My first accident (a little story)

I've been reading these forums for a few months now but still getting used to all the bike talk and everything. I'm kind of new to the whole thing, so I didn't think I'd have anything worth posting for a while.

Well, I thought too soon. Only a few rides in on my curvy, and I already got a mark on my record. Nothing major, but it really does make you stop and smell the roses.

I'm a pretty good driver when it comes to cars - no accidents for 7 years. I figured I could be similar on bikes. From what I read, most accidents are not the fault of the rider. Ok, so I'll just be defensive like I always am and maybe step it up a hunch.

I just broke it in a few weeks ago. Can use the clutch pretty well to drive 2-5 mph without dragging my feet. Learning how to properly lean right now, along with plenty of other things. Overall, comfort level is good.

So I took it for a spin today. I live in Boston in USA btw, not UK. And we got a bit of snow last night. I was working at a hotel and spent the night to minimize risk.. then again, statistically it's safer to drive at night.

Anyway, I'm riding home in the morning, **** poor traffic and weather conditions, but I'm not doing too bad. After about 35 km on the highway, I'm closing in on home, going my normal route. Going up one of the main streets past a tiny intersection, doing about 35 km/hr. I see a huge bmw SUV pulling out so I touch the rear break, swing myself to the left to avoid her. Then after a second or two she stops. I'm thinking ok she sees me, take my foot off the break and that's when she hits gas.

By then it's too late to do anything short of panic (for me at least), and being a novice, I don't have my instincts properly intact. About the only right thing I did is lay her down. I hit the front break too heavy, and at such a low speed she threw me to the side pretty good. I also landed horribly and would've easily broken my neck the way my head rolled under me if the speed was higher.. Me and the bike slid under her SUV into her front tire. I quickly got up and started bitching about the damage ignoring what she was saying because all I'm really thinking is "great, now I have to take the car to work."

All in all, I think it was a good experience. After reading through these forums and a bunch of other places, I knew my risks and tried to prepare myself consciously so I didn't get scared or worried. I figured it's part of the trade. Still, I took quite a lot away from it and I think that's a bonus. Along with my health I got a dose of lessons and reality shocks that I'll have to carry each time I ride.

I also learned that it doesn't matter how defensive you are and how defensive the other person is (she was a middle aged woman with 2 little kids in the back and claimed she always drives slow/careful, I kinda believed her) because accidents are accidents and they're gonna happen. So I think I'll keep driving like I've been driving, not pushing beyond my limits but still testing them with full understanding that **** happens.

Btw, her story is that she didn't see me coming, she was looking at some pedestrian crossing or something. I'm not really sure. She didn't deny it was her fault but then you wonder what she'll tell the insurance. If I were a little more experienced I probably would have either slowed down to a near stop just in case when I saw that danger coming or leaned it to the left better to avoid her entirely. Then again in retrospect, a few seconds always appear like minutes during which you can make better decisions. I saw her pull out, I slowed down, then she stopped, so I kept going. Oh well.

Wow,

Sounds like a close escape, especially as you ended up under the SUV. I hope you are OK and get your bike sorted out.

Just goes to show one of the key lessons I learned - if in doubt about someone having seen you - use the horn - not a long blast as if you're really p*ssed off, but a quick toot to wake up the inattentive.

Having lived in the USA my opinion is that the roads are safe but the level of awareness/observation of the drivers is lower than here in the UK. Maybe it's something to do with the level of training required to pass the test (I took my test in Ohio and it was so easy it was a joke).

By the way, we're in miles and MPH in the UK, same as you. But our gallons, and also our pints (hic!) are 25% bigger. Just in case you thought UK SV's are amazingly good on gas mileage (or our beer is amazingly expensive).

And as for BMW making SUV's - it's terrible. What a sellout. Whatever next - Porsche SUV's?

Cheers Keith

Originally Posted by Well Oiled

Wow,

Sounds like a close escape, especially as you ended up under the SUV. I hope you are OK and get your bike sorted out.

Just goes to show one of the key lessons I learned - if in doubt about someone having seen you - use the horn - not a long blast as if you're really p*ssed off, but a quick toot to wake up the inattentive.

Having lived in the USA my opinion is that the roads are safe but the level of awareness/observation of the drivers is lower than here in the UK. Maybe it's something to do with the level of training required to pass the test (I took my test in Ohio and it was so easy it was a joke).

By the way, we're in miles and MPH in the UK, same as you. But our gallons, and also our pints (hic!) are 25% bigger. Just in case you thought UK SV's are amazingly good on gas mileage (or our beer is amazingly expensive).

And as for BMW making SUV's - it's terrible. What a sellout. Whatever next - Porsche SUV's?

Cheers Keith

Heh, thanks for the heads up! I thought you guys were km not miles so had to do some conversions, oops.

Yeah, the level of training here is horrible. For bikes you just take a written exam and you're good to go. I doubt it's the reason though. But I'm not about to go into a political rant :P (I'm a philosophy/poli sci student).

Good to hear about the pints! Me and a buddy are thinking of hitting up UK pretty soon, so that'll come in handy. Ever since I came to Boston, I've been missing out on a good bar scene (I used to live in a really dirty town down south). Everything here is polished up far too much.

Alek

hiya Alek, sorry to hear about accident, good to hear you`re ok and have learnt something from it. Vaguely remember hearing a while back that some accident testy type boff`s had proved that tin box drivers can look straight through a motorcyclist without battering an eyelid, something to do with the brain processing the info and deciding it`s spam so ignoring it, as it does with lots of info day in day out. Maybe because they are in a comfort zone, low observation skills, whatever, they just don`t see us so be careful out there

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by veraliar

All in all, I think it was a good experience. After reading through these forums and a bunch of other places, I knew my risks and tried to prepare myself consciously so I didn't get scared or worried. I figured it's part of the trade. Still, I took quite a lot away from it and I think that's a bonus. Along with my health I got a dose of lessons and reality shocks that I'll have to carry each time I ride.

Unlucky Alek, it's always a ****er when you end up on the deck. I'm impressed how philosophical you can be about it though. In some ways it is good experience to get yourself a certain understanding of the risks involved - it annoys me greatly when I hear of people who decide once they've had a spill, to give up biking 'cos is dangerous, this is a cry of: "I didn't appreciate what I was doing, or what might happen", naivety at the very least, (I'm feeling charitable this morning).
However don't accept it as 'part of the trade', every single time it's lying down is a failure.
I'm not giving you hard time over what happened, you've rationalised what occurred and apportioned fault accordingly.
Every accident can be avoided. True, sometimes the only way you can avoid it is staying in bed that morning, but those are rare, mostly taking care of your riding, and very importantly not being complacent is the way we stay topside and in good health. Experience is the key, but no-one can give you that, obviously you need to get it for yourself.

Here's wishing you the good fortune you need to enjoy a lifetime of biking, (and avoidance of careless BMWs).

Originally Posted by veraliar

so I didn't think I'd have anything worth posting for a while.

Never stops me!! Interesting name, who's Vera and what did she lie about (or have I got it wrong??).

Glad you're OK.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by veraliar

I'm really thinking is "great, now I have to take the car to work."

Amazing what you think about in an accident isnt it. I remember losing the front on my 125 on some ice when I first started riding as I was sliding down the road I remember thinking. "oh I dont want to scrape my lid on the road as I really like this lid and I dont want to damage it" So I picked up my head and angled it away from the tarmac the first thing I did when I got home was to check it for damage.

Glad you're OK. Hope everthing is sorted easily enough.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Amazing what you think about in an accident isnt it. I remember losing the front on my 125 on some ice when I first started riding as I was sliding down the road I remember thinking. "oh I dont want to scrape my lid on the road as I really like this lid and I dont want to damage it" So I picked up my head and angled it away from the tarmac the first thing I did when I got home was to check it for damage.

Glad you're OK. Hope everthing is sorted easily enough.

My initial thought when I ran into the back of a car on my scooter a few years back (locked the front on diseasal) was "is my alpinestars jacket alright?" I had only just brought it, and spent £200 on it (£60 was from my dad!)

Scooter was in bits, like an explosion had gone off in its front end. But That wasnt a problem!

Matt

Thats really unlucky mate, but its good to hear you being so philosophical about it (funnily enough considering your degree!). THe problem is that you can't afford to slow down for every single vehicle that pulls up to a junction where you have priority. a) you would never get anywhere and b) it has happened that the car sees you slowing and thinks you are letting them out or that they have space enough to go. You just have to rely on other people to stop properly. Luckily, due to your awareness and breaking, you were going at a nice slow speed when you came off.

They should totally up the test in the states, my cousin passed in america and wiped out SEVEN cars at a junction by going through a red light in her Dad's Ford Explorer.

I hate 4x4's/SUV's and BMW's but that isn't the issues I suppose.
The more you ride the more information on driver behaviour (from a 2 wheled perspective) you'll gain and gradually your confidence will increase with improved handling skill and so on.

My first biggy was on a little Suzy 185GT with snow falling just outside Newcastle. I had just picked up a Chinese t/w - some git had parked their Mk1 escort just over the brow of a hill - a car came the opposite direction temporarily blinded me with headlights (yes at night) dazzled due to snow. next thing I know I was laying on the deck in front of the escort and me little GT was in the escort boot! I was gutted because me dinner was feeding the tarmac! It was a narrow street in a built up area. My bike forks were by the back wheel, frame bent tank crushed and the escort had a nice vee indent to the back window. I was only doin 30mph (honest copper)

AND NO ONE came out to see what had happened so I hobbled home! To be fair there wasn't a beemer in sight but it was still their fault

I rebuilt the bike and carried on ASAP till I came off again! oh , then again and then again (starting to learn a thing or two). Pleased I got rid of that damn bike (and for profit! )