Brief synopsis: Car pulled out in front of me this arvo and I've t-boned the drivers door at approx 60kph. Driver admitted fault to Ambo Driver. Following the Hospital visit I'm up & walking (slowly) and every piece of me hurts like f*ck.
I haven't seen the bike as yet ("Lay there - DO NOT MOVE" said the registered Nurse who just happened along) but one bystander told me it's a write-off; s'pose I'll find out Monday. For the short term that's one less Harley on the roads.
So, hoping you people have some advice on a coupla questions:
As much as I love my bike (2008 black Heritage Softail) I'm already thinking I'd prefer another/replacement as shunting the front end into a car at 60kph will likely do unseen damage to frame & telemetry. That's what's in my thinking at the mo. But let's say Insurance say it's fixable; I'm not going to be happy or confident in the bike coz I know it's been in a bad shunt.
How do I stand on this? Does my unqualified opinion count? If I want to sell at some stage the prang would be noted on a vehicle search, wouldn't it? And I for one wouldn't buy a bike known to have impacted as mine did today.
In round figures the bike was bought & insured for $28k. I owe $21k with two & a bit years left on the loan. Does this mean the Bank gets the $21k and I get $7k cash?
I've taken photos of all bike gear ruined in the prang as I intend to claim these items as well. Only my boots and sunnies survived without damage (leather jacket had both sleeves cut off by the Ambos to allow those little sticky monitoring patches & wires to be hooked up for the Ambo ride).
Any advice will be appreciated coz this is my first ever on-road bike prang with me as the Pilot - two downs as pillion doesn't count, OK? .
I must acknowledge big kudos to everyone who assisted today: Local residents shading me with the umbrella = GOLD; TWO registered nurses & one off duty Copper on the spot = GOLD; Ambos = GOLD; Hospital Staff at the much maligned Logan Hospital = GOLD . Oh, and get this, my Doctor in the trauma room is a Harley Rider with (I think) a '93 Wide Glide!! As accidents go I couldn't have asked for a better Pit Crew!
Some of you - and only some - will understand when I say the Good Lord looked after me today...
this photo edited in two days later - a few more on page 2:
Glad to hear you are OK
Bikes can be replaced but you can't
Hope you have a speedy recovery.
+1 on the get the admission recorded ASAP. A mate of mine was hit by a P-Plater running a red light. While he was lying on the road she was crying and screaming "I've killed him" so he tried to calm her down (while flat on his back!) by saying "It's ok, it's not your fault". She used that statement in court to try to shift the blame to him. (Unsuccessfully but it caused the court case to stretch out for months).
Yours seem cut and dried though. Great to hear you are still with us. Phantom's comments on another post about deceleration trauma have really got me paying attention.
Happened to me in July mate (shit head running a red light) so i kinda know what I'm on about.
I've been off work for over 4 months now with a fucked back and knee.
My first piece of advice mate GET A GOOD LAWYER! and go their CTP asap.
As for the bike if it looks anything like mine did it's gone.
It is a lot of dicking around, scans, xrays, specialists and what not but trust me if you have a good lawyer it is well worth it.
Cheers
KB
I'm gald your ok mate & as long as you have insurance you'll be ok, if not you will need a lawyer because some insurance co's will try to bluff you, hope it all works our
Bad luck Mate!
As far as your bike goes, if you still have it in your possesion(or access to it)...now is the time to remove any aftermarket goodies you have on it that you can replace with the originals.
If it's written off (very likely).... you will lose all that stuff! ...and your probably not covered for it!
Thank you all very much; it's encouraging to log-on at zero dark hundred hours to find a couple of pages of well wishes and sterling advice!
Unlike having to wait to watch a favourite show on the telly, the good 'ol forum is available 24/7 as the saying goes. At present I can't lie down to sleep so it's a series of random Nanna naps night & day in the comfy chair. What better therapy than page after page of Harley stuff to cheer me up?
Anyhoos, I'll take on board all you've collectively advised and to be honest I hadn't considered the CTP and the Solicitor option at all; just figured I needed sort the insurance/ loan/ whataboutmebike options.
I have a limited knowledge of this procedure as I work in a Shopping Centre... I regularly have people report their accidents & slips & falls in the mall; it's part of my job to document these things with times, dates, statements and photos etc. 'Current Affair' type shows have long promoted the American-style litigation 'road to riches' whereby a slip in a shopping mall is tantamount to a Lotto win!
Well no it's not, but in my case I reckon I have a reasonable justification to follow it up.
Everyone is telling me it could have been a lot worse and I have no arguments there. We've all had prangs of varying degrees and keeping things humble is important. But I must mention this scary bit... after the BOOFKA into the car I've landed on my front and I'm looking at the bitumen. I'm a stunned mullet but I became aware the car was still moving (maybe walking pace?) as I felt the drivers side front wheel brush my left shoulder. I then fully expected the rear wheel to follow & roll right over it - not quite, but the rear wheel also scraped my shoulder and I watched it slowly pass... so yeah, coulda been worse.
DAVO, the intersection is at Ormeau on the corner of Peachey Rd & Philben Dve. It shouldn't be a dodgy site as visibility is brilliant! I was travelling along Peachey heading toward Stanmore and Philben is on my right. I saw her (old lady) cruise out of Philben and pull over to the left of Peachey. Plenty of time really and no danger so far as I believed she'd seen me (not too far away & I have all THREE lights on) and had parked for a few seconds to let me pass before taggin on behind me - ya follow?
There was no motion (or INDICATORS!!) from the car so I went wider & moved closer to the centre line to pass her - as ya do - and then, at the point of no return, she hangs a U turn back into Philben!!! I've swerved & braked hard right and impacted her at a few degrees less than a perfect t-bone. And that was that and here I am!
Thanks again for taking the time to write.
mate the only thing that matters is that your were able to write about it, ya still here brother. thtas all that counts
good on you mate , something was looking after you alright!!!!! all the best for a speedy recovery. the only thing i know about bike insurance is that if the frame is bent they write it off.
A picture paints a thousand words in the Towies holding yard:
Popped fuel guage - and did the bars hit the tank?
sheared handlebar clamp
cracked fork leg (both sides); and I'm a bit concerned the tyre may get damaged by that brake fluid...
the 5:00am optimistic message to family on the fridge!
'Popeye's arm' before it changed colour.
bugger all damage here - the top of my head is one of the few places un-bruised!
Volvo aware yes - but don't under estimate the Commodores!
Up until this clusterf*ck my American A2 leather flying jacket had remained in perfect condition since 1995 - and I wear it everywhere (footy, restaurants etc):
But I remain grateful it was only my gear in a bag and not ME in a bag...
and how the rig looked for the 'Pink Day' a few short weeks ago...
Bike has this arvo gone to Dealer to await the Assessor. My wait begins...
Those photos are the saddest thing I've seen for ages. I know this will change if I have the bad luck to have a serious ding but at the moment the thing I'm trying to save all the time is the bike. I keep forgetting that I might cop a few scratches as well. Looking forward to some snaps of your new ride a bit later on. Heal well.
