[Shallice]

Hey, thought I might as well share my story seeing as I can't walk.

Me and a group of friends, (about 12 in all) went out for a ride at around 7pm, all different powered bikes from restricted 50cc's to de-restricted 125's. It got to around 8:30pm and was dark, me being on a race tuned 50cc was out in front with the 125s very close behind. We were driving on unlit roads that I was very very familiar with. 40mph speed limit.

Approaching a semi-sharp bend at about 50mph I was expecting one of the 125s to prove a point and overtake me on the inside, on the bend I looked in my mirrors and sure enough a headlight was getting closer to me. I slowed down to about 45mph and moved over slightly to allow him to pass me. All this happened in the space of a few seconds while cornering.

(the 125 never did overtake me)

After looking forward again and coming out of the bend all I saw was 2 massive glaring headlights on full beam in the middle of the road heading towards me at a very high speed. It looked like it had just overtaken a parked car so I thought it would return to its side of the road. I didn't see any reason to slow down - how I was wrong.

The next thing I know there is a very low, black sporty looking car parked on my side of the road facing oncoming traffic. Two things went through my mind within a split second... Do I overtake the sports car have a head-on crash or do I slam on my breaks to reduce my speed as much as possible before I slam into the front of this car. I went with option 2.

I grabbed both of my breaks as hard as I could but it wasn't enough, I smashed into the sports car at about 45mph. I flew into and over the handlebars, bounced off the bonnet back into the road and laid there. As I came around all I saw was my friend on an Aprillia 125 mount the curb and smash straight into a brick wall. I then heard a sound from behind me, I got to my feet and saw another of my friends who had put his monkey bike on its side sliding along the ground at 60+ mph.

The speeding car went past all 3 of us without blinking an eyelid and drove off. The others then caught up with us and helped everyone to their feet.

I won't bore you with the rest of the story.

The injuries I sustained (on a 50cc moped) are as follows:
Broken wrist, broken hand in two places, broken thumb, 2 torn ligaments in my right knee, a snapped ligament in my left knee, 3 broken ribs, a broken foot, bad cartilidge tears in both knees, severe wiplash in my neck and bad road burn down both legs. Countless deep black bruises and strained muscles including my right hamstring and both triceps.

As for my friends, they came off lightly because they were wearing full racing leathers opposed to me wearing jeans and a bike jacket. The entire top half of my body (apart from neck) is fine as I was wearing the correct gear. The bottem half which I was wearing jeans and trainers has been officially ripped to shreds.

What makes this whole thing funny is that while I was smashing into the front of an illegally parked car all that was going through my mind was "for f*ck sake, I only had her MOT done today" followed shortly by "for f*ck sake, the next 3 months till I can ride my 400cc will go even slower now"

If you want anymore info just ask.. I just hope this has emphasized how important proper safety gear is. The bike is a complete write-off, the entire chassis has bent and the steering column is f*cked. As for me, docters say I should be back on my feet in 12 weeks. Gutted.

I'll try get some pictures uploaded.

Thanks,
Tom.


(Edit, got you some pictures)

All of the bikes that went.
http://i33.tinypic.com/303bi12.jpg

Roadrash.
http://i35.tinypic.com/2dwgund.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/wcny9e.jpg

My hand / wrist / thumb.
http://i36.tinypic.com/33xy4j6.jpg

Some random images of the bike.
(You can't really see the main damage, a bent chassis and buckled steering column that won't turn)
http://i33.tinypic.com/hwxpjt.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2dj8zt.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/igm3hy.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/20fp79v.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/2d0xe14.jpg

[bladeracer]

How much damage did you do to the car?
Are you being charged for undue care and attention to the road?

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

How much damage did you do to the car?
Are you being charged for undue care and attention to the road?

Only turned out to be a Smart Roadster. I'm not sure yet though, a solicitor said the car was parked illegally so technically its their fault. Twinned with the fact that the other vehicle was speeding on the wrong side of the road and I didn't have a choice on what to do, I don't think I would be charged for Undue Care and Attention..? There wasn't huge amounts of damage to the car, guess it'll need a new front bumper, headlights, front grill and possibly a bonnet.

It only happened 2 nights ago so its still in the early stages of everything.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by Shallice

Only turned out to be a Smart Roadster, but no not at all, the car was parked illegally so infact its their fault.

It may have been illegally parked.
It's still your responsibility not to ride faster than the distance you can see to stop in - due care and attention to the road.
It would be very rare that it's not your fault when you hit a _parked_ car.
What if it had been an ambulance that was stopped helping somebody else injured in a crash? I'm sure your efforts pretty much blocked the road entirely?

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

It may have been illegally parked.
It's still your responsibility not to ride faster than the distance you can see to stop in - due care and attention to the road.
It would be very rare that it's not your fault when you hit a _parked_ car.
What if it had been an ambulance that was stopped helping somebody else injured in a crash? I'm sure your efforts pretty much blocked the road entirely?

What would you have done? Had a head-on with a speeding car and possibly died? You say I "hit a _parked_ car", I had NO CHOICE. I was forced into making the maneuver.

An ambulance is a very bad example as I would have seen it a lot earlier because of the reflectors it has around the ENTIRE vehicle, thats the reason its not illegal for emergency vehicles to park facing oncoming traffic, they reflect just as much off the front as they do the back. Whereas a normal car only reflects from the back.

As well as being blinded by a headlights on full beam... Did you even read the post before you started flaming about an almost fatal crash? Mum always used to say, if you not got anything nice to say, don't say it. I'm all up for constructive criticism but your comments really aren't helping.

(edit, my apologies, on a lot of tablets, in a lot of pain and can't sleep atm, combined with my first bike being written off I was a little agitated )

[sscottab]

iam glad to see you are able to post and survived the crash. i wrecked years ago and gear saved my life then and i have always worn it because of that, and i hope you do continue to ride and have learned how inportant gear is. remember bikes are replaceable and you are not.

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by sscottab

iam glad to see you are able to post and survived the crash. i wrecked years ago and gear saved my life then and i have always worn it because of that, and i hope you do continue to ride and have learned how inportant gear is. remember bikes are replaceable and you are not.

Cheers, that really means a lot to me.

Very true, I didn't look at it like that, I have been looking at it that my body will repair but my bike won't. I guess I should be thankfull that I'm still here...

Yea I was extremely lucky. I have learnt a huge valuable lesson very early on in riding and it will stay with me for the rest of my riding days...

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by Shallice

What would you have done? Had a head-on with a speeding car and possibly died? You say I "hit a _parked_ car", I had NO CHOICE. I was forced into making the maneuver.

Ambulance is a very bad example as I would have seen it a lot earlier because of the reflectors it has around the ENTIRE vehicle, thats the reason its not illegal for emergency vehicles to park facing oncoming traffic, they reflect just as much off the front as they do the back. Whereas a normal car only reflects from the back.

As well as being blinded by a headlights on full beam... Did you even read the post before you started flaming about an almost fatal crash? My mum always used to say, if you not got anything nice to say, don't say it. I'm all up for constructive criticism but your comments really aren't helping.

If you are blinded by headlights such that you can't see the road ahead is clear, you slow down. You were forced into hitting the car because you didn't slow down enough to have been able to stop in the distance of road that you could see was clear.
I haven't flamed you at all but you don't seem to feel that you are responsible at all for your own crash or those of your friends?
I agree with your mum, I didn't say anything "not nice" :-)

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

If you are blinded by headlights such that you can't see the road ahead is clear, you slow down. You were forced into hitting the car because you didn't slow down enough to have been able to stop in the distance of road that you could see was clear.
I haven't flamed you at all but you don't seem to feel that you are responsible at all for your own crash or those of your friends?
I agree with your mum, I didn't say anything "not nice" :-)

Which I did start to slow down, but it was too late, if the illegally parked car wasn't there, nor was a car driving down the center of the road there, it wouldn't have happened. From my point of view (and a solicitor's point of view) it wasn't my fault.

I'm glad to see a different opinion on it though.. Maybe its just me.. I'm just happy to be alive.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by Shallice

I have learnt a huge valuable lesson very early on in riding and it will stay with me for the rest of my riding days...

This is the important part of the crash.
Of my 29 crashes only three weren't entirely my fault - and all three caused me injuries.
I've been hit from behind by another bike twice, had a car pull out of a street right in front of me while going through a corner and had a pedestrian run into the road right in front of me.

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

This is the important part of the crash.
Of my 29 crashes only three weren't entirely my fault - and all three caused me injuries.
I've been hit from behind by another bike twice, had a car pull out of a street right in front of me while going through a corner and had a pedestrian run into the road right in front of me.

29 crashes? Ouch.. And you're still riding? Thats dedication..

Sorry about my little outburst just on a lot of tablets, a lot of pills and in a lot of pain. Combined with my first bike being written off.. Just a little agitated at the moment..

But yea, valuable lesson learned.

[bladeracer]

Originally Posted by Shallice

29 crashes? Ouch.. And you're still riding? Thats dedication..

Sorry about my little outburst just on a lot of tablets, a lot of pills and in a lot of pain. Combined with my first bike being written off.. Just a little agitated at the moment..

But yea, valuable lesson learned.

I have enough injuries that I'm always in pain :-)
Accepting responsibility for your part in the crash is important so you can focus on how to avoid it next time. The majority of my crashes were entirely due to what I was doing. When I'm riding on the edge of crashing, I expect to crash so I rarely get injured. I also wear full armoured gear all the time.
There was another time when I went down on a slick of transmission fluid around a turn while braking at night. Again, my fault that I wasn't concentrating enough to have noticed it. I was concussed instantly so I didn't find out what had happened until I got out of hospital and went back to have a look at the scene.

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

I have enough injuries that I'm always in pain :-)
Accepting responsibility for your part in the crash is important so you can focus on how to avoid it next time. The majority of my crashes were entirely due to what I was doing. When I'm riding on the edge of crashing, I expect to crash so I rarely get injured. I also wear full armoured gear all the time.
There was another time when I went down on a slick of transmission fluid around a turn while braking at night. Again, my fault that I wasn't concentrating enough to have noticed it. I was concussed instantly so I didn't find out what had happened until I got out of hospital and went back to have a look at the scene.

Yea I guess so, maybe it was too early for me to post it, still getting over it myself.

Ouch, maybe it was good to be concussed so you didn't feel the pain at the time lol you should get a few of your stories up on the forums, hopefully others (inc. me) will learn from your mistakes. I'm always looking through here to try and get a greater riding knowledge.

[bladeracer]

[quote=Shallice;855757]Ouch, maybe it was good to be concussed so you didn't feel the pain at the time lol[quote]

In '04 I was concussed but I came around after a few minutes while they loaded me into the ambulance and with no pain at all.
Once I was in the ambulance though, the ambo squeezed my chest to see if I had any broken ribs. I had _lots_ of broken ribs because my bike landed upside down on my back. Needless to say, I passed out again and didn't come to for over an hour until they were cutting me out of my leathers :-)

[Sideshow bob]

....*
Bladeracer is right and your post makes it very clear.... you were simply going to fast for road conditions, good to hear you walked away though( hobbled )...

hopefully it'll turn into a valuable lesson... even after having it drummed into me, I learnt the same way**.... Forget what bike your on, what you are doing what safety equipment you have, your most important tool is vision....if you can't see = it's dangerous (expect the unexpected)


*before i start i'll just lock the flamethrower away
**albeit... in a car and involving cows (... it's surprising how quick such a large animal can be turned into burgers)

[spina220]

Originally Posted by bladeracer

This is the important part of the crash.
Of my 29 crashes only three weren't entirely my fault - and all three caused me injuries.
I've been hit from behind by another bike twice, had a car pull out of a street right in front of me while going through a corner and had a pedestrian run into the road right in front of me.

Impressive, you actually kept a count, I just stopped counting after while.

[spina220]

Glad to hear you are still able to get up and ride, or even walk again, some people are not so fortunate sometimes, especially when cars are involved.

[Shallice]

Yea cheers guys, I guess you "been there, done that" and I have had to learn the same way you did

Yea I managed to hobble away, with a huge pain.. I know I won't be hitting any parked cars ever again. Just being on a bike you tend to think you can squeeze past, I learnt the hard way

[Sideshow bob]

Originally Posted by Shallice

Yea cheers guys, I guess you "been there, done that" and I have had to learn the same way you did

Yea I managed to hobble away, with a huge pain.. I know I won't be hitting any parked cars ever again. Just being on a bike you tend to think you can squeeze past, I learnt the hard way

yep, join the club

... It don't matter to me how many people gave me the same advice...

.... I only learnt after doing

Rammed it home (so to speak)

[Twincam]

Damn. Sorry to hear about the crash. Hope your injuries heal quick enough.

I only just sold a Speedfight about six months ago (it was all in pieces, engine had been stripped and the head lost - he was half way into fitting a Malossi kit with a Leo Vince exhaust etc etc).

How long have you been riding if you don't mind me asking? I take it your going to do your test and jump straight onto the 400 when you pass?

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by Twincam

Damn. Sorry to hear about the crash. Hope your injuries heal quick enough.

I only just sold a Speedfight about six months ago (it was all in pieces, engine had been stripped and the head lost - he was half way into fitting a Malossi kit with a Leo Vince exhaust etc etc).

How long have you been riding if you don't mind me asking? I take it your going to do your test and jump straight onto the 400 when you pass?

Yup thats the plan ^^

Only been riding for 9 months, not driven anything bigger than a 50cc and still recovering from an almost fatal accident.. Yet I'm not the slightest bit put off, I just love riding.. Must be in my blood.

How much did you get for all the Speedfight parts? Looking to do the same with the remains of mine lol..

[Twincam]

Originally Posted by Shallice

Yup thats the plan ^^

Only been riding for 9 months, not driven anything bigger than a 50cc and still recovering from an almost fatal accident.. Yet I'm not the slightest bit put off, I just love riding.. Must be in my blood.

How much did you get for all the Speedfight parts? Looking to do the same with the remains of mine lol..

I got £155 for the parts (the bloke only wanted the fairings really as his one had been stripped (stolen/recovered) although he took the frame and loom and the exhaust. I then weighed the engine in and used the tyres (had excluded them from the sale from the start) for my NRG. (I couldn't be bothered in listing piece by piece so did it as a joblot)

Crashes how ever bad and painful they can be can teach you bucket loads. Best thing to do is access what happened, why it happened and if there is any action you can take in order for it not to happen again.

Have you also thought about taking part in any schemes which could help your riding abilities and skills such as BikeSafe? (There is also a smaller scheme for the smaller bikes - its usually held at the Ace Café - wee bit far from you though.)

[StrumminRonin]

Originally Posted by Twincam

Have you also thought about taking part in any schemes which could help your riding abilities and skills such as BikeSafe?

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by Twincam

I got £155 for the parts (the bloke only wanted the fairings really as his one had been stripped (stolen/recovered) although he took the frame and loom and the exhaust. I then weighed the engine in and used the tyres (had excluded them from the sale from the start) for my NRG. (I couldn't be bothered in listing piece by piece so did it as a joblot)

Crashes how ever bad and painful they can be can teach you bucket loads. Best thing to do is access what happened, why it happened and if there is any action you can take in order for it not to happen again.

Have you also thought about taking part in any schemes which could help your riding abilities and skills such as BikeSafe? (There is also a smaller scheme for the smaller bikes - its usually held at the Ace Café - wee bit far from you though.)

Hmm £155, better than nothing I suppose

Yea I have looked at Bike Safe actually, will probably look into it further when I can ride my 400cc. I also heard about a book called Roadcraft?

[StrumminRonin]

Originally Posted by Shallice

I also heard about a book called Roadcraft?

Yes, the blue book. It's brilliant. Get it, read it, remember everything in it.

Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook to Better Motorcycling: Amazon.co.uk: Phillip Coyne, Bill Mayblin, Penny Mares: Books

[Shallice]

Originally Posted by StrumminRonin

Yes, the blue book. It's brilliant. Get it, read it, remember everything in it.

Motorcycle Roadcraft: The Police Rider's Handbook to Better Motorcycling: Amazon.co.uk: Phillip Coyne, Bill Mayblin, Penny Mares: Books

Cheers for the link

[HRC RC51]

glad you werent hurt too bad, but I would be careful posting stuff about this if there is an investigation. they may think you were road racing and it might become your fault. Insurance companies scan the forums and look for things that may give more info to a case.