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Lucky but pissed

5K views 46 replies 17 participants last post by  joseph 
#1 ·
I feel really lucky but at the same time I'm really pissed that another cager has changed my view of riding. I work in South Bend IN and live in Niles Michigan which is just across the state line. There is a home game at Notre Dame today and due to odd traffic flow I took a different way home.I was headed East towards 933 on Angela Blvd and in the Left turn lane to head North towards home.I was less than 100 ft. from the intersection where all of the traffic flows into ND stadium and there are at least 14 police officers directing traffic at the intersection. I was approaching the intersection in the Left turn lane and a cager made a U-turn as I was going by and tagged my saddlebag. I stopped my bike on the double yellow, hit my hazard lights(4 ways) and yelled he just hit my bike and he's leaving. Needless to say, there is only one reason to leave the scene of an accident. You are ILLEGAL, either drunk, no insurance, or you have warrants. As I spoke with the Officer that approached me, I lit a cig and realized that I was shaking like a puppy passing a peach-pit. When I got home it was almost 2 hours later before I even told my wife what had happened. As I told her about it I broke down. I'm not real sure about the time difference, but if he would have hit me 18-24 inches sooner, I would probably be missing the lower part of my right leg. I'm not even sure how to finish this...BUT I will ride to work tomorrow.
 
#3 ·
My first "incident" did more physical damage, this one did some mental damage. As if I really needed more of that :D
 
#6 ·
Close call, but then smoking is a death warrant by itself.

I've ridden 52,000+ miles in the last 11 months. Had a few close calls. After we went down on the Goldwing a few years ago and broke my shoulder into 5 pieces I don't tell her about the close calls, she worries enough as it is.
 
#14 ·
He stopped at first so I didn't really pay attention, by the time he started leaving the scene he was too far away for me to read it:(
 
#8 ·
Bbob,, right you are, however IE a little whisky now and then wont kill you, a cig can and will. I'm a bit jaded on the subject having lost so many family members, and friends to those damn cancer sticks. I also know how hard it is to stop, having smoked myself some 28 years ago. Even so, the odds are still there that they may still be my death warrant.
 
#9 ·
Me too. I smoked for 24 years off and on and expect to die, if I live long enough, from some smoking related disease but they way they categorize that these days; just about everything is caused by smoking.

I'm overweight. I'm sure that isn't helping. I figure I'd rather live my way than how others would rather I live. At least to me I will have a quality of life rather than a quantity.

Kinda like that joke where the doctor asked his elderly patient if he smokes, drinks, stays out late at night, is involved in any risky activities, or has unprotected sex and the patient says no. The doctor then asks why he cares about how long he lives...

I agree with you about watching someone go through stages of COPD and using an oxygen bottle for the rest of their days. I've even seen 3 guys come into a bar (not together) with their oxygen bottles, bum a smoke, turn off their oxygen, and smoke 'em up. Some people just can't quit. Something in them prevents it.
 
#16 ·
Get another doctor! That's not true. Most men, when they die, have prostate cancer, but they did not die of it. Your chances of dying from a heart disease are pretty high.
BTW, if you quit smoking, your body will eventually cleanse itself, unless you have irreparably already damaged your lungs. As a cancer patient, I see what those cancer sticks do. I don't smoke and my cancer is not like what smokers get. Thank Goodness.
 
#12 ·
8Ball, glad your alright. Hope you can shake it off.
 
#13 ·
Glad your ok , like a batter getting hit by a fastball , shake it off and get back out there ... This incident will make you a better , more aware rider . :ride:
 
#15 ·
It's not Hit and run if he didn't know he struck your bike. Quite frankly if a 4,000 lb car striking your bike didn't knock you over he very well may not have known his car touched your bike.

It's very possible he simply thought he cut you off and that's why he initially stopped
 
#17 ·
Rics... No, in a matter of speaking the saying which isn't my doctors just repeated by him is true in theory. If you live long enough, eventually you will die from cancer. Its just a question of two things: how long you have to live for that to happen and two if something else doesn't kill you first.

My brother died from lung cancer after having quit for 30 years. My father as well. My father beat lung cancer once, when it came back 20 years later it took his brain. My Sister beat cancer 15 years ago when they gave her three years tops. My niece just passed from cancer, (not lung).

Every time I see a young person light up I want to beg them to stop. Of course doing so they would look at me like I'm just some old fool.
 
#18 ·
They knew they hit him, just didn't want him to bash his head in for hitting his bike!!! I drive a commercial truck loaded with a average 60 thousands pounds a day and I can feel when my lug nut on my front tire hits something!!! Glad your ok man, I just made a year smoke free after smoking for 20 years, my first born son coming soon was the reason I wanted to quit the most....
 
#34 ·
They knew they hit him, just didn't want him to bash his head in for hitting his bike!!! ... I just made a year smoke free after smoking for 20 years, my first born son coming soon was the reason I wanted to quit the most....
dang dude... twenty years smoke free and having your first, what are you 36, kinda late to be having number 1 :wink You'll be on a Spyder by the time the kids out of the house!

Yes I've been hit on my bike and also been hit standing on the side of the road working... And as far as bashing the drivers head in, that's what people think when they see guys on motorcycles that we are violent people who are not very civilized!
I'm not a violent person by nature (OK, maybe a little), but I'd probably have at least chased down a person who hit my bike and ran away... whether it would have came to blows depends on the driver's reaction.

These days people cannot even go to the toilet without there phone .....
yep... couldn't even take a post lunch deuce without listening to some clown complain about his girlfriend whilst he was in the stall next to mine. Whatever happened to reading while on the john, not gabbing like a little girl.
 
#19 ·
pjv,, could be but it damn sure was nothing more than a very light tap. If you've ever been hit by a car on a bike you know first hand it takes very little for a 4,000 lb vehicle to knock you down. Its been 25 years since I got tapped per say riding a Honda CB900 and I was down instantly with out leaving a scuff on the car. Even after 25 years I still recall how little it takes.

As far as bashing his head in? Really? So would that be your response, to attempt to bash the drivers head in?
 
#20 ·
Yes I've been hit on my bike and also been hit standing on the side of the road working... And as far as bashing the drivers head in, that's what people think when they see guys on motorcycles that we are violent people who are not very civilized!
 
#21 ·
Congratulations on the narrow escape. Don't think I saw a response if you got the license plate and the police took your report. We've all known someone smacked around by an inattentive/drunk/stooopid/texting ... The list is too long. Anyway I'm glad the damage was slight and you're ok.
 
#23 ·
18 year old spoiled girl on a cell phone. I'm on a through street and she was to my left, stopped at the stop sign. As I approached the intersection doing less than 20 cuz I was going to turn left in one block, she pops out. I hit my brakes and she hit hers, but her front bumper and my front wheel can not occupy the same space. Bike and rider both got scrapes and bruises. The good part is neither the bike nor myself were seriously damaged and she had very good insurance, so I now have a slush fund. This happened in 2010 and the bike was only three months old. No repeats, so far.
 

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#24 ·
Hey Ricz, i remember this picture, good one, hmmmm so the girl was on her phone when the accident happened, this is BAD ... But that means her insurance would not pay anything for her car if they found out, only for your bike? maybe her insurance advisor helped her ....

So when she came out of the car, did she hang-up the phone ? Or did she straight call somebody else ??

These days people cannot even go to the toilet without there phone .....
 
#25 ·
Hey Ricz, i remember this picture, good one, hmmmm so the girl was on her phone when the accident happened, this is BAD ... But that means her insurance would not pay anything for her car if they found out, only for your bike? maybe her insurance advisor helped her ....<snip>
Whether or not your insurance pays for damage to your own car when you are at fault or even when you do something stupid like cause an accident because you were driving while distracted (cell phone, eating, etc.) depends on the type of insurance you purchase, the details of your insurance policy, and the laws of the state in which you live. It is possible to buy full collision coverage which covers your own car in just about any situation caused by you. It is possible to have insurance with no collision coverage at all so repairs to your car are not covered regardless of who is at fault. It is possible to buy limited collision coverage which only covers damage to your car if you are NOT at fault. Not all of the above are available in every state. I've had all three types of coverage in my life. At one point I had all three types of coverage at the same time in Michigan - a different type on each of three different cars.

G'day,

Vinish
 
#27 ·
As I told her about it I broke down.
I've only scared the crap out of myself since I've been riding. I've managed to somehow avoid the crazies out there so far. I think this would have shook me to the core and I'd be blubbering like a little girlie.

I ride every day if only for a little while after work and usually jump on the bike soon as I get home because it is like a feel good drug. I always go the same direction because it quickly gets me out of the afternoon traffic and on lonely roads.

I don't like being vulnerable and if I'm out in the middle of everyone all the time, I will eventually get nailed.

This scenario will play out this weekend because I'm going on my first long trip since buying this bike last year. I'm going to take my time and keep my distance from cagers as best I can.
 
#30 ·
pjv,, life is too short to go thru it with that mind set. Be careful out there, size means little when you come across a nut case or someone with proper training. You have enough stress just driving that rig dealing with all the rules and laws enforced on your trade; certainly no need to add to it.
 
#37 ·
Oh I understand more than you could possibly imagine mate.
I've been where you are before.
Pray you dont go where I went.
Though it was a blessing in disguise.
One day you may understand.
I do understand.
 
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