View Full Version : layed down in traffic


sseche
11-01-2007, 12:44 PM
Sorry this is so long an explanation....

Yes I'm ok, my left leg got twisted into an interesting position when I came off the bike. I came off the leftside, but the bike somehow landed on my right foot. I will be gimpy for a few more days, but nothing was broken or torn. I'm liking my investment in my Aerostich suit.

The accident happened on the 1st street entrance to the bay bridge, where 2 lanes become 1, I came around the right side of this cranky driver who didn't like my competing for "his" lane. I was slightly ahead of (25-30MPH) him in the right edge of the lane and he accelerated and my left bar came in contact with his car. You can see the scratch starts at the begining of his front door and runs all the way to the taillight in back. Anyway, I was surprised to find him in my lane and after he bumped me and sped away I ended up on the ground. Looking up at the ceiling of the Bay Bridge in traffic makes you contemplate the merits of motorcycling.

I flunked, in that I should always let the angry driver get away from you when your on a relatively small motorcycle vs. car. But I felt I had as much right to drive in the lane as he did. I noticed his agitation as we aproached the bridge. Any time there was a micro-gap in front of him he would zoom into it, so to get ahead of me. I should have backed off then.
But I saw a gap and I went ahead, and he of course zoomed ahead as soon as he saw space and drove into me.

The truck driver behind me got out and helped me up and then drove away. I should have got his info (I wasn't thinking about witnesses at the moment). We blocked only one lane for about 10 minutes. The angry driver stopped about 50 yards ahead, I took a quick look at my bike, started it and drove up to meet this guy. He says you "drove right into me". I said thats a "difficult thing to do when I'm in front of you". He pointed to his taillight, and I pointed to the long scratch starting at the front of his car. He changed tactics and then insisted we exchange info and let our insurance companies work it out. I asked if we could move to a safer place out of traffic, but he said no we can call the police or medical, but we must stay here and exchange info.

So, I got all my info out and got his information. Then he took off leaving me standing in traffic with my helmet and gloves off and my seat open while I stuff everything back together. I'm trying to get all my gear back on while cars are moving around me, some honking at me. It was really nice. I got off at Treasure island to get a better look at my bike and get my mirrors back into place. I installed crash bars around the engine so all that happened was a bent front fairing, scratched crash bars and bar ends, and I feel like Lawrence Taylor sacked me.

On the days I don't get knocked over on the bridge I really like commuting on the bike. However, since I live 2 blocks from the BART(train), I don't really need to ride to work. It was way too easy to end up on the pavement. I'm still a bit shaky when I think about it.

call me Lucky.

rndthought
11-01-2007, 01:52 PM
Wow, that could have ended much worse. Sorry to hear about it but sounds like you have your head screwed on right and really admire how you broke it down and analyzed it.

I've said it before, a couple of times, but all y'all: Your mission out there is to get home safe.

Glad you and the bike aren’t much worse for wear.

Oh and PICTURES :wink:

JBarx
11-01-2007, 01:58 PM
Sorry about the laydown. I feel your pain, although mine wasn't in traffic. It'll take a little while to shake off the jitters but it feels good to get back out there and get back to normal. Best of luck.

Super Sneaky Steve
11-01-2007, 08:30 PM
I don't know if I could talk rationally to a guy that just hit me because he was being an a-hole. You get credit for not punching his teeth out.

tx_metabaron
11-01-2007, 11:04 PM
I don't know if I could talk rationally to a guy that just hit me because he was being an a-hole. You get credit for not punching his teeth out.
Yeah,That...
I'm impressed by your control and cool attitude. You'll brush this off fast :)

djamalt
11-01-2007, 11:30 PM
I don't know if I could talk rationally to a guy that just hit me because he was being an a-hole. You get credit for not punching his teeth out.
Yeah,That...
I'm impressed by your control and cool attitude. You'll brush this off fast :)
+1. I applaud your control. You were one with peace, not an easy thing to do at times. I'm glad you are okay man, and glad to hear the bike is still running too. Take it easy on that leg, and if it feels at all worse, get to a DR and get that checked out. Injuries have a way of deceiving us bikers.

yeroC
11-02-2007, 06:54 AM
Glad you're OK sseche. And the bike. Kudos to you for keeping your
cool. Can't say i would have been the same way. I think you should
have gotten the law involved tho'. The guy was such an asshole driver,
he could actually kill the next biker. He could have received a ticket for
reckless driving or something because he was clearly in the wrong and
put you in great danger. Yeah, you could have slowed or pulled over to
let the impatient douchebag pass but that doesnt absolve him of shit!!
You did good tho' bro. Next time(hopefully there isn't a next time) call
the police as soon as you can get a glove off.

Alex
11-02-2007, 10:09 AM
Holy :shock: Stephen!

I'm glad you're alright! Like others, I apploud your self-control given the situation. My grandfather, (I recently found out he used to ride too!) used to say, "Dai dorogu duraku", which means "give the fool the right of way". Be very careful around aggressive drivers - they are often the type that think that their shit don't stink and that find fault in everyone but themselves. Stay away from them. Back up or get far enough ahead to eliminate the threat.

Crazy! :evil:

Seetrout
11-02-2007, 12:33 PM
Glad you're OK sseche. And the bike. Kudos to you for keeping your
cool. Can't say i would have been the same way. I think you should
have gotten the law involved tho'. The guy was such an asshole driver,
he could actually kill the next biker. He could have received a ticket for
reckless driving or something because he was clearly in the wrong and
put you in great danger. Yeah, you could have slowed or pulled over to
let the impatient douchebag pass but that doesnt absolve him of shit!!
You did good tho' bro. Next time(hopefully there isn't a next time) call
the police as soon as you can get a glove off.

+1 Shoulda called the cops.

Glad to hear you're OK.

sseche
11-02-2007, 05:41 PM
Yeah, I should have called the cops. At the time however I just wanted to get away from the scary place. Not that I want accident scene experience, but I will be able to make better choices if the occasion should come up again. I like this "Dai dorogu duraku".... "give the fool the right of way".
I don't know the language but it's good advice in any tongue.

Here are the damages (my shaky inner soul is not pictured).
Thanks to all for your comments.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1/dsc03823bq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/8231/dsc03824pq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Dave
11-03-2007, 05:56 PM
My grandfather used to say, "Kulik kulika vidit izdaleka."

sseche
11-03-2007, 07:03 PM
translation?

LeatherWings
11-03-2007, 07:06 PM
Good thing you and your bike are [relatively] ok dude. Stuff like this can really mess with your psyche. Hope you're able to regain your riding composure and get back on two wheels soon.

JHenley17
11-03-2007, 11:39 PM
It's scary as hell, but get back on it soon... don't stay off and dwell on it if you really want to keep riding. I was shaken up after my little mishap as well, but I think I'm a slightly better rider now because of it. After I healed up enough to ride, I was still a bit scared of it, but it's a bad thing to be anything more than wary.

Dave
11-04-2007, 11:01 AM
It means "One sandpiper sees another sandpiper from far away."

kjhobbs
11-04-2007, 10:44 PM
Maybe louder pipes would have helped
(sorry - could not resist).

Glad you are OK! Riding from Oakland to SF everyday must be
an event! I must admit, my commute may be pretty long (32
miles one way), but the vast majority is a state highway though
the mountains. If I crash, it was probably my fault, since there
is not a lot of traffic in my area. Once I get into the San Jose area,
I have to alter my drive style and it is not easy. If I drove a busier
route, I'd probably try and take public transportation (like BART).

Please let us know how the insurance folks handle it - I am always
suspicious of how they handle motorcycle claims.

Kevin Hobbs

sseche
11-05-2007, 04:34 PM
Louder pipes?, then he would have been deaf and blind.

sseche
11-15-2007, 05:16 PM
Insurance results are in..we split the difference.
Both Insurance companies denied liability.

My damages are less than my $500.00 deductable, funny how that works out for the insurance company.

Alex
11-15-2007, 05:40 PM
Shame, but at least you're well.

fastkick599
11-16-2007, 08:26 PM
Wow!! Im sorry to hear about the accident. I myself had a close call 2 days ago. I was riding home on the left lane in the FDR drive at 50 mph and the car on my right with no signal lights on just swerved left...I was paying attention all along at this cars wheels so i was kinda ready if it makes a stupid move and it did . I even abused the horn on this car but still if i was a little bit ahead of her i would have hit the wall...and so i downshifted bigtime to let her pass it was so close thank god... I tried to overtake this car only to find out it was an old lady driving without a clue with what just happened. hahhh!!

Feel better !!! :)

rndthought
11-19-2007, 03:03 PM
...without a clue with what just happened.
9/10x.