When cars bite...
Discussion
Can I have some tea and sympathy for Mrs 215 who got rear-ended at a give way junction today; she stopped to make sure the main road was clear, the car behind her didn't...
She was treated with a ride in an ambulance and five hours of prodding, poking, tests and scans before being sent home with some serious painkillers and is now lying snoring next to me in an opioid haze...
The hospital described her injuries as "pretty light considering..." but have said she's going to feel it more in the next few days.
Helmet bashed, gloves split at seam, trousers ripped, left boot sole torn off where the footpeg has dug in and her glasses went flying and are scratched to buggery.
The bike hasn't fared too well either;
Huge chunk out of back wheel, exhaust tastefully crumpled and rear mudguard and number plate folded up under the tail and wedged against the tyre. Can't really tell if the swingarm is bent or not, I'll leave that to whoever gets to repair it to check.
Fairing has been scraped on the left side and pushed squint from when the bike fell over and there are minor marks all down the left side.
The other driver has admitted liability (he couldn't really deny it) and his insurance have already been in touch offering to repair the bike (and supply a replacement until it's done).
Personally, I don't see her being back on a bike all that soon.
She was treated with a ride in an ambulance and five hours of prodding, poking, tests and scans before being sent home with some serious painkillers and is now lying snoring next to me in an opioid haze...
The hospital described her injuries as "pretty light considering..." but have said she's going to feel it more in the next few days.
Helmet bashed, gloves split at seam, trousers ripped, left boot sole torn off where the footpeg has dug in and her glasses went flying and are scratched to buggery.
The bike hasn't fared too well either;
Huge chunk out of back wheel, exhaust tastefully crumpled and rear mudguard and number plate folded up under the tail and wedged against the tyre. Can't really tell if the swingarm is bent or not, I'll leave that to whoever gets to repair it to check.
Fairing has been scraped on the left side and pushed squint from when the bike fell over and there are minor marks all down the left side.
The other driver has admitted liability (he couldn't really deny it) and his insurance have already been in touch offering to repair the bike (and supply a replacement until it's done).
Personally, I don't see her being back on a bike all that soon.
Glad to hear that she's mostly ok and the other driver didn't give any agro about liability.
All the best to her for a speedy recovery and I hope that this doesn't put her off two wheels for long.
As for the bike, I'd suspect if not an outright bent swingarm its probably at least hairline fractures and structural weakening from a rear impact to do that much damage to the wheel and exhaust.
All the best to her for a speedy recovery and I hope that this doesn't put her off two wheels for long.
As for the bike, I'd suspect if not an outright bent swingarm its probably at least hairline fractures and structural weakening from a rear impact to do that much damage to the wheel and exhaust.
Ouch, hope she heals well and quickly.
On a practicl note, the bike will be a write off and if she is injured, then don’t get a bike off them, as the claim for injury might be jeopardised by it. Get a full list of everything that’s damaged and make sure they pay for it to be replaced, although there may be some haggling over cost, as they’ll try to reduce the value for wear and tear (legitimately with some things).
The gloves splitting st the seam isn’t great. What brand was that?
On a practicl note, the bike will be a write off and if she is injured, then don’t get a bike off them, as the claim for injury might be jeopardised by it. Get a full list of everything that’s damaged and make sure they pay for it to be replaced, although there may be some haggling over cost, as they’ll try to reduce the value for wear and tear (legitimately with some things).
The gloves splitting st the seam isn’t great. What brand was that?
Gavia said:
... they’ll try to reduce the value for wear and tear (legitimately with some things).
I had this particular argument with Axa back in 2001; they were trying to get out of replacing my Arai Doohan rep with the old "wear and tear" clause; I pointed out that it was a large expense that I wouldn't have needed to make for years otherwise, and that I could hardly be expected to go and buy a second hand helmet, so they paid the full cost of a new one.Dog Star said:
I had this particular argument with Axa back in 2001; they were trying to get out of replacing my Arai Doohan rep with the old "wear and tear" clause; I pointed out that it was a large expense that I wouldn't have needed to make for years otherwise, and that I could hardly be expected to go and buy a second hand helmet, so they paid the full cost of a new one.
Helmets, they shouln’t reduce, as they’re a legal requirement, but other protective clothing they can legitimately reduce for wear and tear. Gavia said:
Ouch, hope she heals well and quickly.
On a practicl note, the bike will be a write off and if she is injured, then don’t get a bike off them, as the claim for injury might be jeopardised by it. Get a full list of everything that’s damaged and make sure they pay for it to be replaced, although there may be some haggling over cost, as they’ll try to reduce the value for wear and tear (legitimately with some things).
The gloves splitting st the seam isn’t great. What brand was that?
Thanks for the advice.On a practicl note, the bike will be a write off and if she is injured, then don’t get a bike off them, as the claim for injury might be jeopardised by it. Get a full list of everything that’s damaged and make sure they pay for it to be replaced, although there may be some haggling over cost, as they’ll try to reduce the value for wear and tear (legitimately with some things).
The gloves splitting st the seam isn’t great. What brand was that?
Mrs 215 is very stiff and sore today and quite muddy headed (not sure if it's the codeine or effects from yesterday).
She's hoping the bike will be rebuilt as it was my 30th birthday present to her so has sentimental value if nothing else; I would prefer it wasn't as I'm a bit wary of what stresses might have been caused to the swingarm, frame etc.
We won't be bothering with a hire-bike; firstly she won't be on a bike for at least a few weeks anyway and secondly with another bike in the garage it's a bit difficult to justify.
Gloves were Dainese, I'm quite disappointed that they have fared so badly considering it was a fairly low speed tumble and they weren't exactly cheap!
Trousers and boots were both Triumph branded kit; the boots did a good job of protecting her ankle when the bike landed on her, the trousers have burst at the front when she's tumbled and don't look repairable unfortunately.
What she's most annoyed about is her glasses!
With a big scrape across one lens and a wonky leg she looked awfy silly trying to read a book this morning with her head on one side and one eye half-closed...
Speedy recovery to Mrs 215, that's highly annoying!
As noted above for head injuries, keep an eye on her. With a helmet on I imagine it's relatively minor.
The repair sounds like it might be a bit dodgy if it's taken such a good whack from the rear, I presume she wasn't pushed into anything in front?
As noted above for head injuries, keep an eye on her. With a helmet on I imagine it's relatively minor.
The repair sounds like it might be a bit dodgy if it's taken such a good whack from the rear, I presume she wasn't pushed into anything in front?
DDg said:
Losing the sole of her boot??!!! That's weird. Hope nothing lasting. I had whiplash from being rear ended in a dodgem car and it still pops up occasionally, 15 years later.
You can see where the hero-bob on the footpeg has dug into the inside of her ankle and skidded down, it's then dug into the sole and ripped it away from the leather.I think without boots she would have had a broken ankle...
STe_rsv4 said:
Wishing your Mrs a speedy recovery and all that but how the f
k did the car driver manage that?!
They must have known there was a junction so should have already been prepared to slow / stop, so to wipe a bike out sat at the junction beggar's belief!
Car driver apparently saw the car in front of Mrs 215 pull out from the junction, expected her to go too and accelerated hoping he would get a gap too!k did the car driver manage that?!They must have known there was a junction so should have already been prepared to slow / stop, so to wipe a bike out sat at the junction beggar's belief!
Unfortunately, it's a fairly rubbish junction for view, especially on a bike, and Mrs 215 wasn't happy to just dive out in the wake of the car in front, especially considering it's a 40 limit.
Thankfully when she was hit she still had her foot on the back brake so wasn't punted straight out and into the traffic.
Hope she gets well soon! It’s a bugger when you have an accident and know that there is nothing you can do about it at all, aside from not being there.
Had exactly the same thing happen to me 5 years ago except at a round about. Got to the front, traffic was stationary, guy behind just punted the bike from under me.
He got out and shouted “you should have gone”. He told the police: “I was looking right, I could go and then I hit him. He should have gone and not been there.”
Some encouraging words from yourself and hopefully she’ll get back on.
Had exactly the same thing happen to me 5 years ago except at a round about. Got to the front, traffic was stationary, guy behind just punted the bike from under me.
He got out and shouted “you should have gone”. He told the police: “I was looking right, I could go and then I hit him. He should have gone and not been there.”
Some encouraging words from yourself and hopefully she’ll get back on.
Well the insurance company seem to be on the ball; engineer called and asked if he could come and see the bike this morning as he was already in the area (bike was recovered to home).
Reckons it will be a write-off (like Gavia said) but he will need to price the parts first before he can confirm it.
He hopes to let us know for definite on Monday!
Meanwhile Mrs 215 feels like she's been run over by a truck; neck and shoulders starting to seize up, lower back sore and rigid and a dull headache despite the codeine.
Just as well she has such a loving husband to look after her...
Reckons it will be a write-off (like Gavia said) but he will need to price the parts first before he can confirm it.
He hopes to let us know for definite on Monday!
Meanwhile Mrs 215 feels like she's been run over by a truck; neck and shoulders starting to seize up, lower back sore and rigid and a dull headache despite the codeine.
Just as well she has such a loving husband to look after her...
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