Why don't pedestrians look? Did a thing - hit a woman.. hard

[Doovy]

So, in my 5 minute ride from work yesterday afternoon to pick up my wife from her office on Baker Street, a pedestrian (a female from Finland, to be exact) ran out across the street in front of me. I was only oncoming vehicle in a straight street with good visibility (5:30pm, quite bright out but no glare from sun).

I didn't have a lot of time to react, but swerved to try and avoid, along with braking and beeping at the same time in hope she looked round and stopped dead in her tracks - in which case I would have avoided her.

But no, she carried on running across without even looking at me and I hit her square on at about 25mph. She just didn't look up at all.

Took me down, FZ1 went down on its right hand side and slid a few metres. Me, being the ninja I am, did a left rolling breakfall and pretty much ended standing up a few foot from the bike.

Looked around and a crowd were already gathering. It was right opposite the hotel she was staying at, with a few cabbies parked up that witnessed the whole thing due to my beeping.

The woman was laying on the floor on her back not moving, a little blood on her right hand. They told her to stay there. A minute later a police car arrived, turns out they were right around the corner going the same way and just stopped.

Ambulance came, attended to her first as I was up and walking around. Sore right foot / leg and aching left shoulder at this point. My new Alpinestars GP R jacket has held up extremely well with hardly a mark on it. Didn't hit my Arai on the floor and my kevlar jeans are fine. Alpine stars SMX5 boots did the job well but still foot still got a whack.

Paramedic checked me over and no signs of breakages, just muscular soreness. Was breathalysed, scored 0. I never drink and ride.

All insurance details taken, police reports with witnesses. The hotel management came out too, the police were shown the CCTV inside and apparently it caught everything (not too clearly) but clear enough to show she was running out into the road right into my path.

She was taken off into the ambulance on a stretcher and in a neck brace. I didn't really say much to her as she was being attended to, but as I was leaving I said "I wish you well - I'm sorry this situation has happened". She replied along the lines of "I'm sorry - it was my fault, shouldn't have done that"

I also heard her mentioning needing her glasses from her bag as she's -5 prescription and almost blind without them. Well then.

Crash diagram:

https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/doovydoo/Accident%20diagram_zpstg3dqydx.jpg

Damage report:

Crash bung did it's job well. Saved the petrol tank and engine. The left one is a little bent too - possibly from her hitting it.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13119039_10154162248894513_4178687740598360884_n.jpg?oh=99000f14e165ac4b0c2cbd0387b1f158&oe=57B37546

Akra can and heat shield

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13179104_10154162249219513_8052257970118820206_n.jpg?oh=1f5caa2fe451f4b24819f36f784c37da&oe=579B9FB7

Cracked foot peg hanger

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13177270_10154162249319513_2122054005359935654_n.jpg?oh=4fb634c413dc6079a7c64fe248f57004&oe=57B4CE32

Scuffed front fairing (bad pic, sorry)

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13177991_10154162249729513_5518425333653839163_n.jpg?oh=ae306cfacb96e18c0a19794a82ee4912&oe=57E5A4C3

Scene of the accident. I hit her where she is laying (by the stretcher) and bike came to rest where it is now standing.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13174095_10154163010814513_6757319210538078914_n.jpg?oh=fa6c6ae1879747a2bc6c4f585e90f7ce&oe=57A5558F

My wife came along as police were questioning me (I was cautioned, woo!), and after ambulance had gone and it was just us there, I had a look over the bike a little more.

Took an assessment and said "Let's ride home". The right footrest hanger was almost hanging off as it had cracked, so I had no footrest or rear brake for the journey back. Steering seemed a little off to the right so hopefully just forks a little twisted and not bent bars.

R&G bits did the job nicely on the bar ends, bungs and front spindle.

So in regards to the accident itself; she's Finnish (she was after I was done, ha) and was staying at the hotel where the incident occurred. I have all her details and will be passing these to my insurance company.

I think it's best to go through insurance as I am actually injured, taking rest of week off work. Can barely lift left arm and trouble walking on right foot. My bike wasn't previously crash damaged and now obviously is.

I can fix it up to ride cheaply (new hanger on the way to be here tomorrow), but it was a pretty decent condition bike. So yeah. That's it for now.

I'm hoping to see Doctor today too to get it on record (already got ambulance report and police report number) and if I do go through insurance then having all these will help.

There was literally nothing else I could have done, she just ran across in front of me with little time to do anything apart from attempt to avoid, brake and beep.


TL;DR: Woman ran out in front of me, hit her in the face with my FZ1

Will add to spill counter (been a while since I've had to), I didn't think paint diagram was necessary as it would be so basic

Me - going forward
Her - coming at right angle in front of me
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[DrSnoosnoo]

Ouchers. Bad luck! Nothing will be done to reprimand her though. Why weren't you a bus? You could have got something that stupid out of the gene pool

GWS
Bike doesn't seem too damaged at least.
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[Motorhate]

Sorry to hear about this mate. Glad you're in one piece and not too bashed up.

What happens in a situation like this regarding insurance and claims? Is there a way you can claim off her or will you have to just swallow all the damage yourself and pay for it out of your own pocket? I’ve always been wary of suicidal pedestrians and it was one of the reasons I stopped commuting across London every day. Although I’d never deliberately hit someone, I was paranoid about writing the bike off or injuring myself due to the stupidity of a pedestrian and having no come-back or claim for my trouble.
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[Snowdonia Rider]

Unfuckinglucky. Glad you're both OK, could have been much worse. Should be easy to prove that she was at fault, especially if she's blind as a bat. Interesting how you and the bike held up

Lol@finnish joke
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[grr666]

Rated as informative, but no mention if she was fit or not?
I am disappoint.
Bad luck Doovy. Just wrong place wrong time.
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[Albigularis]

Firstly get her number, Finnish accents are quite nice...


Glad you're okay and the bike is mainly cosmetic, people slate that R&G kit, but it's better to bend them than have holes in engine casings.

Getting hit by a bike must be worse than a car. Cars are nice and big and flat to displace the impact, bikes are sharp, hard and pointy...
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[pompousporcup...]

at least you're both "alright" and you don't have her death swimming around your conscience, regardless of blame.

bloody worst nightmare that, killing someone with car/bike. that shit would haunt me


Did you request a copy of the CCTV from the hotel? just in case the ped claims something else later?

[Doovy]

Few quick replies before I head off to the doctors:

Just spoken to insurance regarding potential (rather than a recorded claim) to claim, they say next to 0 chance as it's a pedestrian with no 'insurance to claim against' although I mentioned travel insurance, they said nope.

They did recommend maybe talking to a private solicitor who would do a claim against her, so might speak to them later to see what's the gig.

Yes easy to prove - it's on CCTV apparently (not seen by me, but police did and it's also requested and in their reports).

NO she was not fit. She was mid 40's, rather chubby. I'm sure that softened the impact.

But yes, I'm sure she's feeling it more than me today. I was geared up. She wasn't, and took a 1000cc motorbike to the body. Her impact bent up my left crash bung and twisted my clutch lever around on the bar a bit.

Literally, from the moment I hit her to the moment she was stretchered away, she didn't get up not even once.

I do think the crash bungs have helped, yes. Will have to inspect the frame to make sure that's OK obviously, but looks like the bolts for the bungs just bent up under the pressure.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[jcpeden]

Mate,

Had the same thing about 10 years ago. Drunk pedestrian stepped out from behind a taxi that had pulled up on the wrong side of the road. Ploughed into her (lol) at about the same speed you were doing.

Anyway, she's screaming her head off my bike is in bits and I have no idea what just happened. Didn't have time to react.

My bike is a write off and a week later I get a letter from her wanting to claim for her dental work and another from her mate claiming my bike slid into (and damaged) her parked car.

Erm...who was at fault here?

Spoke with the insurance company and they basically told me not to bother. Maybe they were just trying to palm me off but the conclusion was that no judge in the land would side with the biker in this case - although there have been some public cases where the biker won. I remember one a few years ago where a kid was killed running across a motorway, but the biker won the case against the family.

Either way, I was told that I could threaten to counter-sue which I did. Lo and behold, both claims against me were dropped.

Still had to pay for repairs to the bike though...it's a really shitty situation.

[pepperami]

Did you get her details? you might need them at a later date (litigation and all that stuff)
Can you ask for a copy of the cctv? as that might be handy.

Are you going to try to get her to pay for the damage to your bike and kit?


And on a second note: she was laying on the floor and unable to put up a fight, you should of stole her handbag
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Doovy]

Yes I have her details. Name, phone, email, address.

Just spoken to the hotel. They have the footage saved on DVDs now but won't issue it to anyone but the police. Might have to do some chasing on that case file for them to retrieve it. The security guy I spoke to was helpful enough and has seen the footage.

He said the exact moment of impact is just on the edge of the camera view but he says it's clear to see her running into the road a moment before I appeared onscreen. It backs up my side entirely.

Private solicitor might be the only way for this. Personal injury, time off work and damage to the bike.

Funnily enough kit is not damaged in the slightest. Pics of that later. Helmet untouched and new jacket has the slightest of dirt/dust marks on it. Leather fully intact with no scratches or scuffs.

Years of Jiu Jitsu break falls definitely helped. I was up on my feet before the bike event stopped sliding. That's the second time I've been catapaulted off my vehicle (in 10 years of riding), last time I hit a car head on in my lane and went right over the bonnet, roof and landed on other side on my feet.
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Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[CaNsA]

[MarJay]

Had a similar thing back in about 2002. Didn't claim, wasn't worth it. One tip, never ever say sorry. Insurance companies and solicitors see it as an admission of liability. Stick with I hope you're ok etc.

Bad luck dude, hope the bike is OK.
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[skatefreak]

Its a tough situation at the end of the day.
She's probably pretty banged up and feeling very sh*t about everything but at the end of the day, she stepped out in front of your bike and caused the accident and you are entitled to be reimbursed for the damage caused...

If you were to go after her though the courts to recoup the costs of repairing your bike is there not a chance she can just nope back to Finland after consuming all the free NHS care we have to offer and then just fob you off/ignore you from there?

[M.C]

Unlucky It's amazing how crap pedestrians are at crossing the road, something I thought you'd have mastered in childhood

Shame about the bike, looked mint, and always liked seeing pics of it. Nothing more to add except GWS

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Arcane1729]

[Serendipity]

Bummer. Glad you're largely ok.

I always say it's one of these perambulating fvcktards that's going to get me in the end. My black spots are Euston, Kings Cross and Barbican. No coincidence they're all busy public transport locations. Off the train, head buried in phone like a good smombie (smart phone zombie) and just run the fvck into the road. What's the worst that could happen? Well....

Thankfully I mostly see them getting squashed by taxis and buses rather than taking down poor innocent bikers, but I've had a few close calls.

Loud exhausts should be a compulsory safety feature in zones with high pedestrian traffic.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[Polarbear]

Unlucky. At least you have her details to see if you can claim although I wouldn't be holding my breath. I'm presuming you are FC? Bite the bullet, get everything paid for by the insurance. Bike, clothes, time off work. In the end, that's why you have it. Give the insurance the womans details and let them worry about claiming off her.

As far as I can see, as long as plod don't try and do you for anything you're fine.

GWS.
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[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

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[Rogerborg]

Damn, bad luck. Footists worry me more than other traffic, even pedalists.

[kawashima]

How unlucky. I hope you get well soon and recover bike damages. It was lucky CCTV caught all, and she didn't die. It must've been more of trouble even if she was at fault. Knocked off pedestrian sometimes dies so easily.
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[grr666]

Good job she was a heffer, you'd have probably snapped and killed a bonebag.
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[chris-red]

RACISM AND STEREOTYPES ALERT

Scandinavians tend to be decent and honourable people in my experience, similar to the Japanese although far less conservative and traditional. I would say you are far more likely to receive some money from her than say Eastern Bloc/East Asian Johnnies. Most travel insurance has public liability I can't see why you couldn't claim from that.
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