I was going down the dirt road to my friends house returning from the store where I got a girl friend of mine a sprite. So I'm coming down the road and I go over a slight hill and see a SUV on my side of the road so He swerved last second as did I in opposite directions and next thing I know I'm sliding on the road under the bike. The guy kept going so I get out from under the bike and starting screaming at the dude. He then proceeds to turn around and asks me if I'm OK? so then I check the bike and it has ALOT of damage to it. he then lets me go to his house and use his phone. I called my dad who inturn stated I needed to call the sheriffs office, in which case I did. So they get there and tell the other driver he is at fault. I now sit here with a leg that is throbbing with pain. and a WRECKED BIKE!!!!!! I hate this shaZam!....

Aww, glad to hear you're okay. What gear were you wearing? Pictures of the bike and your gear? What sort of damage did you suffer, aside from the leg pain?

Glad you're alright though.

Glad you're alright too.  Don't worry, you'll be back on a good ole GS again!

glad to hear you're ok and that it was deemed the cager's fault. At least his insurance will have to cover it, and if it is only plastic damage, she'll be as good as new soon

Glad you're allright.  You survived your first motorcycle accident.  Stay to the right when cresting blind hills, you never know what's coming the other way.

I'm just glad you survived with what seems to be relatively minor damage; the motorcycle can be replaced if need be... you can't. Get the ball rolling on the paperwork, and do whatever it takes to heal yourself (more time with your girlfriend while you recover probably won't hurt you)... 

Quote from: scratch on February 26, 2006, 07:43:39 PM
Stay to the right when cresting blind hills, you never know what's coming the other way.

This is one of the best pieces of advice I've seen on this forum! 
You have to be 1000 times more defensive when riding a bike than in a car... Always ASSUME that another driver is going to make a mistake and be ready to react at all times.

dude sorry to hear that, but i cant under stand how it just sliped from under you, did you grab the front brake. if you did then that explanes it, always use your rear brake on dirt roads. and have your feet off the pegs to keep you from sfalling. its like riding a dirtbike.

I am alright. thx for all the replies. I was on the right side of the road. he was looking at his neighbors woods and didnt see me. now his insurance company is telling me I'm partially at fault because there was NO contact made between either vehicle. They want me to file a claim on my insurance (I don't have insurance because I ride with a helmet on, except for this time) So I don't know what to do. I think I should contact an attorney.

It might be a good idea to get with an attorney just to find out what your rights are. Don't agree to anything from an insurance company until you're sure you're doing the right thing.

Quote from: suzuki gs500f on February 27, 2006, 03:19:01 PM
I am alright. thx for all the replies. I was on the right side of the road. he was looking at his neighbors woods and didnt see me. now his insurance company is telling me I'm partially at fault because there was NO contact made between either vehicle. They want me to file a claim on my insurance (I don't have insurance because I ride with a helmet on, except for this time) So I don't know what to do. I think I should contact an attorney.

You should have insurance even if you do ride with a helmet. A helmet is no deterrant from getting hit by a cager or hitting a cager. Even if your head survives and you're at fault you still don't have insurance. That's illegal for one thing, and foolish for another.

You probably should contact an attorney though.

how did you get tags for the bike or a o wait i bet you dont have a perment or a lisence, if you dont have insurance, did the cop give you a ticket for no proof. hell man what if you hit some one how are you goin got pay with out it. do your self and everyone else around you stay off you bike till you get it coverd, its people like you that make rates go up

rangerbrown-sounds like the state he lives in doesnt require insuraance if he wears his helmet but I could be wrong.

suzuki gs500f-glad you're alright. In CA, if there's no contact its hard to prove the other driver is at fault so I would recommend a lawyer. If the sherriff doesnt say you are partially at fault tell the other insurance company to shove it.

First of all glad to hear you are okay!!
And good thing it was a gravel road and not pavement, either way ouch...
Thank god he saw you and swirved, althoguh he shouldn't have been on ur side in the first place, at least he didnt splatter you on the windsheild
My dad always says "if you are careful the motorcylce wont kill you, the guy that doesn't see your motorcycle will"

Glad you're reasonably ok, suzuki gs500f. I imagine the fact that the driver was on the wrong side of the road and that the sheriff found the other driver at fault would carry some weight. Did the sheriff make out a written report stating that the other driver is at fault?

I agree with Derek: having a free consultation with an attorney wouldn't hurt. If you approach the other insurance company with the fact that your attorney has advised you that you have a very strong case, but that you really don't want to have to go to trouble of pursuing this matter through the legal system, they might be more willing to play ball. I've found that insurance companies will roll over you if you let them, but they'll be more willing to negotiate if you calmly and rationally let them know that you know your rights. I personally would try as hard as I could to settle without going through the trouble of the legal channels (only due to the time and effort involved), but I would darned well pursue my rights if I felt the insurance company was trying to stiff me!

And on a last note, gear up and get that insurance!

Ranger brown, FL doesnt require insurance if you ride with a helmet. and YES I have a motorcycle endorsement on my license, which means i can legally ride in the state of FL. I have found a good lawyer and going to call them tommorrow.

Good luck with the lawyer and glad to hear you're okay.  Are you going to keep riding after you get this all settled???