Bike crash. It's finally done.

[Mac_Black]

Good evening BCF.
On Friday afternoon I had a big crash resulting from a tank slapper on my ZX10R.
I wasn't doing silly speeds as I believe I had just entered an NSL and had just overtaken a line of traffic,
I remember the tank slapper lasting longer than I have usually experienced and panicking that I was heading towards a central reservation with maybe a bus coming the other way.
The last thing I remember is getting chucked off to the right as the bike tucked in to the floor.

I woke up being loaded into an ambulance, briefly talked to a police officer I know and asked him whether I could arrange for the bike to be picked up, he told me of course that they had to take care of things.
I spent the night in the observation unit after spending 4 hours in a neck brace, undergoing x-rays and CT scans etc.
Gladly I can report that I got away extremely well, with the worst of my injuries being a severe case of concussion (52 hours on and my vision is still not at its best, though it has been steadily recovering)
and minor road rash to my knee's and left calf as the only piece of my body not protected by bike gear was my legs (jeans).
Other than that just the odd bruise or graze.

Anyway, I've been keen to hear what the police had to tell me about the incident and the state of my bike. After contacting an operator twice yesterday to ask whether the officer could get in touch he finally did.. About 10 minutes ago.

He asked me how I was feeling and about my injuries and said I didn't need him to tell me how lucky I was blah blah blah (everyone's told me, including myself )
He asked me whether I'd like to come in for a voluntary interview, to which I said he can call me back about on Friday.
He informed me that the bike had been seized and impounded for the police to inspect and that it had slid some 82 meters from the point of the 'crash', thankfully it didn't hit any body (main road so I worried about cars more so than pedestrians anyway but you never know) though a few vehicles did have to swerve to avoid it.
I asked him whether it was at least possible for me to view the bike, he said it would not until they had carried out their inspection,which would likely be done by Friday.
But in any case he was confident that it would be a write off, he advised me to contact my insurers.

Now the advice I ask of the masses is;
What do I have to gain/ loose by agreeing/disagreeing to go for a voluntary interview? I have my line worked out already and tbf as I stated I *think* was doing pretty sensible speeds anyway.
If a bike has slid 82 meters unobstructed down a straight road, then what speed was it likely doing at the point I came off?
Will costs be incurred for the recovery/impounding of the bike and are these likely to covered by my insurance, TPO with legal cover and recovery etc?
Is it a legal requirement that I must inform my insurers of this accident being that no other vehicles were involved?
If so:
i. Will the insurers have any interest in writing the bike off it is not absolutely wrecked (ie damaged frame).
ii. Will my no claims be effected?

Cheers for taking the time to read.
Mac, glad to be alive.

[Derivative]

Can't comment on most of the bits in your post, but 82 metres is not an obscene distance.

Highway Code gives 55m as the braking distance from 60mph.

It is not unwarranted to say that a vehicle sliding along the road will stop slower than one at the limit of friction braking properly.

I know that when I fell off my CG at 30, it definitely slid further than I could have stopped in.

[anthony_r6]

If you're TPO - I think you'll incur the charges.
And yes you're supposed to inform your insurance.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[anthony_r6]

[Mac_Black]

It had bungs.. for how long I'm not sure though, as it had already been dropped on them.

Cheers,
Mac.

[covent.gardens]

Sounds like they are considering a careless driving charge.
I wouldn't worry about how far the bike slid, witness statements will probably be of more importance.

I think you can kiss goodbye to the NCB though, because I'm pretty sure the police/ambulance/fire etc recover their costs via your insurance. Most important thing is your OK though. Good luck with it all.

[Polarbear]

The only thing I can say for certain is you won't get any storage charges until the police release your bike from the investigation. Then the storage charges will start. They will tell you when that happens. (they did to my mate who had his car nicked and used in a robbery anyway)
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Mac_Black]

Ah.. well all the PC told me about the witnesses was that one had said that at some point I was "10ft in the air".. I don't believe that for a second, as I have no recollection of high siding,
Rather the opposite infarct and my injuries don't tie in with that at all.. my upper body is virtually unscathed.

If worst comes to worst then as sucky as losing my NCB for a single vehicle accident would be, at least I have 1 years that I hadn't transferred.

/Edit Cheers PolarBear, very good to know!

Cheers,
Mac.

[Marmalade]

If the police require the bike for inspection then they are liable up to the point they no longer require it so if you get it collected that day you should have nothing to pay.
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Flamzypants]

When I was knocked off I had to pay for my baby's few days of storage and crushing + tow fee Though in my case that *eventually* came back through insurance as it was non-fault. Talking to the police is probably a good thing, get your story straight. Insurance don't care unless you contact them, and even after not much unless you're trying to get money of out them. I think you might have to declare an accident to them, best check your policy. Afaik you don't lose no claims unless you claim, if something is claimed against you it's a different story but if you pay it rather than passing it through your insurance you won't lose no claims...probably. Best phone your insurer and ask them!

Good luck to ya.
____________________
CBT - 30/06/11. RIP Sinnis Stealth 18/07/11. Theory passed! CBR125R 16/08/12. Mod 1 Booked.

[Darylw27]

To answer your insurance questions, going by how the company I work for operates so obviously yours can be different. Costs for recovery and impounding will most likely NOT be covered esp on TPO. Legal cover 99% of the time covers NON fault accidents. As you were the only vehicle involved that's classed as 'fault' Legally speaking you must inform your insurers. However as no other vehicle was involved I would leave that decision up to yourself, personally I wouldn't. Insurers won't be interested in the bike as it's TPO and no TP was involved. No claims discount shouldn't be affected as you are NOT making a claim. Again that's how it would work with the company I work for, but it could differ slightly.

Glad to hear your mainly ok though!

[UrbanRacer]

Glad your alright, almost came off my bike on track because of a tank slapper, you are most certainly a passenger in those situations.

I would imagine it will be difficult for the police to determine the speed of the bike from when it crashed. A bike sliding on its side on plastic and metal can go for some distance even at 30mph.

[stinkwheel]

The police do not want to speak to you to find out what you didn't do.

If there was noone else involved and they are doing an inspection of the bike, they are shaping up to do you for driving without due care or dangerous driving. The only possible reason they can have to want to interview you is to see what you'll admit to. The police generally don't give a damn about solo bike crashes unless they think there's something they can do you for.

Seek professional legal advice but I personally would not go.

If they think you've done something illegal, let them prove it. Don't hand it to them on a plate.

It may be worth mentioning at this point that there is a satuatory defence against a charge of dangerous driving in the case of there being a mechanical failure. Unless their inspection of the bike can refute such a failure if it's used as a defence, a prosecution for dangerous driving will not stand up.

"It may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something you later rely on in court.". So if there was a mechanical defect and you do decide to talk to them. Make sure you mention it on record (but I might suggest not labouring the point so as to draw attention to it).

As i said, I woldn't speak to them. If they think they have enough to go on, they'll do it anyway. If they don't, there's no point taking the risk that you put your foot in it.

EDIT: Remember. PACE (Code C 3.21) allows you to have a duty solicitor present, free of charge, even during a volountary interview.

[daemonoid]

[Raffles]

[CaNsA]

Crash bike, get a bit of road rash, decent.
You are a lucky lucky fucker Mac.

Pics of road rash needed and stop bloody binning it!

[Mac_Black]

[Mac_Black]

Gore!
Legs eleven
https://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/MacKaliba/07092012066.jpg
My left calf
https://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/MacKaliba/07092012067.jpg
Look at my sexy butt
https://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/MacKaliba/07092012068.jpg
Cannula! Garhghghgh horibble thing
https://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/MacKaliba/07092012069.jpg
Those were taken Friday evening before I slept in the lovely hospital bed

And this was this evening, my wounds were irritating me so I undressed them and they'd gone all gammy.. I've left them to air and they've scabbed over now so it's all good.
Right knee as an example.
https://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n243/MacKaliba/09092012070.jpg
Not bad really for a *single lane NSL* crash in jeans, I'm quite surprised I have kneecaps still and no broken bones.

Cheers,
Mac.

[CaNsA]

Double Whammy


What really happened.

https://i.imgur.com/kEwDX.jpg

[Mac_Black]

I'll post pictures of my kit tomorrow, and pictures of my bike when I reclaim it.

Cheers,
Mac.

[Rogerborg]

Glad you're more or less OK.

Not one word to Plod, except "Where be duty solicitor?"
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Fisty]

Ouch, from my recent experience just keep gob shut. They got bored and dropped the investigation into my accident.
Hope the bike is repairable and GWS!
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Kris]

[Mac_Black]

Ok well I woke up to a very concerning letter this morning (just about )
Bad things never seem to come in singles.
My insurers advised me that payment terms had not been maintained (read: they managed to fail to take money out of my account the last 3 months) so the cover would be cancelled as of the 13th.


Well I phoned them and decided to pay it it full, outright so no more monthly payment bollocks.. It's always nice to clear a debt
So thankfully I will be covered until next May and more importantly I won't have a cancellation to declare, which would have really fucked my day up!

Insurance have also been notified of the accident. They simply put it down as a notification, no further action of course.

So as far as I'm concerned all that's left now is to wait for Police to finish with the bike and see what state it's in.. then it's case closed.

Cheers,
Mac.

[Mac_Black]

Oh and thank you all so far for the advice and well wishes, very gladly received so please keep it coming!

Cheers,
Mac.