This time it was all my fault.

Was riding to work about two weeks ago and was not even a mile from home. There are two turn left-turn lanes on the street I was on turning into a four lane avenue. The freeway north bound on-ramp is about 100 yards from the intersection on the right, at a light, and the south bound on ramp is about 100 yards past that on the left.

There was a large truck in the right most left-turn lane and the left most left-turn lane had a slightly shorter line so I got into the left most lane. Mistake number one. The truck winds up not moving that slowly and I would still be stuck behind it but I did barely make the light. As I got into the left most lane of the four lane avenue I looked over my right shoulder to see if the lane was clear and to start making my way over. The far right lane was a must turn right lane going onto the freeway so most of the right lane traffic goes there. The next lane to the left is a right lane may turn right lane onto the freeway so you don't have to get all the way over to the right to get onto the freeway...this is the lane I was going to shoot for but there was one lane between me and that one.

The car behind me, rather than turning into the left lane as one should and as I had done got into the lane to my right instead. I was concerned that he would not see me coming over and accelerate to try and get ahead of a car in the lane to his right as he had the same plan that I had. Once I made sure he wasn't going to run me over if I changed lanes, I began to make my lane change.

That's when I hit the minivan that had come to a complete stop in front of me. Normally these lights are timed where the traffic coming from the left turn lanes I was in have a clear road ahead of them but today either traffic was much heavier or the timing had been changed because this section of road never backs up that way. I've been commuting this route for three years now and this is the first time I've seen it this way. Luckily I was to the right of the van and made contact with the right rear corner rather than hitting it head on. The glancing blow still sent me up and over the bars and into the street. I remember the launch I do not remember the landing as I probably recieved a slight concussion.

Mental note, turn from the right lane next time and don't look over my shoulder that long when making a lane change...keep looking back and front if I must.

I am now at home with a broken left leg and a broken right shoulder blade. The leg is the worst. I underwent surgery the day of the accident and the doctor said my tibia was shattered. He had to choose whether to remove the pieces that had completely broken of, put in a metal rod, and then push the remaining bone together to heal effectively shortening my left leg about 2 cm or to put the metal rod in, put the pieces back in place as best as he could, let them try to heal, and have my leg be the same length. Thankfully he chose the latter. Says I may be off work for about three months. The right arm is in a sling to immobilize the shoulder blade and let it heal on it's own. Hopfully it should heal quickly and I may be good to go with that next Thursday.

Overall I am pretty lucky. This could have been much worse. Insurance is taking care of the bike and it won't be totaled though it did get a lot of damage. The strike on the left side threw it on to the right side so both sides of the bike have damage. Good news is while they have it apart I'm getting my tripple trees powder coated black. That was one of the last things I wanted done to the bike so now that's going to get done. My only concern is them matching the orange paint as I have heard HD had isssues matching the Sedona Orange paint...hopefully that will be taken care of.

So yea, that's my boneheaded move for the year, I hope. Gear is ruined but the jacket worked again...this was the same jacket I had on when I had my first accident and had armor in the shoulders and elbows...wish it had it in the back as my shoulder blade may have been spared if it had but still, it did it's job...again. You may say what you will about HD products but this jacket rocked and did it's job perfectly.

Tell you though, miss it so much already I had a dream the other night that while my leg was still broken, I had my bike back and was riding it. This isn't going to keep me off the bike either. Just need to stop this Superman fascination I seem to have...

 

wow, another close to home accident. sorry to hear of your plight. wishes for a quick and complete recovery.

 

hi,

yeah all the best brother
thanks
mirrmu

 

Glad that all is going okay. But! Stop doing that! Next time who knows.

 

Was it off of Winchester? I ride to Temecula for work every day. Been doing it for 7 years now. Winchester can get crazy dude. Good thing you are okay.

 

No, Rancho Cal. I know how nuts Winchester can be. With three turn lanes off Ynez it can be crazy.

And yea, I'm going to try and make this my last one. Gettin' a little old...

 

Well, the bike can be fixed and your leg is still attached. Rancho ca can get crazy. Temecula as a whole is so much busier then when I first moved up there from SD almost 20 years ago.

I'm in town man - let me know if you need anything while you're immobilized. Seriously.

 

Thanks for sharing your story. Very big of you to admit fault. Good luck healing and I hope you can ride again soon!

 

Could have been a lot worse, hope you heal up well and get back out there.

 

Thanks man. Appreciate it but I'm in good company. When I get back together, and the bike does too, we'll have to go for a ride.