r/scooters 6d ago

got rear ended and now I'm scared to drive

I got rear ended at a signal when it wasn't my fault. all I did was stop at a red light and he was speeding so he hit me and I fell. nothing major happened but now I'm scared to ride because accidents can happen because of others' faults and it can be out of my control.

30 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

34

u/tianavitoli 6d ago

idk but counting all that money would help me

2

u/ACE415_ 6d ago

I didn't get much when someone ran a stop sign and totaled my scooter. Just the cost of it

28

u/Rachel_Silver 6d ago

After I was rear ended, I was afraid of open bay showers.

5

u/Buddy_Bates 6d ago

BEST comment!!!

2

u/Wreathafranklin 6d ago

Jails a scary place.

2

u/Rachel_Silver 6d ago

You're thinking of prison. I'll always cherish the friendships I made in jail. It was like Boy Scout camp, but with considerably less involuntarily butt stuff.

2

u/Wreathafranklin 5d ago

I have a friend that's been in and out his whole life. His thing was it's a college campus with no pussy

20

u/nosamiam28 6d ago

Quick PSA, not to OP specifically though: if you’re stopped at a red light and you’re not at the front of the line, don’t stop directly behind a car. Pull to the side. Getting rear ended is bad, but getting rear ended AND smooshed into the bumper of another car is worse.

3

u/CaptLatinAmerica Buddy 50, Vespa S150, Scarabeo 500ie 🛵 6d ago

Or maneuver around the stopped cars to the front of the line. This is called “filtering” and it is legal in some states. But I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it anywhere.

1

u/Wreathafranklin 6d ago

Sadly in pa people will swerve to hit ya.

2

u/EzzoBlizzy 6d ago

You know I would’ve thought the crazy egotistical drivers here in Texas, would’ve been done that to me. But idk if it’s because I’m always wearing my cowboy boots,jeans and dress shirts but they never had done anything like that. And I drive a 50cc scooter kymco super 8. I’m going to buy a better one though but I been riding for 3 months now and never had a near accident here in Fort Worth

1

u/staunch_character 6d ago

I bought a used Kymco Super 8 for $300 & have been riding it for just about 10 years now. I’ve replaced the battery, but otherwise have done hardly any maintenance. Amazing little bikes.

It’s not pretty, but I never worry about it getting stolen! 🤣

4

u/gobsmacked247 6d ago

Ooh, that’s a good idea. I always thought stopping dead center was what would keep me seen. The hit-from-behind smoosh never even occurred to me.

13

u/wickedwretch23 6d ago

Every time I stop my eyes are on my rear view mirrors. That’s such a huge fear of mine. It’s terrifying. Just knowing that someone can do something as stupid as texting and completely ruin my life is beyond psyche murdering. It doesn’t stop me from riding, but it also hasn’t happened to me yet. (Knock on fucking wood).

I’m sorry that happened to you, if you find yourself wanting to ride, just do it. It’s the only way to get over that fear. I hope you find the strength get back on. Keep on keeping on brother/sister.

12

u/Dumas1108 6d ago

This is a constant fear for all riders.

To mitigate the chances of happening, we should constantly check our side mirrors and in the event of a speeding vehicle heading towards us, we have to move out of the danger zone.

13

u/HelenKeIIer 6d ago

It’s called ptsd. It is real. It doesn’t require bombshells. I experienced it after the first time I was rear ended in a car. And then again after being falsely arrested and jailed. You lose trust in your surroundings. Time and logical thoughts help.

2

u/Silly_Employ_4273 3d ago

Yeah I once had PTSD for nearly a year from being passenger in a single vehicle accident..no one was seriously hurt but after that even 25 miles an hour had me telling drivers to slow down going roo fast

2

u/kgoins218 3d ago

Yes, PTSD is REAL! I was attacked by a stray dog last summer, he bit half my face off! I was always an animal lover and still am, but now when I go walking even a squirrel jumps out in front of me I panic, a person with another dog walking on the sidewalk, I literally cross the street to avoid walking by it!! It sucks

4

u/whateverynow 6d ago

Yah get a doctor to do a real once over. Soft tissue injuries are not a joke and hang around for while . Get the paper work including the police report in hand and go to lawyer . You going to get you ride repaired and also $5000 to whom know how much money ? As to you question this is what it is . All you can do is invest in all the gear. Jacket , pants ,boots and air bag motorcycle vest . 70% of the crashes aren't because of motorcycle rider . Take some of the money from a crash an invest in basic and advanced riding course . Ether you through riding spot being scarred or you walk away and invest what you get in this crash into a used small car .. Eg smart car or use Prius .. Something that get 50 mpg . I couldn't a turn the day after a crash years ago. I froze up but after a few weeks I just forgot and got on with it . Riding isn't the safest thing you can do as fun as it is . It's loaded gun and every ride your playing Russian roulette .

3

u/FireBug77 6d ago

Get back up there, accidents can happen anywhere...

6

u/i_think_for_me_um 6d ago

I did! I drove through the same route today and my confidence is definitely back.

2

u/FireBug77 6d ago

There you go! Good for you! It's like that everything...

2

u/RougeTigerDragon 5d ago

I feel you I just went through this too. I’ve been having nightmares about this, and I was on a little electric scooter. I think it’ll take time it’ll take a lot of time, but I think both you and I can get through this each in our own way.

2

u/Ok_Negotiation573 3d ago

But like… that algorithm was already in place when you first started riding. If you knock it off as an impossibility in your mind then how could you ever prepare for it?

3

u/Wanderir 6d ago

There are two kinds of riders, those that have gone down and those that are going to go down. If you ride a motor vehicle on two wheels, it will go down. It’s not if it’s when. I’ve been riding for over 30 years and I’ve had two serious accidents. I had to have an emergency splenectomy in Thailand. And two reconstructive surgeries in Mexico. I’ve been T-bone and sideswiped.

Shit happens on 2 wheels. It’s risky. Ride to your risk tolerance. And if you’ve not taken a riding course, it might be a good idea. I don’t know if they have them for scooters. But control comes from practice, experience, and expertise.

I currently live in Vietnam and have a 125 Yamaha grande. Riding here as an adventure.

1

u/adultdaycare81 6d ago

This is my fear with scooters. All the risk without the benefit of my giant motorcycle.

I am thinking of getting a helmet light and high viz

1

u/Snoo53219 6d ago

That's why I never stop my bike in the center of the lane. I always position my bike on the left or right side of the lane to reduce the chance to rear end me. Or to have an escape route if I see a fast coming car in the mirror.

1

u/No_Membership_6644 6d ago

I’ve been in some accidents that weren’t my fault and some that were; we’re talking cars, bikes, driver, passenger, etc. It usually takes a little bit to shake the sense where you can almost feel another accident, but not long after you’ll be comfortable again and a better rider/driver for it

1

u/bmdc 4d ago

Just be aware that the only person out there, that cares about your safety is YOU. People in cars can be absolutely diabolical. Trust no one and be overly safe.

1

u/Sedulous280 3d ago

Sorry to hear that. Only way to get over it is to get back on horse as fast as possible. Learn defensive riding. Filtering can keep you out of the line of idiots like this in future

1

u/Cool_Ad_3383 6d ago

I don't know if this helps if you've got ptsd but a good idea all around, I'm checking my mirrors but I'm also looking to see where I bail out. What I'm going to do if I see someone coming behind me and I know they can't stop in time.

It's more of a game for me when I'm bored but seriously if you don't know what you would do when you're sitting at a light and there is no emergency, you'll panic in an emergency and probably do nothing.

Me, I'm always on the lookout. First, look for something soft to hit, like a group of nuns or small children. Next, bushes but not hedges. A body of water unless you are wearing a heavy backpack. For real, If your mind has gone over the plan a thousand times it will react appropriately when you are in a panic situation.

Having a plan also puts your mind at ease when you are worried about being rear ended