Had a helicopter ride today

[jonnay]

In an air ambulance

I came down a hill doing about 40, there was a HUGE cloud of dust infront of me coming from a tractor - couldn't see anything. I slowed to 10/15mph, headlights on, and could just about see the car infront, doing the same speed. That car then stopped, I slipped on the grit (it's at an entrance to an illegal rubble tip site, was their tractor infront) and toutched his back bumper, which meant I went up in the air and landed on my head.

The old bill turned up and looked at the skid mark (didn't measure anything), told my parents it was my fault, and fucked off. The tractor driver had done a U turn and dissapeared back down to his depot, then he came back out and told us all to fuck off because we were stopping lorries from getting into his drive way.

The car driver was totally cool, very nice people actually. The bloke told me not to worry about the car, because it would all polish out, and they kept me covered until the air ambulance arrived. I've got bad neck sprains and muscle injuries everywhere, blah blah blah. They also cut off my jacket

Police are coming to see me on Thursday to see if they want to do me for dangerous driving or whatever it is, and to check my documents (they randomly stopped me the other day and checked them all anyway on a roadside producer, nice waste of time eh?) I'm past careing about that side of things; let them do me, it's easier than sorting out the road conditions isn't it?

So yeh, it was my fault, and I fully accept that - I should have assumed the car was about to stop and given him more room. I was thinking that at the roadside, and the coppers confirmed it BUT, I think I can redeem myself a little..

The whole cause of the crash was because of the dust coming up from the tractor. 2 weeks ago my friend crashed in the same place on his moped - police attended, breathilised him, and went off, told him it was his own fault, basically. I've also seen 2 cars in the ditch there (apparently skidded on the mud), and one of the farmer's lorries has pulled out onto a car from there, resulting in the driver being airlifted away.

EACH of these accidents has resulted in the police saying "you should have seen the road conditions and adjusted your driving accordingly". But this is now 5 accidents in the same place within a month. Won't they take into consideration that the farmer should *maybe* just stop doing his illegal tipping there (council aware), and if he MUST keep doing it, powerwash the road afterwards?

Interestingly, once everyone had gone, he came out and cleaned the road, hence my skidmark isn't there any more

Oh yeh, the bike, well the front is pretty bashed, but I've got a spare panel set. Think I'm going to do it up and sell it on - me and bikes just aren't meant to be, and it's unfair on my family and friends to keep dicing with death on one. Feel so guilty about all the worry I've caused my parents after all my accidents, I think it's time to hang up my helmet for a while.

Thanks for reading, sorry about the essay.
Jon
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::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[Flip]

Bugger! At least you're OK.

You have had no luck with that bike?

Is it f*cked?

[jonnay]

It didn't look as bad as the last time mate, but then I wasn't really in a fit state to judge it to be honest! It was still running on it's side (I had to turn it off because none of the cagers could work out where the keys went I quote - "Turn it off before it catches fire, the keys must be underneath it by the gear thing")

As I say, I've got spare panels, so fix it and sell it I think. It's a sweet bike, but there's just something unlucky about it for me... even when we went to get it, the van dissapeared that we had booked

I'll get it collected home tomorrow (needs to go by van, the H frame is bent and obstructing the bars - funnily enough I have a spare one ) and post some pics of the damage.

It'll live on, but I haven't got the guts to keep it, hope the next owner doesn't get my bad luck with it.
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::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[Villers]

Thats a bad story to have to tell mate. Sounds like you got the least helpful police in the country

Im in the same position as you, comtemplating my future. Ive got two weeks to think it over as I cant walk right now let alone ride a bike.

Just take it easy bud and let us know how you are getting on. Get yourself a few beers in and relax a while.


____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[jonnay]

Cheers mate, not much you can do in this sort of situation but sit back and chill out is there? Might go back to bikes in the summer, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to get back on one right now.. nobody knows how I didn't break my neck, and I've heard "In theory, you should have been killed" a number of times from people today

See how it goes I suppose, and if the police actually leave me with a licence I was going to take my car test for next winter, but if the other car makes an insurance claim I doubt if I'll be able to realistically insure anything except maybe a cub 90.

g-r-e-a-t.

Jon
____________________
::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[sickpup]

The Police are coming to see you to see if you will incriminate yourself. I would only speak to them in the company of a solicitor.

Even then I would read a prepared statement along the lines of...

[ZRX61]

[jonnay]

Can't really afford a solicitor right now, I've just spent about £800 fixing the bike after a previous crash, which is a lot of money for me to find off an income coming from a part time job. Think I'm going to have to take it on the chin, and if I get fucked over, so be it; I've run out of options.

Thanks for taking the time to write that statement out though mate, I'll have to sit down and talk to the parents to decide what to do

Thanks,
Jon
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::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[veeeffarr]

Last time I lost visibility 100% I smacked my left indicator on, slowed right down, moved left slowly until I could see kerb, park up, centrestand down, move fucking far back as possible from bike.

This was on a dual carridgeway (70mph)

If you can't see shit, stop.

[jonnay]

[dodsi]

Well atleast you got a ride in a helicopter eh?

[jonnay]

Yep, bonus Just a shame I was strapped down and couldn't see out the windows Missed the view!
____________________
::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[veeeffarr]

I must add, when I stopped on the dual carriageway, I was shit scared of my bike being smacked by a lorry (If I couldn't see, then chances are no fucker else could too, and my battery died).

[Mrs Kickstart]

Hi,

If it the road had been reported to the council as danagerous there should have been singae and they may be liable. Get pictures of the road and report the road conditions to the council as dangerous, then they have to do something.

What were the debris, mud or stuff that had been dropped ? you can always try the small claims court on the tip owner yourself.

You are unlikey to get done for it it, it is more than likely routine.

Hope you feel better soon
Regards
C
____________________
Help fight the safety camera partnerships -- www.pepipoo.com

[jonnay]

Thanks for the advice... the derbis was just mud, which had turned to dust in the sun, and the tractor was dropping more mud everywhere...

Cheers,
Jon
____________________
::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[R4nger]

Stop putting yourself down and stop assuming you will get done. I don't think your thinking clearly about things at the moment. You sound confused.

I would fight your case and be alert to what the police say when they visit you. Stick to your guns and do not get trapped or caught into to saying anything. Also say to the police when they visit that you had a large blow to the head recently and you may say things you do not mean.

I have had a few police visits in the past. On all occassions they were all power hungry and arrogant people. That maybe just my experience however I do not believe so. They try and make you feel like the sh*t on their shoe. Don't give in!

[.....]

[Villers]

After my accident the police said they would be round to take a statement. They told me this as they carried me into the ambulance. They came around that night and gave me a producer then pissed off.
____________________
RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[ZRX61]

[Klause]

[colin1]

if you knew it was a dangerous place you shd have been a bit more careful.

on the other hand shd the tractor bloke be allowed to cause so many accidents ?

maybe a local council planning department matter on land usage

if he is causing accidents maybe they could change the land use rules so he has to relocate
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[anders]

Sh1t, only just seen this, sorry to hear about it.

Get better soon, rest and relax. It will be okay.

As soon as you are better get back on your bike, please dont let it go otherwise you won't do it again.

Rest and it will be okay we are all here for support!
____________________
Call me Mr. Blobby

[carlnicholson...]

I had a similar story to tell from my NSR 125 days. I REALLY loved that bike but decided to get rid after it chewed the tarmac 3 times.

It just seemed that me and bikes just weren't meant to be. Pissed me off quite a bit as they were the greatest passion in my life.

My advice is do what I did, I got my DAS course done, (I don't know if you have a full licence, if so, do a few hours of advanced), bought a bigger bike for a couple of months and rode like a granny. I didn't take any risks or push it at all until I was sure that I could handle the machine properly.

Then I booked myself in at Ron Haslam's Race Academy, I learned real high speed machine control. I then bought a ZX636R and lived happily ever after!

Don't let stupid mistakes put you off, most of us have done it, just get some proper instruction and you'll be fine. The hardest part I found was accepting that I needed to improve my riding, I seriously thought I was a great rider, I was actually quite a twat.
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"THOSE WHO RISK NOTHING, DO NOTHING, ACHIEVE NOTHING, BECOME NOTHING."

[jonnay]

Thanks everyone, I'm really aching this morning Getting dressed is a nightmare because moving my arms hurts my neck.

I'm off to sand down my old panel set in a bit, and we're picking the bike up tonight. Although it was running on the floor, when I'd been airlifted away my dad said it wouldn't start... don't know why, maybe it was flooded? I think I may have hit the killswitch to stop it though, so not too sure.

I've got 2 weeks til my driving theory then cage test soon afterwards, which is good because I'll be able to treat the bike as a HOBBY, not a means of transport.

The people who I hit were meant to ring me last night to see how I was, but they never did... so now I'm getting paranoid that they're thinking about claiming shock/whiplash etc off my insurance Bugger, they didn't seem the type, but going by their car I expect they were pretty wealthy. They haven't got my insurance details, so they'll have to get in touch eventually, I take it.

Cheers,
Jon
____________________
::'04 Yamaha Jog:: || ::'01 Honda NSR:: || ::'00 Suzuki Swift:: || ::'89 Swift GTi:: || ::'96 Swift Poverty Spec:: || ::'92 Swift GTi::

[Jack_Cheese]

Where on earth do you live!? you must be in one hell of an accident blackspot, what's your tally of accidents up to now?

Best wishes on a speedy recovery

Jack
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www.bikepics.com/members/jackcheese <--- NOW FOR SALE! 51 Plate Cagiva Planet 125
Quacker_boy: "Jack, you really are a dick!"