yep, it’s happened again. I got knocked off the red ninja this morning by a white van man.
It happpened at the roundabout in Mottingham (near the harley dealership for those who know the area) just by the BP garage. I entered the roundabout and was about to exit when a white van suddenly left the garage forecourt and entered the roundabout too. He hit me (apparently there is nice big dent in the side of his van) and the bike and I parted company. Bike went one way, I hit the deck and then landed on my back. You should see the state of my lid! I don’t really remember much as I landed on my back and then the back of my head hit the deck, but the Arai did its job. I was unconscious for a couple of seconds and then ‘came to’.
I got taken in an ambulance to A&E at Sidcup on one of those body boards with a neck brace. Fortunately nothing broken but I have a very very very bruised coxis and my head still feels woozy. Also I am stiffening up nicely around my neck and shoulders. The van driver admitted full liability. Again, it was a case of ‘I didn’t see you’. The police took a statement from him and he will be charged. Tonnes of witnesses too. A text book case really but still lots of hassle to go through now with the insurance company. I’ve not seen the poor red ninja yet as I was carted off in the ambulance. Apparently it’s not too bad, just a cracked fairing (according to the policeman) but until it has been given a thorough check who knows. The scariest thing was as I regained consciousness, for a nano second I thought I couldn’t feel my legs (was paralysed) but then I wiggled my toes and moved my legs. They’re all fine.
I’m in a hell of a lot of pain right now but feel that I have gotten off lightly given the apparent impact at which the bike was hit. I’m sorry to say that I have decided to give up biking and will be hanging up my leathers. It’s heart breaking but some people are jinxed on the road and I think I am one of those unlucky ones who was never destined to be on 2 wheels. It took a lot of guts to get back into biking after I got knocked off the green ninja 18 months ago, again by a pratt in a van who “didn’t see me”. I think I am safer in a car and, frankly, I would like to live to a ripe old age and have a family one day. I can’t do that if I am not here.
thanks peeps. Cheers to Makman for the correct spelling of Coccyx, I knew my original spelling wasn’t correct!
I am trying to keep moving, trouble is that everything is now stiffening up and my lower back arround the coccyx is now swelling nicely. Not to mention the huge bruises on the backs of my legs. I was wearing a back protector and it absorbed most of the impact, but no amount of protection can protect against whiplash and bruising. It really hurts to move but I’ve learnt my lesson from last time where I stayed still and that exacerbated the whiplash.
got lots of thinking to do. I don’t want to give up biking as I was starting to love the red ninja but it’s the other people on the road that scare me (and the state I could have ended up in today). Bikes are vulnerable enough as it is, without white-van-man adding to the risk. Perhaps the answer is to commute on the train and bike at weekends. I dunno.
accidents can happen anywhere…anytime…more often than not it wont be you at fault but someone else…sh*t happens.
agree commuting would prob lessen the chances of having an off.
as for your pain, i know about that, sort of…one has an ingrowing hair above th coccyx:w00t: sweels up to montrous proportions at times…my mates call it me tail( cos im a rat) or my stump!! bloody hurts!! so you is not alone :D;)
So sorry to read about your accident but, like Ratty says, accidents can happen anytime – you’ve just been really, really unlucky. Don’t let the blind b*stards force you off the bike (but I do understand the pain you’re in may not be wanting you to jump back on the bike anytime soon).
I do hope you get back on that rather gorgeous looking red ‘horse’!
