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View Full Version : Mike got hit 12/3


mca8690
12-03-2007, 07:05 PM
****Background****
This was my 2nd ever accident. Prior was 1 yr ago, about 2 miles away, cell-phone bitch in a CR-V merged into me on my Ninja 250 (in my first 200 moto miles). On Barbur road. My mom was first on the scene. She HATES motorcycles. Gets real emotional about them; I'm not allowed to park mine in garage/in driveway or talk about it. Just keep this all in mind for later....
****************
Location: SW Bertha Blvd. and SW Vermont St. (right by Wilson High School in the SW, off Terwilliger exit from I-5 N/S). ONE block from my house.
http://maps.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTExNmIycG51BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLWJ1 dHRvbgRzbGsDbGluaw--#mvt=m&q2=2410+SW+Nebraska+St%2C+Portland%2C+OR%2C+97239&q1=sw+bertha+blvd+and+sw+vermont+st%2C+portland%2C +OR%2C+97239&trf=0&lon=-122.699137&lat=45.476714&mag=1
Time: 8:50 AM.
Conditions: sh!tty!!
Description:
So I geared up this morning, and packed my schoolbooks into my TWO day old tankbag, hopped onto the bike at 8:45. It WAS a pretty bad downpour/wind storm but, again, I have no car. So i turned onto Bertha Blvd headed North, approaching the intersection at about 20mph, and noticed a car facing me, headed South, waiting to turn in front of me onto the perpendicular street, Vermont. I DID have the green light and right of way. As i enter the intersection (still 20mph), i note that the car waiting to turn is still waiting, not even in the intersection, but with her nose out in the opposing crosswalk. As I'm just about to the crosswalk, this driver whips the car into my path, about 8-10ft. in front of me. NO TIME for anything. I grabbed a handful of brake, which of course locked the front wheel (w/rain tires!), lasting for about 1/10 of a second before I t-boned her car, right side between rear wheel and rear door. I flew over the handlebars, over her trunk, and about 15 feet, landing headfirst on the pavement. Luckily/by some small miracle, I instinctively put out my hands in front of me and did a "tumble roll" on the road, and just pop right up. Having my hands out probably saved me from partial paralysis, to say the least.
Traffic stopped in all directions as my bike is lying sideways in the intersection, my poor Bandit...poor, poor bandit...:sob
Anyways I had so much adrenaline pumping I forgot about the obvious bike accident procedures (i.e. stay LAYING DOWN, don't remove lid, etc.), popping off my helmet, gloves, as the other driver (woman, 22 yrs) approaches me just SOBBING and completely broken down, looking like a child had just died. She's obviously just lost it, but she had obviously feared that she might have killed me, etc., and was apologizing and admitting fault.
So I grab my tank bag out of the road (magnetically locked and strapped to tank prior to crash), and stand on the curb, just cursing my bike and what had just happened. Police are on the scene in 5 mins, and help me drag my bike out of the way.
As they talk to the driver, I call my mom/text all you guys and everyone I know, letting y'all know what happened.
Here's where it gets interesting.
So the police end up citing the other driver (illegal turn), telling me there wasn't a thing I could have done (thank god), and my mom pulls up shortly, sobbing as well.
Officer to my mom: "You're not.....were you....Weren't you at that Barbur accident?"
My mom: "Sargent...Tim Musgrave? Is that you?!?!"
Turns out its the SAME officer from my accident 13 months ago. SAME officer my mom had a heart-to-heart with, asking him to convince me to give up my motorcycle. SAME officer who she continued to write letters to, thanking him for courtesy, professionalism, etc. at prior accident. SAME officer who my mom sat 5 feet from while having coffee this morning on Barbur, who she noticed run out of the door and hit the lights/sirens, about 10 minutes before she got a call from me. lol
Sargent Musgrave: "Nancie, we need to stop meeting like this!"
......
So I end up going to OHSU to get checked out b/c thumb/shoulder/head hurt. Possible torn ligament in my thumb, shoulder is superficially scraped from the armor inside my jacket, head/neck/spine accessed and give OK, just soreness and tender. Thank god I invested in my Dainese all-weather hard-armor jacket and pants. They are UNSCATHED. Literally. Same for my SIDI boots and Dainese armored gloves. See pics below for helmet (good shape I'd say, considering...Wouldn't you?!?!?).
From what I could tell as I left the scene, my bike's front forks are bent inwards, as front wheel was locked against headers and thus was hard to move bike. Front fascia looked smashed in, but front wheel/rim looked oddly alright. At a glance, frame looked good, engine, rear wheel, swingarm, seat, and tail as well. Front fairings are BUSTED up, just hanging by turn signal wires. Rear set on L side (shift peg and footpeg) are dangling on pavement. IMO, a good 1-1.5k in repairs IF i were to (which I'm not).
Bike was towed from scene, at some yard right now, I will take pics and post up as soon as possible.
*********************
Since I have everything BUT collision on my insurance (I'm 19, male, on a SR-22 [hardship permit], 1 prior collision, 1 prior speeding ticket: just collision adds over 200 a MONTH to my 60/month policy.), and the other driver had insurance, I just have to wait and see what her company will offer me, then the real fight will probably begin. I'll keep you all posted.
I just can't believe it happened. I take solace, though, in knowing that there was NO way I could have stopped/swerved, etc., even if it had been dry and I had hot tires. Simply no room.
Oh yeah, I had only had the Bandit for 5 months had put 5,200 miles on it, LOVED it. EDR just finished jetting/carb work, 16% power increase over stock, 8% torque, had just bought new tires ON wheels/rotors, just bought Suzuki gel seat, received my now-ripped Axio tankbag ($125) TWO days ago, have a Dowco cover arriving in mail TOMORROW: DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMN IT ALL!!!!
Oh yeah, other driver was on her cell. And female. I probably would be dead if she had been Asian as well. (lol)
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7530.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7533.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7537.jpg

Jane Honda
12-03-2007, 07:25 PM
I'm so glad you are ok!!!



I have a few choice words for that bucking fitch that turned in front of you!!! :wife:

Flyte Risk
12-03-2007, 07:43 PM
Glad your OK Mike. I just knew when I got up this morning that some people were going to try and ride in this crap and I had a bad feeling about it. (that was at 9 am exactly)

Maybe you migh invest in a nice car for the rest of the winter. Possibly a 1978 Ford LTD.

Torque
12-03-2007, 07:50 PM
Glad to see you are alright. I'm sure if the lady has good insurance and you have good pictures of your bike prior to the accident and reciepts of what you put into it for the insurance appraiser, hold out for top dollar to get a good next bike and get back in the saddle. If you have to go in to her insurance place to show the pictures and talk about the value of your bike face to face, then do it. Your chances of getting more money are higher.

mca8690
12-03-2007, 07:58 PM
I'm so glad you are ok!!!
I have a few choice words for that bucking fitch that turned in front of you!!! :wife:
Thanks Jane, lol. Whats funny is I am always talking about how I would just GO OFF on someone if they caused an accident to my bike, and just be relentless and a total d!ck, but you should have seen this woman. Her mascara and such were just running down her face from all the tears, she was just bawling for over 20 mins. Her mom showed up and drove her home, I actually almost felt bad for her.
Glad your OK Mike. I just knew when I got up this morning that some people were going to try and ride in this crap and I had a bad feeling about it. (that was at 9 am exactly)
Maybe you migh invest in a nice car for the rest of the winter. Possibly a 1978 Ford LTD.
Are you trying to sell me something Michael? lol
thanks for the well wishes
Glad to see you are alright. I'm sure if the lady has good insurance and you have good pictures of your bike prior to the accident and reciepts of what you put into it for the insurance appraiser, hold out for top dollar to get a good next bike and get back in the saddle. If you have to go in to her insurance place to show the pictures and talk about the value of your bike face to face, then do it. Your chances of getting more money are higher.
Maybe this is anal, you tell me: I actually took pictures on a regualr basis of my bike (and odometer) with the day's NYT and Oregonian newspapers in the camera view, just to document, say, that my bike suffered no damage between 28 and 30k miles, etc. Is that wierd?
And i save ALL receipts, anything i purchase, just goes into one of those hanging folders in milk crate....
(I know, you're thinking: whoaa, OCD!!)

Torque
12-03-2007, 08:17 PM
I'd say it is more psychic! You might have had something brewing in your subconscience... Anyway that is excellent - Take all that in with you to show the value of your motorcycle. This should give you the higher bluebook value if you are pushy and persistant with the appraiser. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Jane Honda
12-04-2007, 08:06 AM
Ok, since she was bawling, maybe I would act differently too. I just hate it when 'one of my kids' gets nailed the bad bike fairy. I feel like the protective mother bear.

xqsme
12-04-2007, 10:10 AM
Don't forget to include your gear when claiming your insurance.

parallax
12-04-2007, 05:20 PM
If i was in your shoes, i would look into getting a good lawyer, and hold out,,even if it takes years,since the other insurance company will try to get you to sign a settlement/giving up any future rights you might have, for injury,,etc.( i was rearended about 5 years ago and settled for about $2,000 just to get my bike fixed,I wished i had waited to settle,,but the other guys insurance company was badgering me to settle)

mca8690
12-04-2007, 07:54 PM
So Mike (CBRinPDX) was generous enough to drive me out to the tow yard today to really survey the damage to my bike. See for yourself:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7571.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7594.jpg

This is what happens when you let Barry Wressell wrench on your forks:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7585.jpg

I swear, you'd think that guy would know how to properly tune a bike's suspension....:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7589.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/Motivational-Perseverance.jpg

TwIsT
12-05-2007, 07:42 AM
I probably would be dead if she had been Asian as well. (lol)
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7530.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7533.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/mca8690/Crash%2012-3-2007/IMG_7537.jpg[/quote]

Hey, hey hey watch the asian thing. I happen to be a good driver.

If you don't like my driving, stay off the sidewalk!!:yes:

Sorry to hear about your accident.

mca8690
12-05-2007, 10:10 AM
My friend knocked this up for me...thought u all would enjoy! :cycle:
http://www.michael-mar.com/PerserveranceMike_op_476x600.jpg

"b"
12-05-2007, 11:49 AM
glad to hear your ok. looks like the bike has seen better days best of luck

kneedragger26
12-05-2007, 04:41 PM
I had an intersection accident on my GSXR. The bike ended up underneath the front of a BMW and I rolled once and popped on my feet. Sounds like your accident was similar.
My deflection was a stopped car and the right corner of my bike hit the left rear corner of the car. It was low speed but let me tell you. Slow doesnt seem slow when your looking for a way out. It was wet and just rained.

Glad you are OK.
Remember whatever doesnt kill you will make you stronger and in some cases, smarter.