On my way to the garage for some fuel today I can across a tailback. I managed to use an adjoining car par to get to the garage. On the road opposite I spotted the problem. A rider was lying prostrate on the road attended to by a paramedic and two others. I immediately went over to see what I could do for the poor guy. The paramedic was doing his bit asking questions as were the two in assistance. They told me they were a doctor and a nurse and where at the scene at the time of the accident. The paramedic happened to be opposite in a car park.
He was in good hands so I decided to look after his bike. I told him I was a biker and would take care of it. He asked me to ring his dealer and it was the one I use – so that was easy I knew them well! I picked his bike up first and put it on its centre stand and surveyed the damage. It was a Triumph Sprint only 6 months old with superficial damage – plastic fairing scrapes and bent pegs. Rang my mate at the dealer and sorted a pick up (they will be with us in 30 mins.). Told the rider it was all taken care of.
Taking to some eye witnesses he just locked up and binned it doing less than 20 mph – no one else involved. Police arrived they took statements - I told them I was sorting the guys bike out and was going to wait with it to make sure it got to the dealers safe. Least I could do.
Went back to the rider to help lift him onto the stretcher and off he went into the back of the ambulance. Then it struck me – hey he was wearing full riding leathers, boots etc etc. He was only doing 20mph max and he didn’t look to be in a bad way. He was being told to lay still by the medics and he did as he was told. I heard him saying it is just my knee that is hurting – nothing else. I then peered into the back of the ambulance to see the guy being cut out of his leathers to reveal a slight graze on his knee. Man they were expensive leathers!!! Man that is a tiny graze.
Spoke to one of the cops – he said the driver will get a driver improvement notice (I don’t know what one of those things are but it doesn’t sound great). I pleaded with him to go easy on the fella in his report.
In short I think in a bizarre way he was in the wrong place to drop his bike. Now he has had the day written off, an improvement notice thingy sliced leathers not to mention the insurance paperwork.
Ok it could have been worse and thankfully it wasn’t but it could have been a whole lot better. The moral of the story is if you can move pick yourself up and get outta there double quick!!
Poor lad!
