Got hit by a cager.

Allen van der Hoek /

Saturday (Sept 7) at approximately 6:30-6:50AM I was struck from behind in full daylight on a straight road. I was wearing a red jacket with reflective white stripes, a neon yellow visibility vest with reflective strips, and a glossy bright blue helmet. I was in the right lane(of two going my direction).

I was traveling at WOT, between 25-30mph, the driver said he was doing 55-60mph

When I stopped tumbling/sliding/rolling I was still on the right lane, my bike was behind me, the car in front. The driver had pulled off the road an was walking towards me.

When I yelled "Do you not have eyes?" The driver replied "Sorry man, I dozed off."

After crawling off the road and seating myself on the grass, I asked bystanders to remove my bike from the roadway.

Emergency services were called and were on site rapidly, several of the cops, both ambulance personnel, and a bystander were regular customers of mine at work. I was back boarded and taken to the hospital.

I have no broken bones or internal injuries. I have minor roadburn on my lower back, right wrist and left knee. I have severe roadburn on my left forearm,wrist and hand.

My clothing took the brunt of the damage, but my left sleeve rode up, exposing my arm.

My helmet was significantly scuffed,and the visor partially knocked off. The nature of the damage indicates I slid on my head. I can only imagine what would have happened without it.

I did not have an opportunity to fully assess the damage to either vehicle, however I did see that the frame of my rear wheel was severely bent, and the headlight had scuffing and deformation indicative of the bike sliding on the headlight with the rear wheel above and forward of the front.

A bystander stated the front of his car looked like he had hit a tree.

tl:dr

WEAR FULL FACE MOTORCYCLE HELMETS AT ALL TIMES.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Jack Rutherford /

Thank god you just have minor injuries after that. Amazing that the dude even stopped. I probably spend more time glancing at my rear view mirror than looking at what's in front of me after some chick in an SUV almost rear ended me at a red light because she was on her cell phone checking her bank balance or some shit.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Damn dude! Go buy a fucking lottery ticket cause you're lucky to be alive!

I hope the idiot admitted to police that he was impaired driving cuase it will help your battle with his insurance company.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

♣Slew Foot♣ /

good luck I hope he has insurance and it's only probably good 2 about 35 Grand in medical unless you have Collision your bikes probably a loss but if he has a good insurance company it should be about a week I would get it out of impound as fast as possible most municipalities have a deal with the m pounders if you contact them within 12 hours and get it release they can't charge you storage they could just charge you for the tow

Re: Got hit by a cager.

'Severe roadburn" Is not necessarily a minor injury. Its treated the same as the applicable 1st/2nd/3rd degree burns. My roadrash was the most painful part of my recovery. Given I was actually plowed into the road under a car, yours might not be as bad. Time to get a lawyer. Get your moped out of impound/tow-lot asap.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Hope u get better soon sorry to hear your story.

This is a main reason y I ride my bike as fast as possible to get away from stupid drivers I dont wear a helmet stupid I know but that's a risk we all take. I haven't been riding as much as I like to this season to much crap going on in my life.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I fell of my bike going 10_15mph when she wheelied on me. I rolled 2 to 3 times had no control of my body. I felt my helmet hit the ground. Thank God cause I too sometimes did not wear one . My shoulder hurt for a week. I drive extremely defensively and even though my moped can hit 70 it don't matter I get passed on 45mph roads. Thank God you made it out ok.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Totally normal JBOT /

I got hit recently as well.

Please look for this moronic car action

Veer right , then hard left.

Motherfuckers do this in the middle of the street before they flip a u turn. If you get caught on the left of the car you're done.

If youre behind a car, and you think they're veering right to park, don't believe that. Watch hard and hang back. I luckily escaped with very few injuries but it was a serious wake up call.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

damn dude. crazy. iam glad you made it out alright. hope you get your bike back soon and start doing your research so this fucker and his insurance pay for it. (edited)

Re: Got hit by a cager.

God damn dude. Glad you're alright.

Since I got my bike, people seem to think my full face helmet is overkill but, fuck, cars will hit you at the same speed no matter if you're on a moped or a liter sport bike.

Hope your recovery isn't too bad and his insurance pays up.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I'm glad you're basically ok and that the asshole stopped. Over here they don't. Really get yourself checked out well. I ended up with neck problems for decades (seriously). Got rear-ended by a drunk in a Caddie who rammed me into the car in front of me at a stop sign.

Heal up soon, get a new helmet and go after the idiot's insurance. Good luck.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Get some X-Rays and a good lawyer. You may find you did more damage than you thought. Get your neck and back checked well. Some of the damage may not show up as symptoms till months later. Do NOT be quick to settle on your Medical. Don't take the offer for a payoff. I work in the insurance industry and I speak from experience, both professional and personal.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I'm very glad you are ok.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Quote TomosA35: `

This is a main reason y I ride my bike as fast as possible to get away from stupid drivers I dont wear a helmet stupid I know but that's a risk we all take.'

NO! It's NOT a risk we all take...…......start wearing the brain bucket! C'mon,Man!

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Extremely good news you are in one piece, bonus is the damage to you is minor. Minor road burn can become very uncomfortable, deeper road burn you need to be careful you do not get a infection, it can get nasty.

I hope you take that into account when seeking damages, as well as the cost of clothing (even if it broke a shoelace charge that) replacing your helmet (involved in an incident, get it replaced) and all of the damages to the cycle including touching up paint or replacing the lens or whatever... make sure it costs the driver every penny of expense (also check into pain & suffering to make you whole)

Sucks that we have to ride like there is a bounty on our heads and every other motorist is trying to collect on us - dead or alive...

Re: Got hit by a cager.

WOW -no helmet - that is ignorant.

Not a excuse that "it is your life" because it is your family and your friends who will have to spoon feed you and change your shitty diapers if you crack your dang skull and are not fortunate enough to not get hurt or be killed outright.

> Tomos A35 Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Hope u get better soon sorry to hear your story.

>

> This is a main reason y I ride my bike as fast as possible to get away

> from stupid drivers I dont wear a helmet stupid I know but that's a risk

> we all take. I haven't been riding as much as I like to this season to

> much crap going on in my life.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I remember getting hit by a car in 1995 riding my old Magnum. I had a helmet on and the bike and I took flight and my head ended up landing on top of the back tire. The lady who hit me had good insurance and I got a $12,000 payout after medical expenses. I ended up with 1 broken toe (my shoes came off) and a concussion. Helmet saved my ass for sure

Re: Got hit by a cager.

> Jack Rutherford Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Thank god you just have minor injuries after that. Amazing that the

> dude even stopped. I probably spend more time glancing at my rear view

> mirror than looking at what's in front of me after some chick in an SUV

> almost rear ended me at a red light because she was on her cell phone

> checking her bank balance or some shit.

^ This!

Put a mirror on each side and USE them often. Ya ever get that cold shudder that passes thru you when a car you didn't know was coming up on you BLASTS by you?

Allen, I'm glad you survived and I hope yer pain and road rash isn't too bad.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

♣Slew Foot♣ /

I always have an under bar mirror and then I always look behind me I usually at least have a half shell

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I kinda like the upright mirrors better since they reflect back into the oncoming cagers eyes day and night. Main thing is getting in the habit of using them every 10 seconds or more,depending on traffic.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Funny how folks on bikes call people in cars "cagers" (as a derogatory term) , specially the ones who also travel by car (or the seasonal cagers who do not ride in the winter and get around in cars for the entire season)...

...just saying...

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Probably Fred /

So happy you survived! get an attorney and make an example of this person,

We all have to share the roadways,

But Last week and today I went to a suburb on westside of Cleveland and went through some west Cleveland streets, saw several little electric stand up scooters going every which way on streets and sidewalks,

Some just laying right on the sidewalk or on tree lawn because when you’re done with it you just leave it lay there on the ground supposedly for the next person to pick it up and use it, Great! more things to watch out for,

Last year the one Company that had these the pay by minute scooters were banned and there was several accidents, one fatal the first week and the scooters went away but now Four companies have been approved for these scooters So money must’ve changed/went into politicians hands, pretty soon these pay by minute electric scooter things are going to be everywhere!

These things cause accidents galore and 48% of the accidents are alcohol related,

Be wary out there and wear extra gear!

Re: Got hit by a cager.

> Rebel Moby Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Funny how folks on bikes call people in cars "cagers" (as a derogatory

> term) , specially the ones who also travel by car (or the seasonal

> cagers who do not ride in the winter and get around in cars for the

> entire season)...

>

> ...just saying...

The term `cager' seems to be generally directed at the typical inattentive driver(zombie type) who drives without watching out for 2-wheeled vehicles which have the same roadway rights as he/she does, and respects no MC or mopeds place on the road.

I wouldn't call a moped rider a cager, because of the respect they show 2-wheelers when THEY are driving the car.

But,good point to ponder,Rebel.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Allen van der Hoek /

> Lee Snover Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Get some X-Rays and a good lawyer. You may find you did more damage

> than you thought. Get your neck and back checked well. Some of the

> damage may not show up as symptoms till months later. Do NOT be quick

> to settle on your Medical. Don't take the offer for a payoff. I work

> in the insurance industry and I speak from experience, both professional

> and personal.

I was fully examined at the hospital, X-rays, cat scan, whole shebang, only after they were satisfied that my head and spine were intact did they un restrain me.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

> live ɘvil Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> I hope the idiot admitted to police that he was impaired driving cuase

> it will help your battle with his insurance company.

After thinking about this^ you need to go get a copy of the police report to see exactly what the other driver "reported" to the police. Mutha Fockers will lie like a...

Re: Got hit by a cager.

I have life insurance I'm covered ignorant of me yes but like I said I haven't been on my bike alot this season. Most of the time I do ride just around the area where I live.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Jack Rutherford /

Keep a diary (daily) of the pain you have, difficulties doing common everyday things, any pain relievers or other medications you are taking, any out of pocket expenses you now have as a result of the accident, and any other way your injuries affect you. I'm serious - do this.

Get checked out by a doctor if you haven't already. There are some attorneys who specialize in bicycle accidents and you may want to find one of those. Your attorney will thank you for keeping the diary above because if it ever goes to litigation (which will be some time in the future), you will forget all the little things you have to deal with now on a daily, hourly or more often basis. But if you have a diary, you can refresh your memory real fast. Plus that diary may result in a larger settlement to you.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

> Tomos A35 Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> I have life insurance I'm covered ignorant of me yes but like I said I

> haven't been on my bike alot this season. Most of the time I do ride

> just around the area where I live.

Still, it takes 5 seconds to put a brain bucket on...………...like Rebel says,why take a chance on burdening everyone else with your stubborn refusal to wear it. Short rides or long, your head hits the curb or guardrail or pavement even at slow speed, you're possibly gonna die.

Re: Got hit by a cager.

Sorry this happened, but glad you're still mostly in one piece and healing up. Lots of good advice here. Mopeds (or anything with two wheels) will never be a very "safe" way to get around, especially when we share the roadways with so many below average drivers. That's partly why we love it so much, danger does have it's seductive side. That said, anything you can do with equipment or riding style to stack the odds in your favor is a plus. Get Well Soon!!!

Re: Got hit by a cager.

♣Slew Foot♣ /

Just a side note a helmet is not a magic device that stops you from dying it just keeps you a pretty corpse if it's bad enough accident it's a bad enough accident Helmet or not

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