Scooter muppet wrecked my bike

Off-topic
1

So, I was making my way home after a full on busy Remembrance weekend. I was heading down Victoria Embankment by Big Ben, heading east. Anyway I way in lane two overtaking this muppet scooter (who was going pretty slow), who, in lane one just decided to swing an unlooking U-turn in front of me! Like indicating is enough, apparently :roll: With kerb on my right, and him leaving me nowhere to go to his left, I smacked into him front left, went flying into the opposite lanes with the bike sliding offside just ahead of me. Thank God there were no oncoming traffic, as I dont think I’d be typing this now.
The front of the bike is pretty smashed up, and the offside took a slide, with the GB Racing Bung and engine casing doing exactly what they should, with the upper fairing protected and the case in order. Exhaust (stock) has a scuff on it, and the R&G bar end did a good job there. ASV brake lever has a slight grind on it, but hasn’t (like they say) snapped or anything. I’m amazed it isnt worse, but the bike seems ok. I’m not an expert, of course, but theres only a pinch of some wiring at full-lock right, due to an unseating of the air-ram, but besides that, it rolls, starts and the forks go up & down.

Anyway, I always lay in the road (sadly gaining quite a bit of experience hitting non looking SMIDSY road users) now until the police and ambulance get there so I can get official reports and statements taken. Police were pretty good, except when they let a lady leave who had seen everything and was backing me, but there was another that they did get (sadly a tourist from Spain), but he gave a statement backing me. The officer was of the opinion that charges may be filed against the guy for a dangerous manoeuver, but we’ll see.

Injuries are thankfully only bruising and swelling to my hip, stiffness in neck, back, arms and shoulders. All else is alright considering, and its all due to the full kit, which stood up perfectly.

As it stands, I’ve not reported it to my insurance (but I will of course), and I’m looking to get White Dalton on board (made a mistake of not using them before).

Anyway, I’m good, hopefully the bike isnt too bad. So I guess I’m looking for any advice or things I’ve not thought of please… CHEERS

Oh and be careful chaps!

2

Glad to hear you walked away chap. Not much you can do when faced with a suicidal scooter.

3

Yeah, not really. Was so bizarre! I just thought he was not looking, but indictating into my lane, just monging it. I was just gonna motor past, as we were so close at this stage, but it was only at the last second I realised he wanted to U turn :-\

4

It’s self preservation out there, you need to be even more on guard in the winter months when the roads are offering less traction. Glad to hear your OK parts and bikes can be replaced.

You’ll need a nurse to take care of all that swelling and stuff, failing that Ann Summers do nurse kits at £25.00 each, just add any combination of girlfriend, wife or random game on female inter webby wotsit here :wink:

Sounds as if the claim will go 50/50

5

Thanks for the Nurse hint, but 50/50?! How so?

6

Having spoke to white dalton before they don’t like to accept claims that have minimal personal injuries.

Insurance claims suck but Atleast your fine

7

Oh yeah? Hmmm, sounds pretty sad, but I did just speak to them and it seems ok at this stage

8

If I’ve understood the scenario correctly, you overtook a scooter which was indicating to turn right :w00t:

In your favour scooter may have been out of position for the manoeuvre and may not have checked mirrors or, looked prior to the manoeuvre.

In scooters favour a right turn indicator was on, you may have been in the scooters blind spot, the scooter may have carried out all the pre-manoeuvre checks so slowly that he didn’t see you coming up behind him. An assumption here, which I know is a dangerous thing, if the scooter also had L plates on that’ll be in the scooters favour too since it is expected that extra caution be exercised around learners.

A good test for split liability is to look at the incident from entirely the other party’s perspective and ask yourself was you entirely 100% to blame? Since the scooter had an indicator on you must concede some blame, whether that be 50/50, 70/30 or 30/70 will be down to the individual statements, the Police Report, the legal teams and how the Judge is feeling on the day should it go to Court.

9

Indicating does not give you the right to turn! It’s the scooters fault as he should have made sure that it was safe to do so! He was riding without due care and attention. End of :frowning:

10

I can see that point, however I was within metres of the scooter when he stuck his indicator on, without carrying out the pre-manoeuvre checks. At the national road limit, when someone is turning into you, metres isn’t much to work with. Police opinion is that he carried out a dangerous manoeuvre and thats what the witnesses have stated too. I guess we shall see…

11

Not sure I would have done an overtake on any vehicle indicating right! Good job your ok!

12

Really sorry to hear your news - perhaps it’s time to change your 'online ’ name…

13

If he was in a different lane and decided to just pull out into your lane without looking, it’s clearly his fault. He probably didn’t bother making a life-saver, and risked his life and yours by his actions. Good luck with your case.

14

You’re still being biased with your own take on the incident and probably giving out too much information.

At 30 mph 15 meters will leave you, on average, just 8 meters short of stopping before reaching a stationary point. Since both vehicles were moving in the same direction the 8 meters to impact will be reduced. Now if your reaction time and braking distance is better than average then you may be just a couple of meters over the point of impact which some could see as time to take evasive action and manoeuvre around the other vehicle to avoid the collision.

Even if Jaime is correct, and the scooterist is charged and convicted of Driving Without Due Care and Attention a Court could still view it as a split liability incident.

15

Hmmm.

First of all glad you’re alright - who needs this shite?

Secondly, if Mr Scootah had checked behind before you appeared if should have continued looking over his shoulder as he started the u-turn.

Who, but an idiot, turns into traffic whilst looking straight ahead???

It might . as Art says, go to a split responsibility but 90% of the fault should be his.

16

I think I’m misunderstood. the overtake manouervre was happening before any indicating, but as he intended a U turn, it was indicate/turn in one whole and very quick move. Too late to do anything about. As said, we’ll see what happens… Thanks for everyones input so far :smiley:

17

[quote]
CurlyAlly (12/11/2012)

Good shout, but I’m being true to myself. If I was really unlucky, then I’d be carried away last night :wink:

18

Firstly, thank you :smiley:

The reason as he was checking ahead so he may get into the opposing lane to complete his U-turn in one move. However, clearly his inability to carry out correct manoeuvre procedure in his lane led to this. Good lord!

19

I had a similar situation recently with a Dominos delivery donkey. He was sitting in the gutter doing about 10mph looking left, when all of a sudden he realises that the address he needs is on the right, right turn and indicate all in the same manouver, right across my path, no life saver, no mirror, nothing. I had slowed a bit as he had a propper wobble going whilst riding in the guttter and was plainly paying no attention so I was lucky, managed to avoid him by going into the oncoming lane with him as he cut arcoss me, which thankfully was empty. The car behind me (following too close of course) ends up locking up in an E stop, which gives you an idea of how close it was.

These dicks need to open their eyes a bit, otherwise they are unlikely to live long.

Glad you are OK though, sounds like there was nothing much you could have done.

20

The silly scooterists understanding of the highway code:

A. Manouver.

B. Signal.

C. Mirror.