Yesterday as I was traveling home from the shop, I got took out by a toyota truck. I was it the right lane of a four lane residential street, traveling eastbound @ between 25-30 mph. Limit on this road is 35mph.
As I was approaching a five way intersection half a block away, I was just letting off the throttle to stop for the red light. As this point, a white toyota pickup who was stationary in the allyway proceded to enter the roadway. In the amount of time I said "OH F@#%", he hit me with his left front fender.
It was literaly that fast, less than two seconds. I had fingered the front and rear brake levers/pedal, but collided before application had made any effect on my speed. I was on my Adventure Wee-Strom and upon collision the handlebars were ripped from my hands as I flew over them impacting the cab of the truck and falling to the ground.
The individual driving the truck stalled and got out as I was cussing up the place as I was in considerable pain from both my hands and right ankle. A few moments elasped and soon I was surrounded by many people it seemed all concered for me lying in the road. I took inventory of my body, moving each limb and torso, figuring out where and what seemed to get injured. People were telling me to stay put, which I was, lying on my back.
The fire paramedic's arrived within I think less than three minutes, very quick IMO. We did the injured check from top to bottom, I then insisted they take my helmet off and let me sit up. I didn't pass out, and knew where, what, how and why, I was where I was. They were satified with the assesment, getting me up and over to the curb in the shade, on my own power. During this short walk I determined I stressed my ankle, both hands, wrists, and hit my head.
The bike was mildly trashed on the right side, the engine guards, bark busters, and footpegs took most of the impact. Ding in the tank from my foot going over the top, and a slight rash on the exhaust midpipe, and a broken right mirror. Not to bad for such a abrupt collision. The truck sustained three large dents from the bike and myself on the left front fended and door.
The guy who was driving the truck then started a story about he was not driving and the guy who was driving took off and was some day-type labor. Riiiiight. He kept coming over to me apolgizing for what happened, and how it wasn't him driving. Well the police finally arrived, and started gathering information for the icident report. Luckly there was two young guys that witnessed the whole thing and told the police the truth. Refreshing in these times were in.
Comes to find out, the guy had no license, no insurance, somebody else's plates on the vehicle, and was lying one lie after another. Needless to say, the truck got towed, which he called, which I thought was odd, to the impound lot. I know he recieved a handfull of charges, but I left to go to the emergacare before I found out if he went to jail or not.
I sustained a dislocated left ring finger, broken left hand, sprained right fingers, sprained right ankle, and mild rash on my knee's and elbows.
Today, the day after, I feel like I got beaten up. Pretty sore upper torso, back, neck and shoulders. These are what hit the truck, so I was expecting that. My left hand is swollen pretty good, due to all the trama of resetting the finger and the brokeness.
The reason I am retelling this to all of you is this, that shit happens that you will have no control over. Riding motorbikes exposes one to injury far greater than cars/trucks. I know everyone here realizes these facts. So I'm not gonna preach. Please minamise your exposure and wear your gear, pay attention, and above all, don't stop riding. The rewards are far greater than the risk's.