Late for Work: Got hit by a Car This Morning

[Rattlehead]

Glad you’re alright.   Major props to the guy for manning up to his mistake and apologizing. Not everyone is so willing to take responsibility for their stupidity.

I had a similar incident towards the end of last year. I was on my way to work at about 6am so it was still dark. I was going down this 2 lane road and the whole left side was blocked off by a utility truck (they were doing work on the poles or something). Anyway this bozo goes right around the truck and decides to play chicken with me in my lane. I laid on the brakes and swerved to the right. I came close enough to his hood I could have counted the rock chips; no exaggeration, I vividly remember that white hood with lots of small rock chips in it.   My helmet actually clipped his driver’s side mirror as I left the road and stopped in someone’s front yard. The moron in the truck didn’t even stop, they just casually drove off as I sat there trying to gather my thoughts and make sure my undies weren’t filled with anything unpleasant.   I ended up with no damage to the bike what so ever; how my fairings, or leg, didn’t clip the front of that truck I’ll never understand. My only proof of the whole thing was a small scuff about 2” long that went across the very left side of the visor and down the helmet shell from where my head hit his mirror. Needless to say, I had a hard time concentrating at work that day.

[Redbandit14]

Great save and glad you're ok!  

The Fog is bad here this morning too.

[Bad Dad]

Glad your O.K.

[Liquidsilver]

Nice save.  

[ksmdigital]

How about adding a headlight modulator.

[falconati]

Glad you're okay, and it's nice to hear of motorists who actually do the right thing.  I was beginning to think they were mythical creatures (like Honda DN-01s).

[Fourstring]

Glad to hear you're OK.  


Has anyone else noticed that the drivers are fuller of fucking crazy this year than in year's past?

[Justin]

Has anyone else noticed that the drivers are fuller of fucking crazy this year than in year's past?

Nope - just as crazy as ever. This year has seemed better since adding my LED driving lights. Car actually stop and look at me now, as the profile of the bike has 3 lights spread out. Seems to make a big difference.

[Max Wedge]

Meeting the driver tomorrow for repair $$$. I'm going to ask him what he was thinking to see if there is anything I can do improve my visibility. (I will be adding some lights too.)

[jesse v]

Your avoidance maneuver skills are inspiring, as are your keeping-your-cool skills.  (I guess those are one in the same.)

Regarding your choice to follow vehicles in a low visibility situation... I think that was the right thing to do.

[Cheddarhead]

Nope - just as crazy as ever. This year has seemed better since adding my LED driving lights. Car actually stop and look at me now, as the profile of the bike has 3 lights spread out. Seems to make a big difference.

Pictures, please....

[Justin]

Pictures, please....

Sure - phone camera doesn't really do justice though. Lights were at @20-30% here.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gy7FS4e_bq0/Tu9gK0oicWI/AAAAAAAABEM/PjgtYsjnR1s/s800/IMG_0702.JPG

[Mr. Whippy]

I hope this isn't too late.  

Also ask for the price of the Time Sert for the valve cover bolt.  At least on the older Oilheads, the bolts were long and the cylinder threads for it were delicate.  It's pretty easy to damage them so that you cant retorque the cover down to spec and then it WILL leak.  The kits run about $50 so it's not chump change.  

Personally my list would be

Valve cover
Spark plug cover
1 Valve cover bolt
Time Sert kit

There must be a little bit of pain or it's not a learning experience

[viffergyrl]

Meeting the driver tomorrow for repair $$$. I'm going to ask him what he was thinking to see if there is anything I can do improve my visibility. (I will be adding some lights too.)

I applaud your measured response but there's also a teachable moment here as well. For whatever reason, he didn't see you - part of that is his responsibility. I hesitate to add any commentary beyond this as... well.... I wasn't there.

Good job on avoiding serious impact - any event like that where you can walk away without serious injury is a win in my book.  

[sagerat]

Actually, I think asking the guy you almost collided with what he saw is a cool idea.  It's not letting the cager off the hook for his responsibility, it's gathering info that could aid you in lowering the chances of future similar mishaps.

[Max Wedge]

  Well we met after work. He paid and threw in a little extra. Funny thing is, he has been asking himself the same question, so he doesn't have a repeat incident. He is a gearhead, does the Formula SAE racing thing at school, and is restoring an old XR so he can start riding. He has been talking with the riders at school to get their input on what he could have done, or didn't do. He is well aware of the gravity of the situation, and was open to answering any questions I wanted to ask. It's not often you get to ask the driver what he was thinking.

  It was very foggy, and he said that he looked down, and when he looked back up he thought I was a car much farther down the road. As he started to pull out he realized it was a bike, and MUCH close than he originally thought. He said that 'bike' did not register at first. We discussed that the 'triangle of light' or 3 lights might help differentiate enough to make people actually ask themselves what that is.

  I suggested, and he agreed that he will be taking the MSF before he gets his license, and be wearing gear all the time.

[dm_gsxr]

How about adding a headlight modulator.

Probably wouldn't have worked in heavy fog.

Glad you're ok though.

Carl

[BwanaDik]

Glad you survived

Get some more lights, be visible.

or a set of Clearwater Glenda lights   http://www.motolight.com/motolight_motorcycle_lights_for_bmws

Yep, I've got a set of these on the forks of my Feej.  I can see the folks in cages notice I'm approaching by the change of expression on thier faces.  And yes, a slight weave in your lane makes all the difference for visibility

[eye.surgeon]

Thanks for reminding me why I don't commute on my bike. Most dangerous hour to ride is morning and evening rush hour.

Glad you're OK.

[R Doug]

I applaud the way you and the driver handled this post incident.  I don't believe every rider would have kept as calm as you nor do I believe every driver would be as responsible on his/her follow up as this guy.