My first crash :-( | GTAMotorcycle.com

My first crash :-(

The Dodes

The Dodes

Active member
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Well I've read stories on here before and always hoped I wouldn't have to post my own but here it goes. First off let me say that I wasn't badly hurt and am home after a night and day in the hospital.
Damn left-turners!!! Saying that alot of you can probably guess the rest of the story. I had just got off the highway and onto a city street in the curb lane of a 4 lane road. Ahead of me was a side street on my right with a car poking into my lane waiting to turn left. I could see her creep forward so I got ready to brake and then she stopped. She was so far into my lane however that I started to change lanes to go around her, well just as I started to change lanes she decided to go. I was close enough at that point to see that she was only looking at traffic coming from the other direction and not looking my way at all. I guess instinct took over and I reacted by grabbing lots of brake and since I was already turning a bit to the left to make my lane change my front locked up, wrenched all the way to the left (i remember hearing the "clunk") and down I went. I heard and saw my bike sliding up the street away from me as I slid and rolled. Me or my bike didn't hit anything luckily. There were several very nice people that stopped to help, call the police and a nice woman even kept in contact with my wife. One of the firefighters at the scene (here anyway all fire, police and ambulance respond to 911 at once) was talking to me about a crash he had and could identify with my situation. So my injuries: badly scraped knee, bruised calf, bruised kidney and just overall pretty sore. I know my good riding boots saved my ankle, my jacket is pretty ripped up and a minor scrape on my helmet - the gear sure helped!!!!! Even the EMT's were looking at my gear and said how good it was and saved me more serious injuries and they've seen their fair share of motorcycle accidents.
I found out that the driver was charged, there were witnesses that confirmed my account of what happened so that's good to know that I was not in the wrong. From what I was told I did everything I could. Needless to say, as I was lying on the flat board in the hospital (they secured my head and neck just to be sure) I was thinking about everything I could have done differently but man did it happen fast!!!
In a way I'm glad this happened, now I not only know what it's like to go down at speed but I'm sure it will make me an even better rider.
Anyway, just wanted to share with the riding community. I can't wait to get back on, looks like it won't be till next season but I know now this bike is going to stay with me for a long time, we now have a special bond that I don't want to break. As far as the bike goes I haven't seen it but I heard that it was still ridable and that the left mirror was broken off and some scrapes - frame sliders saved the bike from more damage. I'll post pics when I see it before it gets shipped.
Thanks to all others who have shared their stories of misfortune on this site, just glad I got to contribute and help out the riding community in any way I can.
Ride safe!!!
 
Good to hear that you're doing all right. Bikes are replaceable, people are not, so heal up and be ready to ride in the spring!
 
Glad you're still in one piece, don't worry about the bike.
 
Yeah, people do that - they poke out into traffic when trying to break out of a sidestreet and turn left into traffic.
A guy just did it to me yesterday. You either have to stop or run into them... cars typically stop.
Actually we've all probably done it ourselves! When I poke out, I expect people to stop - or what, are they gonna run into me?
Too bad, mis-communication bro... I think she expected you to stay in your lane, the curb lane, and let her go.
But you didn't do anything wrong. You simply broke the unwritten rule, heheh...
I hope LOTS of riders read this, and recognise just how super easily these things can happen. Every hour, every minute this is happening in our heavy GTA traffic.
Ride safe everyone - and try not to be a participant in this very common scenario!
GWS brother Dodes, glad you're still talking.
Regards
 
Two types of riders out there....

1. Those who haven't gone down yet....
2. Those have gone down....

Welcome to the CLUB!
 
:( Sorry to hear about the crash (not surprised it was an inattentive driver) but glad things weren't worse!
 
Sorry, sounds like you got banged up pretty good. Pleased to hear that she was charged.

I think I would have done exactly the same thing you did, and paid the some price....especially if I felt that she had seen me.

Very aggressive driving on her part, trying to use her car to stop traffic, and then not even checking to see if her strategy had worked before pulling out! Even more shameful knowing that a motorcycle was approaching. Such selfishness!
 
frekeyguy said:
Two types of riders out there....

1. Those who haven't gone down yet....
2. Those have gone down....

Welcome to the CLUB!
Click to expand...
Even though it's not really a club I wanted to be a member off I figured I would be sooner or later and seems like i paid a small initiation fee compared to some. Thanks for all the well wishes from all.
 
YellowDuck said:
Sorry, sounds like you got banged up pretty good. Pleased to hear that she was charged.

I think I would have done exactly the same thing you did, and paid the some price....especially if I felt that she had seen me.

Very aggressive driving on her part, trying to use her car to stop traffic, and then not even checking to see if her strategy had worked before pulling out! Even more shameful knowing that a motorcycle was approaching. Such selfishness!
Click to expand...

Selfishness isn't the half of it. I wish more drivers would realise that the thing they are driving is capable of killing someone in an instant if not driven properly with a little more respect and a lot of concentration. Sadly driving for most people is just another task like brushing teeth etc. Makes me angry to see people do reckless things in a car for selfish reasons that could have massive consequences for other people.
 
OP... glad your injuries are relatively minor and you're fit enough to post.

Gryphon said:
Yeah, people do that - they poke out into traffic when trying to break out of a sidestreet and turn left into traffic.
A guy just did it to me yesterday. You either have to stop or run into them... cars typically stop.
Actually we've all probably done it ourselves! When I poke out, I expect people to stop - or what, are they gonna run into me?
Too bad, mis-communication bro... I think she expected you to stay in your lane, the curb lane, and let her go.
But you didn't do anything wrong. You simply broke the unwritten rule, heheh...
I hope LOTS of riders read this, and recognise just how super easily these things can happen. Every hour, every minute this is happening in our heavy GTA traffic.
Ride safe everyone - and try not to be a participant in this very common scenario!
GWS brother Dodes, glad you're still talking.
Regards
Click to expand...

yes. hindsight.. could've acted like a car and stayed in the curb land slow down to a crawl up and eventually stop at the point that your front tire is touching her driver-side door. If traffic is still too busy to proceed for her to execute the left-turn she wanted to do, she might've put it in reverse at that point to let you go .. or at least feel stupid for stickin' her nose out into busy traffic.
 
1.) When I ride (or drive, but moreso when I ride) Assume everyone is a complete and utter moron. I'm talking room temperature IQ. There is a surprisingly large percentage of the population that is dumb on life, should not have a drivers license or kids, and should probably be bubble wrapped at all times for their own safety.

2.) Consider track days, a wonderful controlled environment that will greatly improve your riding skills. There aren't any left turners out there.
 
+1,000,000

I say this all the time. People don't realize they are driving weapons and they can change someones live in an instant.

OP glad you are ok and really happy she got charged.

jc100 said:
Selfishness isn't the half of it. I wish more drivers would realise that the thing they are driving is capable of killing someone in an instant if not driven properly with a little more respect and a lot of concentration. Sadly driving for most people is just another task like brushing teeth etc. Makes me angry to see people do reckless things in a car for selfish reasons that could have massive consequences for other people.
Click to expand...
 
If the drivers seat was attached to the front bumper, hanging out front, I'm pretty sure our roads would be 100X safer.
 
Thanks all. I think now about the things I could've done differently and even though it was technically her fault it could've been avoided I guess. Funny how in the moment you just react but I'm taking this as a learning experience and maybe when this happens again I'll react differently and have an even better outcome. I know it could've been worse since I did some things right at least.
 
Thanks for posting this. I'll add it to my defensive riding repertoire - to stop in such cases rather than go around. I ride road and mountain bikes as well. I feel a lot safer on my motorcycle than on my road bike. I ride both assuming I'm invisible. Drivers are watching for cars period.
 
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