My first serious crash: typically common scenario. What next?

**jorxster** · 23rd October 2011, 11:29

Hi fellow riders!

So I was heading north of Orewa yesterday evening on the old highway 1, taking a gradual corner to the right. It was just out of orewa, still houses on either side and the limit was 70. Beautiful night out, on my '92 VFR750.

Saw a grey sedan pull up on the left at an intersection, I don't think he stopped completely, but he was going very slow. I slowed down a little, then figured he probably saw me. He inched forward, then started to accelerate. I realized I had a problem!
Jammed on the brakes, rear tire locked up, and then the front tire locked up. Went down on the right side and glanced off his front fender. I was thrown clear, tumbled a little before landing on my feet.

Sooooo glad to be wearing full gear, every piece had at least a single moderate graze from the asphalt, (except my gloves which were untouched).
Although I'm fine physically, this has me seriously considering ABS. If I had managed to maintain control, I might have been able to turn around his front end, but as the front tire locked up, I was down before I knew it!
I wish ABS wasn't so darn expensive, and I wish it were easy to install an after-market unit!

He admitted fault no problem, police took statements and everything. He had no insurance. I thought I had 3rd party on my bike- but realized I had put it off because of a 3 month delay in getting it on the road ( an electrical issue ).

The tow driver on the way back to home gave me advice : he said get 2 valuations, one for the worth of the bike (parts), and one for the cost of damage repair. He said with that I should be able make an informed decision that way, and have paperwork for the other driver to request finances.

Sound like I'm on the right track?

**riffer** · 23rd October 2011, 11:33

No insurance for him; no insurance for you.

Yeah, good luck with that one.

It staggers me how people just "forget" to get insurance.

On another note, glad you're not too badly hurt. As for ABS, yeah it might save your butt; then again, you might just have a different type of accident.

This is one of these times where some practice on the bike finding out just how hard you can squeeze the brakes before they lock would have make a huge amount of difference.

**Madness** · 23rd October 2011, 11:34

Motorcyclists got by without ABS for many, many years without all becoming squishy puddles on the road and many will continue to do so for years to come.

**bluninja** · 23rd October 2011, 11:48

Glad your body is in one piece. IMHO ABS wouldn't fix this problem; improving your bike handling skills is cheaper and transfers to any bike you own (it'll even work with ABS).

Here's a couple of cheap tips....

1)Use the horn....it's best used before they pull out

Don't presume or assume a driver has seen you. If you're not sure use the horn; a short blast/toot should get them to turn towards the sound. If there's no reaction ASSUME they aren't aware of your existence, slow down and prepare to stop.

2)Practice hard braking, you never know when you'll need it.

**FJRider** · 23rd October 2011, 11:48

ABS is not a magical cure/fix to all accidents ...

Better to spend the money on rider training courses ...

and listen more to the little warning "voices" in your head ...

**tigertim20** · 23rd October 2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by jorxster

Hi fellow riders!

Saw a grey sedan pull up on the left at an intersection, I don't think he stopped completely, but he was going very slow. I slowed down a little, then figured he probably saw me. He inched forward, then started to accelerate. I realized I had a problem!
Jammed on the brakes, rear tire locked up, and then the front tire locked up. Went down on the right side and glanced off his front fender. I was thrown clear, tumbled a little before landing on my feet.

?

great job, being aware of whats going on

THIS was the issue. Your contributing factor to the accident was assumption, not the lack of ABS.

Glad to hear you are pretty much unhurt, another win for good gear!

**steve_t** · 23rd October 2011, 12:09

Gutted man. Glad to hear you're OK. At a guess, the grey sedan driver will probably end up paying you $20 a week for the next few years (much more than insurance would cost no doubt)

**Usarka** · 23rd October 2011, 12:18

Originally Posted by bluninja

1)Use the horn....it's best used before they pull out

Don't presume or assume a driver has seen you. If you're not sure use the horn; a short blast/toot should get them to turn towards the sound. If there's no reaction ASSUME they aren't aware of your existence, slow down and prepare to stop.

That's a very under-rated / under-utilised piece of advice.

**Bikemad** · 23rd October 2011, 13:19

oh man.....i hope no one from ACC reads this
glad your ok fella.........expensive lesson learned i suspect

**FJRider** · 23rd October 2011, 14:37

Originally Posted by Usarka

That's a very under-rated / under-utilised piece of advice.

I leaned on the horn once in a similar situation ... and the car driver gave me the finger ...

With the right of way or not ... its best to avoid contact ... and dont take it personally ....

**bluninja** · 23rd October 2011, 14:55

But did he stop at the junction to give you the finger, or just drive out giving the finger?

I agree that it's about remaining intact rather than remaining right

**Tigadee** · 23rd October 2011, 15:12

Originally Posted by FJRider

I leaned on the horn once in a similar situation ... and the car driver gave me the finger ...

Heck, at least you GOT his attention! LOL! Just gotta grow some thick skin at the same time!

**FJRider** · 23rd October 2011, 15:17

Originally Posted by Tigadee

Heck, at least you GOT his attention! LOL!

Nah ... Still didn't look at me ...

Originally Posted by Tigadee

Just gotta grow some thick skin at the same time!

Sadly ... it does help ...

**scracha** · 23rd October 2011, 15:20

Originally Posted by jorxster

He admitted fault no problem, police took statements and everything. He had no insurance. I thought I had 3rd party on my bike- but realized I had put it off because of a 3 month delay in getting it on the road ( an electrical issue ).

The tow driver on the way back to home gave me advice : he said get 2 valuations, one for the worth of the bike (parts), and one for the cost of damage repair. He said with that I should be able make an informed decision that way, and have paperwork for the other driver to request finances.

Sound like I'm on the right track?

You having 3rd party would not have helped you at all. That said, you really should get at least 3rd party in the event YOU cause an accident.

Towie is right but from my "bitter" experience, if the guy has no insurance, he's probably got no money and no credit rating. If he's got no money then you'll probably waste a fuckload of time with small claims court and if you're lucky get paid back at 0.50c per week.
a) Ascertain if he's working / got money / can get a bank loan etc.
b) If he hasn't, then take the valuation round to his place. Get a cheque/playstation/tv/whatever for half the amount (final offeR), tell him you'll fix it up yourself and take no further action and put it down to experience.

YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD OUT OF A STONE