My first accident...today, a couple of hours ago

[Redd]

Hi, I've been lurking in the forums for a while and thought I'd post something because of what just happened to me (about 2 hours ago). Excuse this if it gets a bit long, I've only just about stopped shaking.

I've had my CBT for about a month (driven cars for about 10 years) and bought myself a Honda CA125 Rebel to practice on. Only this morning I was reading some of the posts here and thinking to myself "Well, they say that everyone bins it eventually but I'm pretty safe, I know how car drivers think (or don't as the case may be), I've nothing to worry about.".

So at lunchtime I call the Honda garage (Hydepark Street, Glasgow since some of you are from this neck of the woods) and find out that the workshop manual I'd ordered was in. It's only 5 minutes on the bike from the office so I go pick it up.

I've only riden a hundred or so yards from the garage when a car pulls out of a side road, turning right, across me. Totally caught by suprise and I was only doing 30. Lots of brakes, probably too much judging by the fact that the bike went down along with me.

Neither vehicle collided and I was incredibly suprised when I picked myself up off the ground to discover the only damage I'd sustained was a badly bruised toenail (probably from being under the gear selector as it went down), and a similar thumb nail. Thank god for all the armour. My helmet is scratched, visor cracked, a good bit of leather rubbed off my gloves, jacket is scratched but fortunately I landed on the shoulder which has kevlar inserts, and my trousers are a bit frayed around the knee pads.

Now I'm glad that I listened to my g/f who insisted that I get the full works in protective clothing. Only cost me around £275 to get it all at once but given todays incident it's money well spent. Sure it's not all leather (infact just the gloves) or the coolest look, but I'm very grateful for it.


Being in a little bit of shock I only managed to ask her for her name and phone number....yes, I should have got more, I realise this now. When I got back to work I called her and she wouldn't give me her insurance details telling me that she'd done nothing wrong, butI was under the illusion that you always give way when turning right. Anyway, I just called the police to tell them that she wouldn't give me her details and they told me she'd just gotten off the phone with them to report an accident (I'd gone straight to police station to report it before going back to work and been told that unless there were serious injuries or a third party involved I wasn't required to report it to the police). Now that she's reported it I'm going to have to go in with all my documentation and feel like a criminal.

My insurance is only TPFT but it includes £50k legal cover. What are the odds of me getting her insurance company to pay for repairs on my bike ? (handle bars are a bit messed up, mirrors are hanging loose, along with whatever else I've not noticed yet)


Thanks for indulging me in this long post

[Jrod]

Unlucky on the off mate , I can't really help you with the situation though. I'm sure someone will.

[b0ss]

She didn't do anything wrong? She pulled out in front of you. Fucking Bitch.

Some cow did the same to me and I hit her insurance good and proper. Next time you have an accident get all the details and any witness details.

[.....]

Unlucky mate - Welcome to the club

Hate to say it if there are no witnesses then unfortunately you're out of luck - your word against hers. The only other thing I can think of if is there is any CCTV coverage of the area?

[Dom_]

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[map]

To be honest if the damage isn't stopping the bike being on the road I'd just repair the bits as required. Shop around, sometimes new from dealer can almost be as good a price as used from breakers - thinking of the small stuff here - mirrors, indicators, etc.

Saying this as it's your first bike and the hassle of insurance, the excess anyhow and loosing no claims is a bit hard if in the light of day it's only a few scratches. Best save the insurance for when you really do need it.

Just some thoughts

Hope you're back riding soon
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[ginguar]

If you were on a major road and she was coming out of a minor road there is no question of who's fault it is. She sounds like a complete b***h. Hope you're not feeling too bad and it doesn't put you off biking at all.

[.....]

[ginguar]

If she is a real pain in the arse about it you can find out where she lives through the electoral roll www.192.com. Not that I would ever endorse any criminal or other such activity.

[map]

[Redd]

Thanks for the words of support Not a club I planned on joining today but at least I walked away from it.

I dropped by the police station on my way home with all my docs. They didn't seem too interested, but filled out the report anyway.

The damage doesn't seem too bad: mirror, handlebars a little bit bent, all the oil pouring out seems to have come from the bike being on it's side. Riding back home I'm not sure if it was windy or a healthy dose of paranoia but I reckoned the bike wobbled occaisonaly. Will probably get someone more techincal than myself to give it a look.

It nearly made me laugh when she suggested that I was going too fast. It's a rather neglected '95 bike that struggles to hit 55mph on the dual carraigeway. I'd only moved off from the garage less than 100 yards from where she pulled out.

Sadly no witnesses either, it's a bit of a deserted industrial estate. Might go back and have a look for CCTV cameras, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm just a little p**sed off that she's not accepting that she was at fault - she was turning right onto a major road from a minor road.

Hasn't put me off biking, just have to get the repairs done and get back on the road

[Ste]

[instigator]

Alright mate.

Sorry to hear about your accident, theres some pr*cks about on the roads up here (surprised it wasnt a taxi driver to be honest)

It wasn't on that lancefield quay was it, by the river?

On an off topic note, haul your ass into the scottish forum so you can get onto the scottish ride-out

[Gazdaman]

Tbh it's probably best put down as a lesson learned.

Having to declare a claim when your insurance renewal comes up will probably cost you more than a set of bars mirrors indicators whatever.

I came off my 125 last year, bent the bars, broke an indicator. I already had some mini indicators, so I fitted them.

a £4 (yup £4!) set of handlebars off ebay from a Honda XR400 made the bike much much better.

Insurance is a pain in the arse, and probably be worth avoiding, unless you wanted to claim for your protective kit, then the money starts mounting up...

Gaz

[Ste]

[Redd]

A solicitor left a message for me last night asking if I wanted to claim on her insurance for any of my own uninsured loses...which should include a new helmet, possibly a new jacket (this ones got a hole in the shoulder now), the big dent in the fuel tank that the handlebars made, the mirror, the damage to the clutch cable....and any other damage on the bike I can attribute to the accident. I'm going to get an estimate at the weekend and see what the solicitor thinks.

Instigator, yeah it was over near Lancefield Quay. She drove staight out of the north end of Lancefield Street. Infact, I've attached an image of the junction...I was heading straight on. The shiny patch in the middle of the junction is my pool of oil. I'm now waiting for access to the scottish forum

[instigator]

Crikey redd, you didn't get very far did you?!?!?!?

But know what you mean, that area/industrial zone doesn't really have any clear road markings or designated "give way" signs.

I'll know to approach that place with a lot of caution now, knowing that this can happen

[philcxiv]

Looking at that picture it seems likley being a woman driver she didnt look either way. Glad your okay
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[philcxiv] [lucky 14] "I only use the brakes so I can accelerate all over again"
bikepics | ratemybike

[Redd]

I picked up the bike from the garage this afternoon to see what the damage estimate is. They've not got prices yet, but the list was quite extensive. As the man said, "you've hit the jackpot here".

nearside mirror,
nearside rear indicator,
fuel tank,
handlebars,
clutch lever,
clutch gator & cable,
gear selector,
nearside foot peg,
exhaust gasket,
exhaust

and a new helmet.


The bike is still rideable, but it'll be very satisfying to have all this work paid for by her insurance company
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Professional Uberslacker
2006 Kawasaki Z1000 - Black at the front, airbrushed fade to red at the back.
1998 Kawasaki KDX 200 Enduro project bike

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I hope you get a decent payout from the bitch

[True Blue]

[True Blue]

[True Blue]

Redd, if you don't get anywhere with an insurance payout then you could probably claim the cost of your leathers and helmet from your house insurance. It'll only bump the premium about 20 quid.
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