couple notes on my crash

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by unhinged

It's a divided road with three lanes per side plus turning lanes. The filtering was moving up to a red light between cars in the #1 and #2 lanes at the last intersection. The crash was at the next road with no light, but a break in the center divider.

I see. So you filtered up to the front of traffic in lanes 1-2 at a stop light. And then took off from there in effect by yourself when the two cars made their left in front of you?

If that’s the case, one possibility is that they misjudged your speed and distance away, particularly the second one. There are posts elsewhere about how and why this can happen - has to do with combination of a small frontal cross section a m/c presents, the single (or closely-spaced) headlight, which makes it hard to gauge size/distance away, and the much quicker acceleration resulting in a faster-than-expected rate of closure than what a car would present.

Not saying any of this applies to your crash, but it’s one possibility that comes to mind.

Regarding your injuries, or lack thereof, your helmet should tell some of the story about your head hit. The fact that you didn’t break any bones, especially no ribs, means you likely didn’t fly very high through the air. Other drivers nearby might be able to verify that if it’s something you’re trying to figure out.

[afm199]

Regardless of how you feel, assume that you may have soft tissue injuries in your neck. They are real, and they can take months or years to get better. I had a crash I ignored that damaged my neck permanently. Get xrays and scans. Seriously.

[Sean D]

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

Second, kudos to you for calling it what it is: a crash! That means you accept your part in the thing happening, and you (hopefully) understand why calling it an accident is not helpful.

I know there has been a big push from insurers and others in recent years to change this terminology, but like many politically correct terms its intentions are good but doesn't actually change anything.

The word accident doesn't mean "no contribution or fault to the situation", it means, "something that happens unexpectedly or unintentionally that may result in damage or injury". That definition doesn't mean that no one was to blame, nor does the term crash mean that someone was to blame.

So why do we need to stop using the term accident when the term accident simply means it wasn't intentional? I'm also fine with the term crash but those who are trying to eliminate the term are overplaying their hand, and I think that energy would be better spent on changing people's habits rather than policing vocabulary.

OP: Glad you're okay! And thanks for sharing your story & analysis. I need regular reminders to stay careful and aware and I appreciate you sharing.

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by Sean D

I think that energy would be better spent on changing people's habits rather than policing vocabulary.

Habits come from attitude. Attitude comes from thought. Changing terminology is not aimed at being PC, legally conforming, or anything else. It's simply another way to help one develop and maintain the right attitude.

Accidents fall into the realm of "sh*t happens". If I ride and think about my ride that way, it means I'm at least partially subscribing to way of thinking that allows for that possibility - for sh*t to happen, "because, you know, accidents happen - wasn't my fault."

Crashing only happens when I screw up. Saying, "I crashed" leads inevitably to "what did I do wrong?"

I have a buddy who accidented several years ago - watched it happen in my rearview mirror. He continues to claim to this day that it was because he had a new rear tire on his bike and it skidded out on him. I saw what happened - and that wasn't it. But he feels better about attributing his crash to an equipment-based issue, rather than accepting responsibility for getting into a corner over his head.

You can call it anything you want. I'm all about "right thinking" to help me get to "right riding".

If you'd like to continue this discussion, rather than threadjack here might be better to continue on a thread I started about this four or five years ago over here: https://m.bayarearidersforum.com/for...d.php?t=497507

[erensi]

Originally Posted by unhinged

I recently had my first moto crash. I somehow escaped any serious injury after broadsiding a car and flying ~50-100 feet.

Crashing sucks. I'm glad you're ok.