Stephen goes down hard

[Stephen072774]

After one year and three months of riding my GS, without even a drop, it was my turn to go down last Saturday. I went for a quick Saturday morning ride about 11:00 am. I was traveling on a well marked, well known rural highway with a good surface. I was going at a leisurely pace, about 50 mph, just cruising along, when I can upon a smaller county road intersection. The smaller county road stopped on both sides with the main hwy I was on passing straight thru. As a came into the intersection, I met a blue Chevy Impala traveling approximately the same speed as I was. This 'older' lady, failed to see the stop sign, (and the stop ahead sign for that matter). She was not braking, not looking... totally not paying attention to her surroundings. She was not from the area, and was unfamiliar with the road. She said later that she was lost, maybe she was reading a map, who knows.

I saw the car coming at me in a blue flash, there was hardly any time to react as there was very limited sight distance at this intersection. I grabbed brake, and got my foot on the rear, and the bike wobbled. I saw there was no way to avoid a collision so I squeezed harder on the front until the front tire screeched and the bike flopped on the right side. The bike laid down right at the moment of impact.

I saw the hubcap on the car right in my face and heard that awful bang sound. I was pushed under the rear panel of the car, under the gas tank and bumper, and slid under the rear of the car before clearing the car and sliding a total of 115 feet further down the road. My bike made full impact with the rear tire, and this caused the car to spin around about 150 degrees in the intersection. It blew out both rear tires on the car and broke the rear axle.

I slid at what felt like mach 3 forever, I could feel my lower legs burning. I tried to get over on my back to slide. When I did, my pants slide down far enough for me to get a good rash on my hip. At the end of the slide, I rolled over about 5-6 times right before I stopped. I laid there for a few minutes, half on, half off the road, scared to death about what my injuries were. After a minute, I sat up, and removed my jacket, gloves and helmet. I was shocked that I didn't see any blood. My legs were really burning at this point and I was worried. I decided I would get up slowly to see if my legs were broke. I got up and took a few steps. Much to my surprise, my legs worked! The lady was pretty hysterical and was screaming, "are you ok, are you ok, I almost killed you..." This was the only time I spoke to the lady, she asked if I was all right, and I said "I don't know" then I said, "Lady... you ran that stop sign!" She replied, "I know I did, I almost killed you"

A lady came out of a house and asked if I needed an ambulance, and I said YES! I need one. Then I decided I better lay back down. I got my cell out of my pocket, and called 911, and then I called my wife. Now there are a few people at the scene, and there are some women gathered around me. One gets a umbrella to keep the sun out of my face. I asked one lady to loosen my boots because my ankle was hurting/swelling. I asked the lady to have some men move my bike out of the road as it was in the way of traffic. The State Trooper finally arrived at the scene and I told him what happened, he told me I was a very lucky man. My wife arrived, and ran to embrace me. I told her I was ok, and that I was sorry. She said I had no reason to be sorry, it wasn't my fault, but I just felt bad that she was so scared for me.

The ambulance finally got there and they checked me out. They then asked what I wanted to do. Said they could transport me, but they came from a different town and I wanted to go to the Winfield ER. So they told me to have my wife drive me, but that I definitely needed to go the ER to get checked out. So I had my wife carry home and I changed into a pair of shorts before I went to the ER.

I was wearing a HJC cl-14 helmet, Joe Rocket Reactor S jacket, JR Reactor gloves, Icon Barrier denim pants, and Icon Superduty boots. I was mostly injured in 4 places: a pretty severe rash on my knee(softball size) where the pants got a hole, a sprained ankle and mild abrasions on right ankle, a puncture wound over ¼ inch deep on my left shin (haven't figured out what did this yet), and a cantaloupe size rash on my hip where pants slide down. The weakest part of my gear was the pants, if I'd have had leather pants, I would have been better off.

My jacket and gloves are ripped to shreds. I cannot imagine what my arms and hands would look like without them. Joe Rocket saved my hide. My helmet didn't have a scratch. My boots held up well and I believe they kept my ankle from breaking. My pants were the cause of my entire road rash.
My poor bike looks bad. It snapped one of the forks in half. It pushed the front wheel into the exhaust and bent/broke it. It bent the frame on the lower left side. I guess that means the bike it toast. The gauges didn't break, the motor is fixable and the rear end and plastics are fine. The stem could be bent, its really mangled in the front.

My thoughts: First off, I'm very lucky to be alive. I know that. If I had impacted the car, or went under the wheels I would be dead, no question. Obviously it was her fault, but that wouldn't make my parents or wife feel any better at my funeral. Right now I don't know what to think. I wish it had never happened. I loved my bike. Now whether I like it or not, motorcycling has been changed for me, forever. That sucks. I took every precaution I could to try to avoid a mishap at all times when riding, and I still got ran-over. If she had stopped at the stop sign, and pulled in front of me, I would have had a much better chance at avoiding her than with her just blowing thru the stop sign. The thought that keeps me up at night is what would have happened if my wife had been with me. She was helping a friend of hers move that morning. Had she been home, she might have rode with me. I cannot hardly stand the thought of her being hurt.

I'd like to ride again, I enjoyed commuting to work. I could see myself on a new F, but we'll have to see. Right now I'm pretty apprehensive about getting my money back for the bike, gear, plus all the doctors bills I've had. I already sought out some legal council. I can only hope everything comes out smooth.

T-bone a car at 50mph and walk away... what can you say but the Good Lord was watching over me, no doubt. Wear your gear guys, it saved me.

Stephen

[gazingwa]

Glad to hear you are alright, damn 4 wheelers are out to get you...

I would rest, wait a bit, heal and discuss it with your wife, I'm sure you will be less nervous after the pain has died down.

Sorry to hear about your experience, and good luck healing.

Thanks for sharing a story that can encourage others to be carefull and wear gear.

['04gs500f]

way to walk away from a horrible misshap, im glad to hear you came out as well as you did.

Send Icon some hate mail or a claims letter

Thank the Joe Rocket company

Heal fast, i'm sure you will find the itch to ride again one way or another

[john]

Lucky to be alive

Don't let this sour you on riding.

[tdan553527]

Glad to hear your ok, I too went down at 50-60mph, and walked away. Not quite the same way.

A guy here in North Little Rock t-boned a car 2 days ago and was killed, of course he had no gear.

My gear also saved my hide, and now it has changed my life forever too, but I still ride and enjoy it very much, just at a slower pace now.

I also hated to call my wife and tell her that I went down. That was worse than the wreck.


Go hug your wife again and heal up soon.

[scratch]

Praise God you're alive! Hope the rest of you heals up well and quickly. Take your time, you've been given a second chance.

And, thank you for posting. Good info. I may have to get a pair of those jeans to go under my overpants, the overpants will just come right down; there's a reason for jacket-to-pant connector zippers.

[dgyver]

Glad to hear that you walked away in decent shape. Material thing can be replaced. Crashing can make you a better rider.

Best to settle this without a lawyer at first. If things do not go your way then hire one. I have been through this before but with more injuries.

[cernunos]

Wowzer!! Worst bike wreck I had was at about 50-60...my fault probably. Problem was it was the first time with no gear...was trying a friend's new Softail out on an impulse (never loan yer bike and never borrow). I had to get skin grafts from the rash. Wow you are so lucky to have had an angel on your shoulder. I also had a similar incidence on my Glide when a car pulled in front of me; I went off the road to avoid the car that time and didn't get hurt too bad but it tore up the front-end of the bike. Wow...wow Stephen, God I'm so glad you didn't get hurt bad. And your written description was so good that I could see it all in my mind's eye.

Hey, this will make you even more aware than you were before. If you still want to ride, try to get back on the "horse" after you heal up and do it in a place where you can work out the willies. But believe me, this WILL make you a better rider. Love the little Baby G, this forum, and you too Stephen.

C.......

[cheesy]

you need to call a lawyer ASAP about this.  Her insurance company will screw you if you don't have full coverage.

[Jake D]

Nooooooooo!!!!   Trust me, you need a lawyer.  The adjusters sing a different tune as soon as an attorney gets on the line.  You go from red tape to smooth sailing and a lot of "Yes, sir.  Yes, sir."

Glad your alright.  But for grace, there go I.

[Gleanerizer]

Don't worry about what to think of the whole riding thing until you've assessed the damage and had time for the whole situation to cool down.  Glad you're OK.

[davipu]

I'd hunt the Buddha Loves You down with my shotty if I were you, and I'd be like hell she tried once already to kill me, I am just making sure she dosn't do it again.   but that is me, I don't have a wife to worry about.  I'd  sue her for 3 things:
money for the bike and gear
money for the doctor bills
permanant licence revocation  

side question, was she cited in the police report for being at fault?

[gazingwa]

What about pain and time out of work, don't forget that.

[Stephen072774]

Thanks guys... I already have a lawyer, don't worry.  And I'll say there is more to this case that I don't want to post yet for legal reasons.  But on the bright side, things are in my favor.

[Jake D]

I'd  sue her for 3 things:
money for the bike and gear
money for the doctor bills
permanant licence revocation  

side question, was she cited in the police report for being at fault?

That is a good start, but you should ask for 3 times your medical bills in addition to the property damage.  

The only way you could get at her license if your state has a "financial responsibility" law that requires drivers to carry at least liability insurance.  In the absence of insurance on her part, your policy's "uninsured motorist" clause will cover your damamges.  They'll then sue her for subrogation, and if she fails to pay, take her license.  But you're in AL, and I don't know AL.

[gazingwa]

Kinda funny how vicious this thread turned,
from glad to hear you are ok, relax, heal   :kiss:  
to... sue her for everything she's worth, then linch her :guns:

[pantablo]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mishap but glad you're okay and that you had the brains to wear your gear! Another reason I dont like the "armored" denim...but still probably better than regular denim.

Your world will be different now, no doubt but take your time and decide what is best for you when you have some distance to the accident.

[secondgen7]

Stephen, I'm glad you made it through as well as you did.  I hope that everything works out well for you .. health and otherwise.

And thanks for the inspiration to improve my lower body protection.  I always wear gloves/jacket/helmet but have been pretty lax in buying pants/armor.  I think now I'll get both.  

Just goes to show how quickly a good day of riding can turn bad.

Dave

[octane]

WOW! Glad to hear you're going to be ok. If you want to host pics, you can upload them at my site, here: http://octaneonline.com/ipw-web/gallery/readersrides

Good luck with everything, and heal quickly. I have a titled '93 GS frame too if you get the itch to build your GS back up!

[apbrian112]

glad to hear that you're ok, (for the most part). makes me wonder about my icon jacket. ah well... i hope i don't have to find out how my jacket will fare in an accident. seriously though, hope that you heal quickly and get back on a bike. (i understand if you don't though).  
-brian-