First Motorcycle Accident

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Nice by design but the ADO16 line of models were probably the worst cars ever made. QA must have been an alien word with BMC.

- Knut
I was 16 sporting brand new drivers license. The MG being my moms car.
Front wheel drive and handled like a go-kart with a "big enough" back seat....what's a 16 year old not to like?;)
 
I had a Smart loan car a while ago, tiny two seater affair. I was quite impressed with it. That is until I parked near an original Mini. I paced out both cars and was amazed that it had taken Mercedes 60 odd years to ‘catch up’ with the bloody Mini! But even then their offering is a two seater vs the Minis four !
Your observation needs to take into account that average people size has increased considerably since the start of the 20th century. A man born in 1915 would be only 5 ft 5in (165 cm) on average, while a young man born in year 1980 would be 5 ft 10" (178 cm) on average at the turn of the century. With length goes also wider shoulder widths and bottoms ....

- Knut
 
Your observation needs to take into account that average people size has increased considerably since the start of the 20th century. A man born in 1915 would be only 5 ft 5in (165 cm) on average, while a young man born in year 1980 would be 5 ft 10" (178 cm) on average at the turn of the century. With length goes also wider shoulder widths and bottoms ....

- Knut
Something else.... 1930's driveways aren't much use for modern behemoths either :-(
 
I suspect the added width comes from doors that have to be thicker (?) to contain the side impact re-inforcement, plus airbags in the doors, plus window winding mechanisms, plus door locking mechanisms, plus HiFi speakers, armrests with storage recesses etc etc.

My 'new' car, being the (2015 reg) Mk4 of its type is noticeably wider than the (1999 reg) Mk1 of its type.
 
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I suspect the added width comes from doors that have to be thicker (?) to contain the side impact re-inforcement, plus airbags in the doors, plus window winding mechanisms, plus door locking mechanisms, plus HiFi speakers, armrests with storage recesses etc etc.

My 'new' car, being the (2015 reg) Mk4 of its type is noticeably wider than the (1999 reg) Mk1 of its type.

Are they frightened of being head butted by pedestrians?
 
Being a (ex) London-er, I can only think that anything is possible...
That's what the central locking is for :)
(I drove up Hackney High Street last week about 11pm.. Every pub/bar is like a cross between a circus and a zoo, punters in the road with total disregard for traffic...)
 
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That's what the central locking is for :)
(I drove up Hackney High Street last week about 11pm.. Every pub/bar is like a cross between a circus and a zoo, punters in the road with total disregard for traffic...)

Punter? I have an idea but need confirmation...
 
Not to make light of your situation..... I was hit by a car two years ago and launched through the air onto the pavement, and once I realized that I was alive my first thought was about the condition of my bike. Hope you get well soon!


First Motorcycle Accident
 
I had the same thoughts when I got swiped off my Trident ~20 years ago, is the petrol tank dented? will an accumulation of small damages constitute a write off? fortunately not as it happened. Also worked out that my appointment to get the cast off my foot was one morning, and the bike was ready for collection that afternoon. And it was the works xmas party that day, so I had the perfect excuse to avoid that!
 
So back to the original subject now that we have spun off on various tangents and aired our opinions on bicycles and their riders and small car design and what Britcrime shows are my faves
and blah , blah...
I went through my Commando over the past two days and today got back on it to test three things .
1 ) My head
2) My leg
3) My Commando
I am happy to report that all three seem to be in good working order ! Thanks all for the concern and advice.
I‘ll post as the insurance claim unfolds - it has only just begun..
Cheers - Richard
 
So back to the original subject now that we have spun off on various tangents and aired our opinions on bicycles and their riders and small car design and what Britcrime shows are my faves
and blah , blah...
I went through my Commando over the past two days and today got back on it to test three things .
1 ) My head
2) My leg
3) My Commando
I am happy to report that all three seem to be in good working order ! Thanks all for the concern and advice.
I‘ll post as the insurance claim unfolds - it has only just begun..
Cheers - Richard
Some would argue that our heads are not OK - we own Commandos.
 
So back to the original subject now that we have spun off on various tangents and aired our opinions on bicycles and their riders and small car design and what Britcrime shows are my faves
and blah , blah...
I went through my Commando over the past two days and today got back on it to test three things .
1 ) My head
2) My leg
3) My Commando
I am happy to report that all three seem to be in good working order ! Thanks all for the concern and advice.
I‘ll post as the insurance claim unfolds - it has only just begun..
Cheers - Richard

The upcoming insurance saga is something I would be very interested to hear...looking forward to your updates and thank you.
 
The upcoming insurance saga is something I would be very interested to hear...looking forward to your updates and thank you.

Me also.

Did an insurance adjuster come by before you started working on it?

Do keep track of the time you spend (spent) making it right @ $100/hr.

Get an attorney.

Best.
 
It may be time to update this a bit though still not resolved .
I elected to file my claim with the insurance company of the driver who hit me . After speaking with their agents - one for medical, one for vehicle damage , I did as requested.
The wonderful state of New Jersey is no fault regarding medical claims - your insurance pays medical bills UNLESS your vehicle coverage does not include medical, in which case it than defers to whatever medical plan you may have . In speaking with the agent of the driver who was at fault I was told to produce proof that my insurance did not include medical coverage , which I promptly did and they acknowledged receipt of it .
At the time of the accident I refused an ambulance ride to the ER as I was examined by the sole responder on the volunteer first aid squad - a wonderful woman about my age ( too old to be doing this
sh_t ) all four rigs were answering other calls at the same time .
I was fortunately ok other than swelling , bruising and road rash so why the hell would I tie up an ambulance when someone else might really need it .
A few days after the accident while changing the dressing on my wound my wife ( a medical professional) and I thought that it might be a good idea to have some of the dead peeled back skin removed so I called my GP . When they were told it was a motor vehicle accident I was informed that they don’t deal with that and to go to an urgent care facility or the ER .
I went to a local urgent care as advised . ( local is misleading - part of a chain based at the other end of the world- North Jersey )
When checking in I had to explain the circumstances of my injury and produce insurance info - motorcycle insurance ( no medical ) ,
medical insurance ( Medicare A & B AND Medicare supplemental plan) . At the time of my visit the police report was not available so I had no idea of who hit me or what insurance she had .
I was eventually led to an exam room and after a considerable time a woman ( nurse ? ) and a man in a lab coat came in and took some information. The man was introduced to me as “ Dr . so and so . “ My hearing is terrible so I couldn’t understand the name .
Dr. so & so asked what brought me in . I explained the accident and I said that I thought I might need the dead skin removed . “ we don’t do that here “ was his response. He then asked if I went to the ER and when I said no I got lectured on how foolish I was . While examining me I also got a lecture on how dangerous motorcycles are . He examined all my injuries including removing the dressing on my wound . Another woman came in who turned out to be an x - ray tech and l was led to the x- ray facilities where she took a number of x - rays as ordered by Dr. so and so . I asked the woman to repeat the name of the physician who examined me as my hearing is terrible. She replied “ Oh - he is a policeman with a number of degrees in this and that “ . My response was “ You mean he is not an MD ? “ No answer and promptly changed the subject . ( My wife later researched his name and it turns out he is a PhD and advanced nurse practitioner) While taking the x - rays she placed my still undressed wound on the table . I resisted and told her I was concerned because it was an open wound . Her response ? “ No worries - I am a type A personality and I clean everything “ .
Back in the exam room while waiting for the x-rays to be read by a radiologist Dr. ( is he a Dr . ??? ) said he looked at my x-rays and saw something he was concerned about . Turns out all was OK and so I was sent on my way . ( So Dr. or whatever you are - it seems I made the right choice about not tying up a rig , eh ? )
So now back to the insurance bit . I submitted my out of pocket costs again for antiseptic, bandages etc. to the medical adjuster . I also forwarded the contact info for the liable insurance company to the urgent care group in order that they get paid .
Some time later I was then told by the medical adjuster that I need to submit my bills to Medicare and my supplement plan and then they would be responsible for the balance . I did so and several weeks later I had no communication from the liable insurer or Medicare and so I reached out to the urgent care group and was told I had a zero balance - all had been paid by Medicare / supplement plan . I contacted the medical adjuster and told her my Medicare paid x and you now owe me y . She agreed And then told me they have to reimburse Medicare ! Why the f_ _ _ didn’t they just pay urgent care bill to begin with ? Unbelievable system we live with these days .
I am tired of typing and so I will update the vehicle damage claim saga in the next installment.
To be continued...
 
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Ahh... the joy's of the US system. Am so glad I am done with that.

Here, all accidents' medical claims, whether a fall from a ladder at home or a motorcycle crash or whatever, are covered by our national health system. Accidents fall under ACC (accident compensation corp - part of the govt) which is supported by taxes - either on Companies, income, or vehicle registration.

You fall off, got to the ER/Urgent Care/GP -- no worries. Visits, physio, drugs - all covered with no/nominal co-pay.
 
Sorry to here that Richard. Makes me realise how we take our National Health Service for granted here.
 
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