Accidents
No matter how hard you
work at your riding, no matter how hard you concentrate, you are still a road
user and by virtue of the fact, you may have an accident one day. There are
some simple steps you can take to ensure that, if you do have an accident you
will protect your interests.
First your
protection. By definition an accident scene is a dangerous location! The most
important person in the world is you, therefore protect yourself by protecting
the scene. This can be by directing someone else to warn the approaching
traffic, or by using what ever comes to hand to provide some early warning.
Remember that the longer drivers have you in view then the less likely
emergency action will be required by them. If you have lost control on a bend
you have just found the exact location that people end up in when they have
lost control. Don't worry about congested traffic, leave everything where it
is, the more congested then the slower the traffic will be going past you. Your
bike with headlight on parked facing the oncoming traffic is a good way of
warning the traffic, if some elses car is available use it (think of it as an
expensive road cone!). Ensure if you are in the road that you are wearing
something that a myopic driver will see.
Once the scene is secure then think of the casualties. Assess what assistance
you need numbers and severity of casualties. But most important of all where
are you! It sounds daft but under pressure people forget where they are, which
towns they are between or which Motorway they are on. If you are not local ask
some one who is, to summon the ambulance. First aid is a subject in itself, now
is the time when you regret not learning more.
Once the dust has settled its time to think about the law. There
are certain things which you MUST do when involved in an accident. You must
stop. How long for? Well, this is where it gets a bit like estimating the
length of a piece of string. You are obliged to stop long enough for any
interested parties to take your name, index number, the name and address of the
owner of the bike and insurance details. If you have an accident and don't give
any of the above you must report to the Police as soon as possible, and in any
case within 24 hrs
The importance of making
notes at the time cannot be over estimated. Let's take the usual scenario. You
approach a junction and a car pulls out on you forcing you to drop the bike.
Your first thought must be, "why the hell didn't I remember what those
wonderful chaps at Rapid Training told me about the safety position."
Here are some very important points:
Exact location.
If you don't know where you are, then ask somebody.
If you've got a map, then note the location. If you are out on a day run in the
middle of nowhere there is a good chance that you won't be back this way for a
long time, especially if the bike is in a heap on the verge.
Time and
date. Details of the other vehicle and driver. If he/she admits liability,
make a record of what is said, word for word. That counts for a lot. The damage
to the other vehicle. Even if you didn't hit him, he may use your accident to
get some old damage fixed.
Witnesses.
A good witness is worth
their weight in gold. If the accident is indeed the other driver's fault, get
the witness details and be nice to them. If the unmentionable occurs and the
accident is your fault, wave the witnesses on as quickly as possible before the
other driver gets a chance to get their names and addresses!!!
Marks on
the road.
These are very important. They show all sorts about the
accident. If the road surface is in some way defective, record the fact. Pace
out the lengths of any tyre marks or scratches.
Photographs.
Once again, a simple thing like a few snaps of the scene and the damage to the
vehicles is worth a great deal. If the old idiot in the cloth cap has indeed
pulled out of you from a junction, then simply take a picture of what he would
have seen as he emerged. If there are road signs which he has ignored then lets
have a picture. Likewise, if there are signs which are obscured by hedgerows
then we need to have that recorded.
Groups.
If you are a Rapid
'graduate' then there is a good chance that you may be riding as a group on a
day out, or "jolly" to use the full technical term. If one of the team falls
off then make sure that one of the group takes the initiative and looks after
the evidence gathering process. If the Police attend and its your fault then be
careful what you say. Don't be rude but you shouldn't make statements when you
are shocked. Seek some advice as soon as possible. Remember the Rapid Training
Helpline 01296 715904 Now this may get a bit deep but bear with me its prove
anything time!
If you were to believe the press over the last year
or two, then riding a motorcycle is as dangerous as juggling Roman Candles
in a gunpowder factory. Yet intelligent people still buy and ride motorcycles
despite the life expectancy of a mayfly! Well I have yet to see the
press or TV run a story with a happy ending if they don't have to. So
is at bad as that? Well yes and No but mainly NO. Yes of course bikes
are dangerous but that is part of the appeal, do you see a sudden rise
in the popularity of crochet or flower arranging? Fun! Yes that word
that given the chance the powers that be would ban. Bikes are fun! There
I have said it and the sky hasn't crashed down on me. We are into fun
big style but we also want to live long and prosper, so reducing our
risk while increasing the fun factor is the name of our game.
