In light of all the rampant foreign driver stuff, let’s see who’s been in accidents… both here n back home. I’ve had my fair share. How’d it happen and what was the damage? Whose fault?
#1. Australia. Turned right at a green arrow, then ran straight through the red circle. 130am, didn’t realise it was two intersections, to which the cops told me it’s a common accident spot there. Anyways, got hit by the ONLY other car on the road, a big 4x4 driven by an under-the-influence hick. He got done for drinking, and me for running a red. My own fault though, as I shouldn’t have run the red - even if by accident. Damage - car flipped upside down after hitting the median strip. Totalled. Pissed off father as we’d just got the last oil leaks out a week ago. Glass from window got into arm and shaved the bone, so two nice scars there now from the operations to get the glass out. Ruined trenchcoat.
#2. Australia. Taking a right hander, about 5 over the limit. Parked car on the side of the road decided to pull out without looking. Dent in the door. Old dude paid as it was his fault.
#3. The big intersection between Yi-zhong st. and Taichung Metro Park. Went to take off with the other scooters at the green when an old guy came barreling through the just-red. Ok. Slow down, let him pass. Big mistake. Other scooters just kept going and the old dude swerved to avoid them by going behind them. Right into me. His fault, but I couldn’t claim as I had no licence at the time (was booked to do the test three days later). Scratched knee and new fairings for the scoot needed.
#4. The infamous 136, on the way back to Taichung. On the scooter chasing down an unplated VFR400 (VFR? was a 400cc, sports fairings). Tire pressure was too low and I came around a hairpin and over a bump. Back end lost it and I highsided. Only doing about 40, I’d say, but still ended up with a broken collarbone. Scoot was fine apart from scratched up fairings and a broken mirror. My fault.
#5. Was turning right at an intersection, when the bike I was supposed to go behind decided to stop in the ‘waiting box’, to make an illegal left hand turn. In other words, instead of going across to the other box and making a hook turn, he stopped in the box in the lane we were in. Was an old guy so I locked up the brakes and slid the bike rather than crash into him. He didn’t care and just made his illegal turn anyway. His fault.
#6. Turning left at a T intersection right outside the missus’ cousins’ house. Woman ran straight through the red and my attempt to scurry out of the way failed and she clipped my tail. Called the cops and she ended up having her insurance fork over about 30,000 to fix my bike. Brand new shoes ruined. Her fault.
#7. Riding a friend’s bike. Unplated Honda X4. Through the car park/new road area where we had held our training session that time. Came up over a ridge to find that the road on the other side hadn’t been made yet. Dropped the bike, though I think I could’ve survived had I been on my own bike. 21,000NT worth to fix the bike and left thumb’s metacarpal shattered into four pieces. Was wearing pants, boots and helmet - but had left my jacket and gloves with the others. My fault for not checking out the road first.
#8. Was slowing down for a red when the light turned green. So I went. Car going the other way turned left in front of me and I ended up T-boning him. Front end of the scoot ruined and had to take him to small claims with a police report to get the cash from him. His fault.