Hit and Run

[nightrider]

Twice in one week. Once while parked, and today:

was crossing 3rd street on Wilton at about 35 mph. Car was blocking view in turn lane so I swung wide to the right and angled in as I crossed the intersection.

Blue Ford coupe flew right into me from the left. I gripped brake and braced for it... thought I'd at least fly over the bars.

Hit me T-bone style on the left, shoving bike over a few inches, but I stayed upright. Rolled a few more feet to cross intersection. Expected other car to pull over.

Squeal of tires and other car took off behind me and to my right.

Pulled a U Turn and crossed the now-red light to chase.

Car was way ahead, pulled right into first side street.

I followed

As I made the right turn I saw its next turn, left

Turned left

Car pulled over.

Armenian or Bulgarian type woman in her 50s. Extremely deferential and apologetic. She "got a coll on the phone" thats why she hit me, she doesn't know why she ran, etc.

I was almost ready to let it go... but she focking hit and ran.

Got her number and plate.

Told her I'd talk to her about it tomorrow.

Later I called her and got her insurance and DL#. She wanted to negotiate, didn't want to give me her info. "Coll me. We can talk."

Sheesh!

Dunno what to do yet. Will call her tomorrow.

Her bumper hit my footpegs, which saved my left leg from being smashed against the frame.

Likely will ask for parts costs, which aren't that much, but the fact that she hit and run is a no-no. Makes me more inclined to file a police report and let it go to insurance, where technically the entire frame has been compromised due to bending the footpeg.

Any advice? What would you do?

[oobyscoot]

Put in the claim. Not sure how it works over the big pond, but over here, you can load on the claim, get the bike written off and get the cash for it, then keep the bike and put it back on the road.

Done this twice now, worth a few hundred quid. But as I said, dont know how it works where you are, but I would have thought some money making potential is there.

[yamahonkawazuki]

Twice in one week. Once while parked, and today:

was crossing 3rd street on Wilton at about 35 mph. Car was blocking view in turn lane so I swung wide to the right and angled in as I crossed the intersection.

Blue Ford coupe flew right into me from the left. I gripped brake and braced for it... thought I'd at least fly over the bars.

Hit me T-bone style on the left, shoving bike over a few inches, but I stayed upright. Rolled a few more feet to cross intersection. Expected other car to pull over.

Squeal of tires and other car took off behind me and to my right.

Pulled a U Turn and crossed the now-red light to chase.

Car was way ahead, pulled right into first side street.

I followed

As I made the right turn I saw its next turn, left

Turned left

Car pulled over.

Armenian or Bulgarian type woman in her 50s. Extremely deferential and apologetic. She "got a coll on the phone" thats why she hit me, she doesn't know why she ran, etc.

I was almost ready to let it go... but she focking hit and ran.

Got her number and plate.

Told her I'd talk to her about it tomorrow.

Later I called her and got her insurance and DL#. She wanted to negotiate, didn't want to give me her info. "Coll me. We can talk."

Sheesh!

Dunno what to do yet. Will call her tomorrow.

Her bumper hit my footpegs, which saved my left leg from being smashed against the frame.

Likely will ask for parts costs, which aren't that much, but the fact that she hit and run is a no-no. Makes me more inclined to file a police report and let it go to insurance, where technically the entire frame has been compromised due to bending the footpeg.

Any advice? What would you do?

get a f%$king ploce report NOW seriously

[JohNLA]

That is some crazy 
To many people run from motorcycle accidents
It happen to me to
Yes, bent foot peg frame connection is enough for insurance to call it totaled.

[spc]

get a police report. What she did is a felony and she most likely will lose her license, a very fitting punishment.  Get the cash, buy the bike back and get it back on the road. If the laws won't let it back on where you are, part it out and get a couple more bucks.  Then buy another and have cash left.

[GeeP]

WHAT!?!?!  Isn't it obvious what you need to do?  Look on the back of your insurance card.  What does it say?

1)  CALL THE POLICE
2)  Secure the scene
3)  Get the plate numbers of all vehicles involved
3)  Take down the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all the witnesses
4)  Do not admit fault to the police OR the other driver(s)

I can't emphasize this enough.  ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS! Get a police report.  Don't try to "be nice", sock it to them!  Not only did she hit you, but she ran!  What if she had killed you?  Would you still want to "be nice" and "let it go" because the "poor lady" was talking on her cell?

I don't get it...

"Well, you didn't kill me so we'll just work it out.  All I really need are a couple of $10 footpegs and all will be well.  Nevermind that I could be in the hospital right now undergoing an amputation surgery and associated rehab that could cost $100,000 or more.  It's OK, don't be sad."

All you're doing is encouraging her and others to do it again.  "Well, I hit a guy on a bike and there were no consequences.  I guess it's OK to hit bikers."

I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around this post.

[ajaxgs]

go to the cops!!!! glad you are ok!!1

[Toogoofy317]

Yes, by golly! Bet she doesn't have insurance either. Would explain why  she wants to keep insurance out of the   scene.
Why should you feel bad for her criminal neglect? Sorry this is a no brainer.
mary

[Blu_Spd_Dmon]

if you didn't get a police report at the scene good luck getting one now. its all heir say.
I think your screwed unless she gives you money out of the goodness of her hart.

[Jay_wolf]

Mhmmm , its the same here .  my friend went into the back off a car , and smashed the bumper , they owner sed insurace or u give the money right here and right now , so the bloke followed my mate to a cash machine , and got 250 cash and left it there

i wouldnt dream of leaving the situation , however , here u dont have to call the poilice , u can just exchange details , i think if u explained whta happened and that she refused to give u details , which she did , ud have a good chance

[Blu_Spd_Dmon]

Mhmmm , its the same here .  my friend went into the back off a car , and smashed the bumper , they owner sed insurace or u give the money right here and right now , so the bloke followed my mate to a cash machine , and got 250 cash and left it there

i wouldnt dream of leaving the situation , however , here u dont have to call the poilice , u can just exchange details , i think if u explained whta happened and that she refused to give u details , which she did , ud have a good chance

It varies State to State whether or not you must report the accident to police by law. But hey if its your fault then don't call the police. If its their fault then, you sure-as-hell better call the cops! That gives you some evidence of what happened. If you don't have a police report she can merely say "no you hit me!" and sue you! With no report theres no evidence of what happened.

[spc]

The damage done is usually a telling factor in determining fault and in this situation it should speak fairly loudly.  Call the cops, ask to file a report and if they give you crap about it being after the fact tell them you were in shock and because of that you want to press charges for vehicular assault.  In most states the act of running is enough to prove intent to harm or deprive of property making it a 'malicious' act.   'shock' is your friend.

[frankieG]

like impaired drivers they most likely have done it many times before they were caught.  any accident you should call the police.

[nightrider]

police said they wouldn't file a report unless i had called them from the scene.

i'll take it to insurance and post an update later.

yes she needs to get some kind of consequences.

[pandy]

Absolutely, positively let insurance handle it. I think it sucks that the police won't take a report after the fact. I hope this turns out well for you. 

Glad you weren't hurt. 

[spc]

That's absolute f%$king bullshit.  Did you speak to a city, county or highway patrol officer.  Whichever, take it up another level.

[frankieG]

do you have witness' to the accident?

[spc]

Call her up and have her sign a statement 'for insurance purposes', tell her your insurance is requiring it, make up some bullshit.  Then take that shaZam! to the cops and ask them if they make a practice of not doing anything about felons.  If they still wont do anything just go to the highway patrol office nearest you.

[frankieG]

great idea terry

[gsJack]

A felony?  Lose her license?      Well it isn't here in Ohio.  When I got clipped in the rear by that kid in a S-10 back in 03, he stopped and got out and said " he didn't signal for his turn"  like it was my fault.  When a witness pointed out that the turn signals were still flashing on my bike which was laying there on the street he jumped back in his pickup and took off!

The witness got his plate number and he was later arrested.  Charged with assured clear distance and leaving the seen he was fined about $175 and had his license suspended for 30 days with priveliges to drive to work.  Big deal.

Back to bent pegs, shortly after that accident I bought my 02 GS which had a bent left peg and a twist in the forks with a damaged bar end weight on the same side.  I rode it home about 90 miles and rode it the rest of the weekend that way.  Was easy to loosen up the front end so the forks and bars sprung back in place like they do after a drop and to replace the bar end weight.

Straightening the peg was almost as easy, think it took me 2-3 hours because I had to go get a new propane torch and some bolts and nuts for the peg job.  Can't tell it was ever bent, certainly no threat to the frames structure.