The First Crash is The Hardest

[Teh]

Dang Teh, my jaw dropped when I watched your vid. Thank God your ok. Not sure what the hell the limo driver was thinking. That crash was no fault of yours that's for sure.

Thank you, Rookasaki. My wife told me she cannot watch the crashing moment following by my groaning in pain. I was not easy for me to review my own video as well.

 

[Teh]

Ethically, no, but legally, yes, unfortunately. Although making erratic moves or stopping altogether on a highway/freeway is dangerous and completely asinine, by law a driver is responsible for not colliding with vehicles in front of them, no matter what the reason for the car in front slowing/stopping. When driving, it is your responsibility to be prepared at all times for vehicles in front of you to make unexpected maneuvers, and to follow at a distance to allow you to avoid a collision with a vehicle in front of you. In fact, in Ontario, if you are stopped at a traffic light and you are hit from behind, if you are pushed in to the car in front of you, you are considered at fault for hitting the vehicle in front of you except in the most exceptional cases. For example, if a car smokes you doing 40mph you'll be off the hook, but otherwise the law basically states you were stopped unsafely proximate to the car in front. These laws are designed to make drivers allow more space between vehicles. Most of us follow too closely. I'm guilty of it from time to time, more often in the cage than on the bike.

As I said, this isn't always the most sensible law, but it is the law in most places in North America. If anyone on here is a skier or snowboarder, they'll be familiar with this concept. On the slopes, you are 100% responsible for not hitting anyone downhill of you. No exceptions.

Regardless of the legality, I'm not pointing this out to criticize. A crash is always a bad scene, and I hope you come out of this with minimum disruption to your life, physically and financially. It's clear you were not being dangerous or negligent. I'm just pointing it out for those who might not know. Every jurisdiction is different; it's a good idea to read up on the law before you hit the road.

Thank you very much, jacobdahl, for taking time to explain.

 

[Teh]

You've got it. Please keep us updated and best of luck.

Cyberal, I should have said also that I truly appreciate your supporting words you previously said on the other thread.

The day came sooner than I thought. And I am so blessed to survive it. I could have been paralyzed riding a wheel chair for life or worse be confined in bed for life.

As I have said that it was hard for my wife to watch. And she said to me 'why do you keep watching it?'. I did and paused numerous times, looking closely for any light signal from the limo which don't think I saw any, other than the dimly brake lights in the last couple seconds before the impact.

 

[Teh]

Now that is intense. sorry you had to go thru that and thanks for sharing

You are welcome and thank you for your respond. I hope some FZ6R riders who have never been down may learn something from the video. So, they can avoid it longer, or better yet never have to be downed.

 

[nismos14]

That SUCKS!!!! Sorry to see that. If you had a couple more seconds you may have been able to avoid him. I keep my distance in those cases, especially when people are driving a bit odd.

 

[MistahT]

But again, In My state, If he did that and I hit him from the rear it would be my fault. They would say I was following to close behind and didin't allow myself enough room to stop. They even preached it to me during the MSF course.

You had the correct following distance until the limo jumped into your lane and stopped. You could not have slowed in time. Maybe not legally his fault, but we're all pulling for you. Give 'em hell in court!

 

[Uno979]

I'm just glad you are logged into the site typing away. That was rough dude! Keep us up dated on your recovery and the turn out of what happened. God Bless you man!

 

[rhnatyk]

First of all, I'm glad you weren't seriously injured. That was scary.

That said, I was trying to figure out what really happened and why you hit the limo (other than the obvious). I'm wondering if the real cause was target fixation. In viewing the video, there seemed to be ample opportunity to drive around the limo while slowing down avoiding the accident completely.

I'm not criticizing you or your driving skill, just trying to learn from this example and think about what I would have done. With the limited braking grip of a motorcycle, I'm more inclined to find an escape route instead of hoping to get the bike stopped in time.

Hope you heal soon and get back on your bike.

-Richard

 

[jocampo]

It's a blessing

The dreadful day finally came because I expected the norm and failed to foresee the unexpected
I'm sure most of you are experience rider and may be able to avoid this crash. May be some of you who has not yet been down can learn from my failure. Thanks to all for watching

First Crash Is The Hardest - SF Bay Bridge Toll Plaza February 6, 2013 - YouTube

If you are ok and in one piece, crashing it's a blessing

You can take that as a lesson and improve your skills (happened to me) The experience can actually save you life if happens again.

And ... if bike is totaled and insurance helps, you can get a new bike or better model, lol ...

 

[BKP]

First, glad to see you're OK. Could have been sooooo much worse.

Good on ya, for video taping your rides! Normally, rear end collisions are automatically the rear driver's fault.

*However* under extenuating circumstances, where the front driver's negligence or culpability can be demonstrated (as you can, with footage of illegal HOV access, and/or stopping for no reason after changing into a passing lane - and I didn't see a signal), You have a good shot.

Keep us updated... Good luck.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[MiltonDorkenhoff]

If any one watch this video carefully from the beginning, the limo driver intentionally cut across several lane on the the far right carpool lane (no toll but required a transponder) because he was in a rush to get a passenger(s) in SF, then he either realized that the regular toll lane on the left was not full, or he realized that he did not have a transponder and did not want to pay a fine (a hefty $480 ticket (21655.5 b vc) for driving in the carpool lane). So, he drove and cut back to the left trying to make an illegal cross to the toll lane without any signal either.

A couple of things - sorry about our accident, but glad you're ok.

You're ragging on the limo driver for not signaling, but as near as I can tell, you didn't signal either when you changed lanes at around 1 minute into the video (when you moved from behind the red car). A little before that, maybe 59 seconds, the limo had moved into the left lane as well. So he was in the left lane before you.

With respect to legality, BARF, etc. Maybe you should take the video down from YouTube until you know whether you were in the wrong or not. It's potentially pretty incriminating.

 

[Invader Jim]

Glad you were not seriously hurt. Your speedo shows 12 MPH in the frame just before impact. Your cruising speed was 55 - 60. If you had maybe one more car length of space you probably would have avoided the crash by coming to a complete stop.

One one hand you crashed, on the other hand you were braking hard and maintained control while doing it. Had you locked up the brakes you could have lost control at a high speed and been seriously injured. Had you swerved you could have possibly hit a different car. Hindsight is 20/20. Maybe you could have avoided it had you been more cautious, left more space, been riding a little slower, or swerved but I think you did well with a bad situation.

 

[jocampo]

4 second rule?

Teh,

Saw your video again, and no offense by this comment...

Were you following the 4 to 6 second distance rule? Like I said, I checked the video carefully, it looks like for being in a highway , you were driving too close? I count after the limo passed a fixed pointed, it looks to me you were 2 seconds behind, maybe?

Again, glad you are fine! But I usually leave 4 seconds distance, sometimes 6 when driving in a highway. Or change lanes if car in front of me is driving too slow.

 

[leem00]

The dreadful day finally came because I expected the norm and failed to foresee the unexpected
I'm sure most of you are experience rider and may be able to avoid this crash. May be some of you who has not yet been down can learn from my failure. Thanks to all for watching

First Crash Is The Hardest - SF Bay Bridge Toll Plaza February 6, 2013 - YouTube

It probably wouldn't hurt to talk to lawyers before you settle anything with insurance. I got hit in the eye with a pumpkin years back and my attorney (Tabor law) did right by me. They started as attorneys against truck drivers but have expanded their fields. You may want to check them out at

Tabor Law Firm Attorneys - Indianapolis, Indiana - Indiana Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers

Show the lawer the video too, it will probably help.

PM me and I will give you my name as a reference.

 

[Teh]

That SUCKS!!!! Sorry to see that. If you had a couple more seconds you may have been able to avoid him. I keep my distance in those cases, especially when people are driving a bit odd.

Thank you, nismos. I was not tailgating the car but when it slowed down to almost a stop unexpectedly. If I only had a few more seconds.

 

[Teh]

Thank you all for your kind comments and suggestions.

To FZ6R riders community,

As they said picture (in this case video) speaks a thousand words.

My intentions of sharing the video were for my friends and family to see exactly how it happened. So that we may learn from it, not meant to finger pointing at anyone. It was not my intention, if any of my analyses imply otherwise.

However, for now I will take the video down until its all settle and clear.

I'd like express my gratitude to everyone here - Thank you very much.

Teh

 

[Spunky99]

I'm pretty sure CA doesn't actually have a law that says that crossing a solid white line is illegal. Like the pirate's code - more of a guideline than an actual law. "Mr Roadshow" talked about it here.

It does seem to be a very grey area but my Dad got a ticket for crossing over one while entering a freeway once. Cop said to interpret a solid white line as a curb and not to jump it.

So that is a good point for Teh.....
The Limo driver was cheating the carpool/Express lane? Did he receive a citation?
The fact that he made a complete stop in a lane on the freeway makes him liable for the accident.
VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 22500-22526

 

[b_who]

Glad your ok man, scary to say the least.
how bad is the bike?

keep us posted on the outcome insurance wise, who the law says is at fault, and why!?
that info could serve as a good example.
atleast you got it all on video so there is no he said she said kind of crap going on.

 

[nismos14]

Although we have shorter stopping distances than in our cars, I keep a 5 second rule on the bike, and stick to 3 seconds in the car. There's so much more risk on the bike for very VERY bad things to happen versus in the car.

 

[buzzbomb]

The dreadful day finally came because I expected the norm and failed to foresee the unexpected
I'm sure most of you are experience rider and may be able to avoid this crash. May be some of you who has not yet been down can learn from my failure. Thanks to all for watching

First Crash Is The Hardest - SF Bay Bridge Toll Plaza February 6, 2013 - YouTube

It's those kind of videos that made me ATGATT. Cruising along, passing the slow vehicle, and BOOM! What the Hell was that guy doing, stopped in the passing lane? Doesn't matter as to the end result.

No way to see it coming. I've been riding since the mid 80's. By your video, that one would have likely got me. A vehicle stopped in the passing lane = boom, be it your or some other guy.

From reading previous posts, your OK. Thank God for that! Any updates? How are your doing, and what heck was that dude thinking?