Re: Crash Analysis: What did you learn?
Recap:
On an '85 Honda Shadow, I stopped at a flat four-way stop with obstructed views to the left and right. I rolled into the intersection to see what was going with the stop signs on the left and the right. Cars were there, getting ready to enter the intersection. I stopped. BANG! I got hit from behind by the Ford F-350 who said that his brakes failed (or he just didn't see the stop sign).
Because the bumper is high on the truck, it took my passenger seat and folded it up, acting like a bumper. I stayed on the bike and the bike stayed upright, attached to the truck's bumper. Threw out my bad shoulder and got whiplash, but the bike was totalled.
What I did right:
Entered the intersection cautiously, checked right and left, and was wearing all of my gear. Was in gear rather than neutral.
What I did wrong:
Didn't watch behind me, thinking that no one would run the stop sign.
Thoughts:
Had I been watching my mirrors, I could have gotten out of the way. I always think about a rear-end now, whether at a stop sign or a stop light. I try to position myself in a lane so that if I check my mirrors and someone looks like they are not going to stop, I can get out of it. I also try to find a position in stopped traffic where if the car behind me is rear-ended, he's not going to come right into me. I also always watch my mirrors at intersections and try to keep the bike in gear rather than neutral.
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