were very bad alright.

Hopefully you are fully comp insurance wise and get sorted soon, if the damage is not that bad dont even claim unless you have step back protection.

Del2005

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Fcuk Eoin really sorry to hear that man, especially just starting out. But as you said you did not fear too badly but you might be very sore for a while. I was out yesterday all day and the roads were very bad alright.

There's only 2 types of bikers. The ones who have crashed and the ones yet to. If all our crashes could turn out so easy I'd be happy.

OP, be careful with the ice on your knee make sure it's rapped in something and only use for 10 min at a time. Don't put it behind the knee, there's an important nerve you can damage there with too much cold.

kaimera

Anyone you can walk away from etc etc.

cityspares or any other breakers for a lever.

solfadine for the pain

it's that time of year tho. feckin road in this morning was covered in ****ing wet leaves. take it easy out there folks.

Cienciano

Yeah, roads are really greasy at the moment. Almost prefer if it's lashing rain than this cold weather that doesn't allow the wet to evaporate so they just stay wet all day.
Prick in the car pulling out in front of you though :mad:

Wonda-Boy

Did you get his/her reg on the car, surely there is some liability there on behalf of the cage.....

P.C.

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Did you get his/her reg on the car, surely there is some liability there on behalf of the cage.....

If there was no contact with the other vehicle, then there is no liability.
They may have been a contributing factor, but that would be all, unless there was contact between the two vehicle.

CJhaughey

Bus stops often have a load of oil around them as the buses drip all kinds of mung out of them.
Glad you are OK, knowing how to crash is a skill in itself.

cojomo2

Sorry to hear about the crash Eoin, glad its not serious.

Just curious- do you think this would have been avoided for sure if your bike had ABS, yeah? Still can't believe it's an option on bigger bikes, should be standard.

endacl

Good to hear you're ok OP. The first road accident I ever saw was a bike smash on leinster road, rathmines. Long time ago. There's a kink in the road at the harolds cross end that you'd hardly even notice if you were walking. Powerful bike went into a long skid, as did the rider, wearing runners, jeans and a t-shirt. Both ended up smashing into a wall. Saw the ambulance taking the guy away. There were streaks of blood along the road so vivid you could actually track the crash. Young guy. No idea if he survived, but he wasn't moving at the scene. I was 14 at the time. Still remember it clearly 25 years later.

Wear those leathers.

daenerysstormborn3

P.C. wrote: »

If there was no contact with the other vehicle, then there is no liability.

This is not correct, speaking from my legal experience.

Although it doesn't sound like the OP is going to pursue a claim. OP if you are even remotely considering a claim go to your GP immediately. You would also want to be examined by your GP to rule out any more serious damage.

copeyhagen

sorry to hear, at least your ok.

got knocked off few weeks ago my an aul fella, first 'off'.

happened on the howth road outside a shopping centre with about 20 people walking by.

only person to ask me was i ok was a woman. everyone just walked by and ignored me and my zxr pishing oil all over the road.

actually a kid about 12 came over to me after a few mins and asked was i ok and said he lived across the road, did i want a drink or anything..

cool kid..

to all the people that just kept walking as i was on the deck, fook you!

The Don

Glad your ok Eoin!

Hope it doesn't take you too long to heal and get back on the road.

minidazzler

Great to hear you're OK OP. Also nice to hear that the cars behind you weren't so far up your hole that they came at you, though Taxi's seem to keep distance better than most.

eoinkildare

kaimera wrote: »

Anyone you can walk away from etc etc.

cityspares or any other breakers for a lever.

solfadine for the pain

it's that time of year tho. feckin road in this morning was covered in ****ing wet leaves. take it easy out there folks.

Where is this cityspares of which you speak?

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Did you get his/her reg on the car, surely there is some liability there on behalf of the cage.....

Wonda, I didn't even get to see what type of car it was! Was trying to focus on what I was going to hit I suppose! While he could definitely be done for careless driving I don't really know about liability. Surely he would but I have no details so no chance!

cojomo2 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the crash Eoin, glad its not serious.

Just curious- do you think this would have been avoided for sure if your bike had ABS, yeah? Still can't believe it's an option on bigger bikes, should be standard.

I really don't know man but quite possibly. Whatever was on the road allowed the front wheel to lock up immediately without gaining any traction sending me into the skid so maybe if the brakes had feathered themselves on a split second basis this wouldn't have happened...

pixiebean22 wrote: »

This is not correct, speaking from my legal experience.

Although it doesn't sound like the OP is going to pursue a claim. OP if you are even remotely considering a claim go to your GP immediately. You would also want to be examined by your GP to rule out any more serious damage.

Unfortunately there will be no way to trace the car or driver this time. I am however planning on getting a gopro for these exact situations. I'd imagine I'd have ample proof for a minor civil claim if I had one but alas I don't, so I don't!
Think i'm well enough to stay away from the doc this time. Don't want him sending me to the hospital waiting room to be told what I already know!!

Cheers lads for all the good words.

Eoin

daenerysstormborn3

eoinkildare wrote: »

Unfortunately there will be no way to trace the car or driver this time. I am however planning on getting a gopro for these exact situations. I'd imagine I'd have ample proof for a minor civil claim if I had one but alas I don't, so I don't!
Think i'm well enough to stay away from the doc this time. Don't want him sending me to the hospital waiting room to be told what I already know!!

Cheers lads for all the good words.

Eoin

Well just bear in mind Eoin that if you were to reconsider taking a claim against the driver (he could probably be traced via cctv and witnesses) that the longer you leave seeking medical treatment the less likely you are to be successful, it would certainly be viewed that you had a chat with mates, thought there might be some cash in it for you and then decided to go to the doctor and have a moan to formulate a case - not questioning your character at all but this has been known to happen.

Bear in mind as well that it's usually the days following a hit that pain sets in, your body can only handle so much and it has been seen that 6-9 months after a serious accident a new complaint can present itself once the other more serious complaints have been treated and possibly resolved. Just keep an eye on yourself, you know yourself what you can cope with. Get well soon

Xaime

P.C. wrote: »

If there was no contact with the other vehicle, then there is no liability.
They may have been a contributing factor, but that would be all, unless there was contact between the two vehicle.

So next time make sure you don't miss the car or you won't be covered.

Fr Dougal

@OP. Sorry to hear about your crash. Hope you are not too sore.

Enjoy your bike shopping.

pixiebean22 wrote: »

P.C. wrote: »

If there was no contact with the other vehicle, then there is no liability.

This is not correct, speaking from my legal experience.

Although it doesn't sound like the OP is going to pursue a claim. OP if you are even remotely considering a claim go to your GP immediately. You would also want to be examined by your GP to rule out any more serious damage.

Pixiebean is correct, you don't need to have contact to for the other driver to be liable. You just need to be able to prove, with witnesses if necessary, that the other driver caused the accident.

paddy147

Cienciano wrote: »

Yeah, roads are really greasy at the moment. Almost prefer if it's lashing rain than this cold weather that doesn't allow the wet to evaporate so they just stay wet all day.
Prick in the car pulling out in front of you though :mad:

Well done...indeed.:eek:

You can say that when you dont actually know what exactly happened.

For all you now that car driver may have indicated out of the bus lane and it was down to a lack of judgement and experience from the biker with regards slowing down and braking on a dark and wet road.....



Bus lane is open to all traffic before 7am and after 7pm Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday.......unless its specificly stated as a 24 hour bus lane.

Wonda-Boy

P.C. wrote: »

If there was no contact with the other vehicle, then there is no liability.
They may have been a contributing factor, but that would be all, unless there was contact between the two vehicle.

You really should start adding to your posts "In my humble opinion" P.C because you write posts in here like they are indeed fact.

I can tell you now you are wrong. Obviously each case is different, but a family member was judged to be 25% in the wrong by a judge in a court of law in a similar case with no actual contact only 3 yrs ago in an accident in Dublin city centre.

Just a heads up for other posters in here....:rolleyes:

paddy147

eoinkildare wrote: »

So I was on the way home from work tonight. Windy, wet roads, rain had stopped but very greasy. Guy ahead of me in the bus lane (I was in the driving lane) and he pulled out into my path. I guess i hit the front brake a bit too hard and a bit to jerky but the front wheel locked and down went the bike and me...

I felt myself hitting the ground without too much impact or pain and things seemed to slow down enough for me to be conscious of what was happening. My left leg was trapped with the bike as I slid down the road and I thought to myself, ah feck I think my leg is probably going to get broken as the bike kind of overtook me and spun me around a small bit, but thankfully i came to a halt then and so did the bike. A taxi was behind me and he stopped straight away and shortly afterwards so did another. I sat up and then lay back down to assess whether I was hurt but felt fine and so got up. Fair play to the taximan who lifted up my bike for me and helped me push it off the road. The other taxi man waited a few minutes and after I insisted I was okay he headed off but was genuinely concerned. (One irish one african taximan).

Anyway, long story short, the bike needs a new clutch lever by the looks of things but not much else. I have an icepack on my knee which is stiffening up a bit but nothing else really.

Thank feck I had all my gear on. The first point of impact was the palm of my hand which was protected by my good gloves. Seems the next and most major point of contact was my right knee (not really sure how as the bike went down on its left side) and that was protected by my biking trousers. After that I noticed that all the leather on my left toe is badly scuffed up so luckily I'm not some trainer wearing biker.

Anyway, just said I'd post this up and sing the praises of always wearing the correct gear.
I'm blessed that I got away lightly in terms of injury to me and to my bike. And hopefully this will serve to ground me in my future biking life. Definitely won't turn me off biking though I can safely say.

Anyway, I'll open this up to the inevitable slagging now...


Cheers,

Eoin

Glad to hear you are ok and also glad to see someone with sense here and that you have the right attitude towards biking and your own personal safety.:)


Take it on the chin,learn from the experience and move on with the biking.

P.C.

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

You really should start adding to your posts "In my humble opinion" P.C because you write posts in here like they are indeed fact.

I can tell you now you are wrong. Obviously each case is different, but a family member was judged to be 25% in the wrong by a judge in a court of law in a similar case with no actual contact only 3 yrs ago in an accident in Dublin city centre.

Just a heads up for other posters in here....:rolleyes:

MOD MAT ON:

1.) PLEASE DO NOT TELL PEOPLE HOW TO POST ON A FORUM
2.) ATTACK THE POST, NOT THE POSTER.

MOD HAT OFF.

P.C.

pixiebean22 wrote: »

This is not correct, speaking from my legal experience.

Although it doesn't sound like the OP is going to pursue a claim. OP if you are even remotely considering a claim go to your GP immediately. You would also want to be examined by your GP to rule out any more serious damage.

Legally you would probably have to take a civil case.
You can win, but it would be hard to prove.

Handing it over to your insurance company is not going to get you anywhere.

P.C.

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

You really should start adding to your posts "In my humble opinion" P.C because you write posts in here like they are indeed fact.

I can tell you now you are wrong. Obviously each case is different, but a family member was judged to be 25% in the wrong by a judge in a court of law in a similar case with no actual contact only 3 yrs ago in an accident in Dublin city centre.

Just a heads up for other posters in here....:rolleyes:

Was it a civil case?

paddy147

P.C. wrote: »

MOD MAT ON:

1.) PLEASE DO NOT TELL PEOPLE HOW TO POST ON A FORUM
2.) ATTACK THE POST, NOT THE POSTER.

MOD HAT OFF.

Im sorry,but this has to be posted.........(being a moderator and all that):D:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkcZilKChI

Fr Dougal

P.C. wrote: »

Legally you would probably have to take a civil case.
You can win, but it would be hard to prove.

Handing it over to your insurance company is not going to get you anywhere.

Nope. I know of one case where rider swerved to avoid a car and dropped bike. No contact but drivers insurance company paid up. No court case. Rider is a member here, he might post up if he sees this.

Cuddlesworth

P.C. wrote: »

Legally you would probably have to take a civil case.
You can win, but it would be hard to prove.

Handing it over to your insurance company is not going to get you anywhere.

I'm afraid your still wrong on this. If the evidence points towards another car and insurance company with proof or witnesses, then your insurance company will pursue the claim. They are not in the business to pay for everything themselves.

This is why I have a camera mounted in my car. And why I should probably have a camera on the bike.

paddy147

Just a thought here...but surely a camera on the bike would be fcuk all use if it showed that you were speeding in any sort of way or acting the maggot on the bike..with regards road positioning before the accident???????


Surely you would be lambasted for that????

P.C.

Fr Dougal wrote: »

Nope. I know of one case where rider swerved to avoid a car and dropped bike. No contact but drivers insurance company paid up. No court case. Rider is a member here, he might post up if he sees this.

I would like to see that.

I find it very hard to believe that an insurance company would pay out when there is no contact between the two vehicles.

P.C.

paddy147 wrote: »

Im sorry,but this has to be posted.........(being a moderator and all that):D:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkcZilKChI

Nothing to do with that.

If I am wrong, then, I am wrong.

No need to tell people how to post on a forum.
I do not tell you how to post, or do I?

danielma

you are lucky!

I had a fall once..

Del2005 wrote: »

There's only 2 types of bikers. The ones who have crashed and the ones yet to. If all our crashes could turn out so easy I'd be happy.

Humans eh!

eoinkildare wrote: »

x

Anyway, I'll open this up to the inevitable slagging now...


Cheers,

Eoin

Hey Eoin, nobody will be slagging you mate, taking a spill is sadly inevitable on two wheels it's just the severity that varies.

Road surface is a major contributor to most minor scrapes (I know I've had a few) and **** happens, a minor (injury and damage wise) fall does nothing but make you a better biker, more aware of our vulnerability and how we are slaves to road conditions and other road users.
Glad you are ok.

Cienciano

Eoin, at least it wasn't a bad off and you're grand. Not expensive and tbh, just paying yourself isn't too bad. If it was a brand new bike with fairing damage, rearsets, handlebars, bent subframe etc it would have been nasty considering you dont have a chance of claiming.

paddy147 wrote: »

Well done...indeed.:eek:

You can say that when you dont actually know what exactly happened.

For all you now that car driver may have indicated out of the bus lane and it was down to a lack of judgement and experience from the biker with regards slowing down and braking on a dark and wet road.....



Bus lane is open to all traffic before 7am and after 7pm Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday.......unless its specificly stated as a 24 hour bus lane.

From what I know the driver was a prick. If they come on and tell us their side of the story that might change, but at the moment he's (or she) is a prick!

Cuddlesworth

paddy147 wrote: »

Just a thought here...but surely a camera on the bike would be fcuk all use if it showed that you were speeding in any sort of way or acting the maggot on the bike..with regards road positioning before the accident???????


Surely you would be lambasted for that????

It all depends on the circumstances. In the case of the OP, since the car changed lanes, caused the heavy braking and subsequent off he would be 100% liable regardless of the speed being done by the bike. Its every drivers duty of car to check the way is clear before entering a lane/road.

If you had the license plate and reported it, its possible the insurance company would pay if they admitted being there at the time and pulling into the lane. If a witness had stopped and given their details it would have been a sure thing. Same with a camera.

Either way at this stage there is nothing you can do. No proof and no details.

Cienciano

And cut any video to about 5 seconds before the crash

Wonda-Boy

P.C. wrote: »

MOD MAT ON:

1.) PLEASE DO NOT TELL PEOPLE HOW TO POST ON A FORUM
2.) ATTACK THE POST, NOT THE POSTER.

MOD HAT OFF.

Where did I TELL YOU to do anything? It was merely a suggestion, a "get out of jail free card" if you will. When you have realised that you are wrong it saves alot of backtracking.

And take off the tin hat man no one is ATTACKING YOU just letting you know that even the great and powerful OZ can be wrong.

And in relation to the OP it was not a civil case.

BrokenArrows

paddy147 wrote: »

Just a thought here...but surely a camera on the bike would be fcuk all use if it showed that you were speeding in any sort of way or acting the maggot on the bike..with regards road positioning before the accident???????


Surely you would be lambasted for that????

That's why you edit the footage before handing it over. Just the moments before the accident are relevant.

Cienciano

BrokenArrows wrote: »

That's why you edit the footage before handing it over. Just the moments before the accident are relevant.

IF they had a full video of a spin I'd probably have my bike confiscated, licence taken and thrown in jail :cool:

Fr Dougal

Cienciano wrote: »

IF they had a full video of a spin I'd probably have my bike confiscated, licence taken and thrown in jail :cool:

Hope you don't ride a Kawasaki Versys1000, most people don't realise them yokes have an onboard computer that records loads of statistics including speed and could theoretically be accessed by law enforcers or accident investigators.

Sorry OP for going off topic.

Cienciano

Fr Dougal wrote: »

Hope you don't ride a Kawasaki Versys1000, most people don't realise them yokes have an onboard computer that records loads of statistics including speed and could theoretically be accessed by law enforcers or accident investigators.

Sorry OP for going off topic.

I don't, but would that data stand up in court? You could easily say it's not accurate. My gps once had the max speed traveled at something like 225mph for instance.

paddy147

Cienciano wrote: »

Eoin, at least it wasn't a bad off and you're grand. Not expensive and tbh, just paying yourself isn't too bad. If it was a brand new bike with fairing damage, rearsets, handlebars, bent subframe etc it would have been nasty considering you dont have a chance of claiming.



From what I know the driver was a prick. If they come on and tell us their side of the story that might change, but at the moment he's (or she) is a prick!

You have a lovely attitude towards other road users and your language is just lovely too.....seen as you dont know what,where and how the accident actually happened.


Bravo indeed.

Hotblack Desiato

Paddy147, I don't think your casting doubt on the OP's story is at all helpful.

You have no evidence that they were to blame so why insinuate that? If the car driver's lane change had been safe, the OP would never have needed to brake or indeed take any action at all. Forcing other road users to sweve or brake to avoid you is dangerous driving.

paddy147

ninja900 wrote: »

Paddy147, I don't think your casting doubt on the OP's story is at all helpful.

You have no evidence that they were to blame so why insinuate that? If the car driver's lane change had been safe, the OP would never have needed to brake or indeed take any action at all.Forcing other road users to sweve or brake to avoid you is dangerous driving.

I never said the OP was to blame and Im not casting doubt either,,,please read what I have posted on this thread ( especially post 22 and post 24),and you will clearly see that much.

But there is nothing to state the driver is to blame.

But because a biker comes off his bike on a wet windy night (read opening post again),then the driver is to blame straight away and is deemed worth of being called all sorts of names by some people here.:o

Hotblack Desiato

How about this

paddy147 wrote: »

For all you now that car driver may have indicated out of the bus lane and it was down to a lack of judgement and experience from the biker with regards slowing down and braking on a dark and wet road.....

Is that not casting doubt on the OP?

Explain me this - even if the rider's braking technique caused the wheel to lock, you are overlooking why they had to brake in the first place.

Changing lane in such a way that another road user is forced to brake to avoid you is dangerous driving.

A car (or anything else) driver who changes lane in front of me and forces me to hit the brakes is, by definition, a prick. It is more than a lack of consideration, it is dangerous driving.

paddy147

ninja900 wrote: »

How about this



Is that not casting doubt on the OP?

Explain me this - even if the rider's braking technique caused the wheel to lock, you are overlooking why they had to brake in the first place.

Changing lane in such a way that another road user is forced to brake to avoid you is dangerous driving.

A car (or anything else) driver who changes lane in front of me and forces me to hit the brakes is, by definition, a prick. It is more than a lack of consideration, it is dangerous driving.

Yes,I stated that to a person who clearly is intent on going off on one at the car driver,when the full facts are not known.

The OP clearly says himself that he yanked on the brakes too hard,locked up and went down on a dark,wet and windswept road

But 1 particular member is judge jury and executioner all in 1 with regards the car driver.Not to mention the foul language too.:(




If a biker locks up and comes off his or her bike,then the car driver is not automaticly to blame..the biker also has a responsibility to be in a position to control his or her bike and especially so when the conditions are far from perfect....AWARENESS AND ANTICIPATION...especially vital in wet dark conditions


But that logic and thinking seems to go out the window here with some people,and staright away its the car drivers fault.

Hotblack Desiato

Yet again you are studiously overlooking WHY he needed to brake.

Hotblack Desiato

paddy147 wrote: »

If a biker locks up and comes off his or her bike,then the car driver is not automaticly to blame..the biker has a responsibility to be in a position to control his or her bike and especially so when the conditions are far from perfect.

No other road user has the right to force you to brake or swerve to avoid them. If they do, it is dangerous driving.

ROTR states that you must always give way to traffic already in the lane when changing lane. If they need to brake, you are not giving way.

paddy147

ninja900 wrote: »

No other road user has the right to force you to brake or swerve to avoid them. If they do, it is dangerous driving.

ROTR states that you must always give way to traffic already in the lane when changing lane. If they need to brake, you are not giving way.

Did the car use an indicator???

Did the biker see the indicator??

What speed was biker doing,in relation to road conditions??


Did biker have clear vision and clear line of sight through his visor??

Exactly how and why did the biker go down....human error/missjudgement on bikers part perhaps??...(we have all done missjudged things at some stage)

Had the biker left enough room to the cars in front,to allow for any sudden braking on a dark,windswept wet road??..(double the distance on a wet road and traffic)



Lots of questions there,but as is usual its the car driver fault straight away.