But Officer I Didn’t See The Motorcycle
21. Aug, 2008 
15 Comments
This is why I didn’t want to borrow my friends bike. This is also why I wear a helmet. As I was riding along about 8 PM last night this nice older gentleman decided to make a left turn in front of me. There I was two bike lengths away from the side of a new Lexus. Luckily I wasn’t going that fast and got whoa’d up as much as I could. But not fast enough.
I remember hitting the car and then flying through the air looking at the evening sky and then the dark pavement. After hitting the Lexus I did a forward somersault over the roof and trunk. I’d have done better but the Russian and Chinese judges deducted me for my landing. Luckily I was wearing a helmet, gloves and my Stone Lake leather shirt so road rash was held to a minimum.
As I lay on the pavement I saw a pair of expensive loafers underneath a pair of Dockers. I heard a voice from above say, “I didn’t see him. I didn’t see the motorcycle and I always look for motorcycles. Are you alright? Did you have your lights on?” People were already holding me down so I told the guy that I was hurting pretty good, but I didn’t think my injuries were serious. Then I told him that if he looked at the the bike lying on it’s side in the intersection that the headlight and one remaining spotlight were still on.
After a trip in an ambulance to the local hospital I slowly, very slowly walked out on crutches to my brothers SUV and very gingerly, and with a lot of help, got in. I stove my thumb and little toe. Some bruises on my left thigh and lower stomach/groin from hitting the bikes windshield I think. They put a splint on my left leg because I might have chipped a bone or tore a ligament in the knee. It could have been worse.
I’m hurting pretty good but my heart hurts even worse because it was my friends bike. I never be able to say how sorry I am to R.W. and Jodie.
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Glad your still here to share this encounter with us!
Too many of us are killed each year by cagers not looking.
-Dave
Ride it like you stole it
Dude, it’s not cool that I’m finding out about this from the blog! Glad to hear you are okay. Hate to hear you got banged up. I know how hard it is on you to have jacked-up the bike, but at least it wasn’t your fault. R.W. and Jodie should understand.
Personal Rant:
Too many drivers just don’t look out for motorcycles—or anyone for that matter. Granted, motorcycles can be harder to see at times, but not if you are looking and paying attention. Most of the time everyone’s too engrossed in their music, radio show, cell phone or passengers to be designating the proper amount of concentration driving requires to be safe. And then it doesn’t help to be an old dude driving at night.
BTW, This it’s not going to slow down your blogging is it? LOL
Glad you came through ok. Get well! :)
It’s hard to get a fair score at this years Olympics, so what are you going to ride now? Get better.
Sam-I-Am,
Bikes can be replaced, however, replacing someone like you would be hard to do. You have reached out to so many people, it only seemed fair to offer you our bike and having the wind back in your sails. Take care of yourself and hope to see you back in your leathers soon. We Love You and Jane Ann.,
RW & Jodi
Sam,
I very good friend had a somewhat similar accident several weeks ago. He was tooling along at 55 per when a MoPed rider pull out of a driveway into his lane of traffic. He t-boned the MoPed. My buddy also found himself to be a little lower than a Tree Top Flyer ! He contacted the windshield of his Road Glide with his lower abdomen. Like you he was wearing a helmet and fairly garments. After being checked over at the hospital he was released. The next morning he felt sick to his stomach so he went to the emergency room where he promptly puked and passed out. It turned out that he had mashed his Spleen and Liver. After 6 weeks of very careful recovery he is ok. The Moped rider had 7 breaks in one of his legs. Please make SURE that you don’t ignore any signals your body is sending.
John
RW & Jody, you are 2 very good friends – in all respects. Sam, I’m sure you know you’re lucky to have them, too. I hate that this happened to you but your years of riding experience probably kept injuries to a minimum. As John says, though, keep aware of how you’re feeling and don’t take any chances.
Get better!
Get well soonest, Sam.
You’re a smart and safe rider — these things happen, even to the careful riders like you.
The Stone Lake leather shirt was also a smart choice! Too often I see riders here in CA with nothing but sandles, shorts and tee-shirts, and wonder how they would fair in a similar accident.
My hats off to RW and Jodi for being so understanding… good friends indeed!
Everyone needs a set of friends like RW and Jodi.
Sorry this happened to you and I guess you know it could have turned out a lot worse. Get well soon.
I had a similar accident happen to me in 1984. I was heading to the beach to meet a few friends when an older man decided to back out of his driveway. All I remembered was the back end of a green ford pickup truck and then the feeling of being raked across the ground.
Everyone asked me why I didn’t swerve or get out of the way. No one asked him why he backed up in traffic. I decided then and there I had to be the one looking. Took me 9 weeks to get back on a bike and I’ve been on one ever since.
Hope you have a quick recovery, and be glad you have friends so understanding.
I saw this online and just had to tell you about it. After reading your post yesterday it just seemed appropriate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH34xzIdY58
Hope you are ok. Get well soon.
My gosh Sam…..just now reading that you hit the pavement. Sure am sorry to hear that. I’m glad you are okay. Bikes can always be replaced.
Sam:
Just read your blog, wanted to let you know driver thought you were farther away than you were, that is why he received a citation for vehicles turning left.Remember Loud Pipes save lives.
Sluefoot