Is there a way to remember pedal, crank position before taking sharp turns I had a nasty tumble yesterday when doing a sharp right turn into a side road. 
A car was giving way to me at the junction. 

I turned right and I was basically thrown of my bike. flipped onto my left side ending up on my back. 
It was so quick a violent I can't say for sure what happened. 

The only thing I can think what caused it was my right pedal may have been in the down (6 o'clock) position. 

These things must have been natural when I was younger, as I've never had a incident like this before.
Outside pedal down and your weight on the outside foot, that 's how we were taught at the cycling school of the cycling club. You may angle the inside leg more or less away from the bike if you want to turn faster (cf. moto GP racers).