Hit by blind driver

[Rocinante]

we're just quietly following along  8)

Thanks, nice to hear.:) Come to think of it that´s the way I follow most threads...

I´ve done most that need to be done on the bike tonight. Going in early for a change...

[93TigerBill]

we're just quietly following along  8)

And he's not the only one!

Thought it ironic that you ride Rocinante on the epic trip, and got cleaned up near home!

[Rocinante]

we're just quietly following along  8)

And he's not the only one!

Thought it ironic that you ride Rocinante on the epic trip, and got cleaned up near home!

Yes it is isn´t it. I was about four minutes from home.

I have some more information now. The driver of the car was a 71 year old man who said he didn´t see me, so I had to be speeding... The investigator who told me this also told me to cool down my slightly rising anger toward the driver, because the driver probably tried to explain the crash this way to himself as well, as a sensible reason to why he could do such a mistake. I guess he could be right about that.

Another curiosity is where he decided to cross my lane. If you go back to page one of this thread and look at the rubber marks on the road, check out where they end in relation to the curb to the right. That´s where I hit him. If he was doing a normal turn to the left (right in the picture)he would have done it a lot earlier. The picture shows he must have done it in the very last minute. I´ve pointed that out to the police.

Anyway, the case is about to be closed and the police are only waiting for the medical report before they decide how far they´ll take the charges. Most likely he´ll get a hefty fine. Worst case he´ll get suspended jail. I hope not cause then I need to be in really bad shape... And I´m not.

The salvage company is another story. A couple of days ago I talked to the driver who picked up the bike, an he could not understand why it was a problem to lay down the bike on the same side it was scratched from before, and leave it there over night. They had "done that on thousands of bikes", he said. I couldn´t believe it and gave up trying to explain it to him. In the end we agreed to say goodbye before one of us started screeming, and just leave it to the insurance companies.

[armadillo76]

Great news that it is up and running (and you are up and running too) after the crash. Hearing that the driver was elderly I understand it a bit more. Sometimes they just don't want to deal with or think about their senses failing them (and with no license that is often the only freedom they have left). Glad you weren't hurt more seriously.
Crystals in the ear? I've heard about that but don't know the cure.
Good luck! AndyB, NH.

[Rocinante]

Crystals in the ear? I've heard about that but don't know the cure.
Good luck! AndyB, NH.

Actually, that diagnose has been dropped. It seems to come from the neck and will need treatment over time to heal. I just decided not to go to the gravel rally this weekend that I mentioned earlier because the vertigo attacks still happens. It´s improving though, only slower than I hoped.

I bought a very yellow vest today that should increase visibility. Never thought I would do that but my mind has changed....

[Rocinante]

Here she is, back on the road with a little less paint but in relatively good shape. The new Shoei Hornet helmet matches the matte black color on the new screen.

I still might make two more slight bends in the screen to dampen the flat area a bit. Buffeting is just where I want it with this height, no turbulence to the head.

I will do the necessary paint job myself. It´ll get a slightly different surface, a bit more pearl like, which will fit nicely in with the KTM parts.

If the insurance claim goes through, and nothing indicates it shouldn´t, I better not say what amount of money that comes out of it. A concrete offer has been presented by the insurance company. You guys from less expensive and vehicle tax heavy countries would drool. :lol:

[rf9rider]

Good to see it back on the road.

I like the helmet.  8)

[Rocinante]

As a final note to this thread; the car driver was fined the equivalent of 1800 USD and got his licence suspended for four months. The insurance company has payed up partially, and will pay the rest in due time.

My shoulder is a lot better but will need probably about a year and a half to recover fully, according to the insurance company specialist. The good news is that the damaged shoulder will most likely recover 100%.
My neck is still so and so, but a lot better than a month ago.

Rocinante is on the road but in need of a repair job. I still haven´t replaced the cylinder head which ha been sitting on the shelf here for four months. The front sub frame needs welding, and some paint is needed too.

But for the peace in the family, the unfinished house extention comes first...:)

[Bixxer Bob]

Roc,

I've only just stumbled on this thread, and am glad you're ok.  My first ever accident as a teenager was like yours.  Pregnant woman coming the other way turned on me as the old feller did on you.  I was luckier than you; the car hit me in the forks and trapped the bike underneath.  I was thrown forward and along the road but didn't hit anything.  A trucker pulled his 40 tonner right across the road stopping all the traffic, climbed down from his cab and scooped me up like a baby, gently depositing me on the pavement saying "don't worry son, I'm a biker too, I'll see you alright".  Boy was I grateful!

Regarding the crystals in the ears, I got medivac'd back from the Gulf in 2002 where I was serving after 9-11 because of a balance problem caused by a bang on the head.  It left me with dizzy spells which were blamed on crystals.  Apparently the bang on the head loosened some crystals that build up in your inner ear canal with age.  The inner ear is like your gyro so you can balance. If the crystals are loose, they interfere with the flow of fluid and your gyro doesn't work and you fall over.  A specialist cured mine with manipulation (she moved my head around through a series of violent but pre-planned moves).  It took two sessions but it worked.

Some background reading here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_ear

[ArcticTiger]

This was good news Dag

[Rocinante]

Roc,

Regarding the crystals in the ears....

Thanks BB. I went through all the checks and manipulations you mention and they didn´t prove that it was crystals. So it´s still a bit in the dark. Over the last month and a half, I have had the vertigo return once, while normal dizziness comes once in a while. But it´s improving if you measure from month to month.

[Colonel Nikolai]

Roc, glad you're still with us. Even though I "drive like they can't see me", the left turners are really hard to call. It's my biggest fear: that someone will suddenly left-turn in front of me. This is what got stretch after all, too, isn't it?

I don't know how your bike did as well as it did, but I'm impressed.

My 96 Triumph Sprint hit a 200 lbs deer (a 9-point buck actually) a 50 mph. The front forks were bent a few degrees. I'm still riding this bike today though: the frame is still straight!

[Rocinante]

Roc, glad you're still with us. Even though I "drive like they can't see me", the left turners are really hard to call. It's my biggest fear: that someone will suddenly left-turn in front of me. This is what got stretch after all, too, isn't it?

I don't know how your bike did as well as it did, but I'm impressed.

My 96 Triumph Sprint hit a 200 lbs deer (a 9-point buck actually) a 50 mph. The front forks were bent a few degrees. I'm still riding this bike today though: the frame is still straight!

I´m not sure what saved Rocinante from bent forks and whatnot, but I know a lot of the impact was absorbed by the fairing frame.

I now ride with a yellow vest and have extra lights (Denali led from Twisted Throttle) on order. I too have gotten anxious about car drivers crossing my path...