Another "Opps I didn't see you"

[placidfemme]

On Saturday at about lunchtime, during all that wonderful weather we were having here in Auckland, some cager took it upon herself to ruin my partners and mines weekend.

My partner was coming up to K' Road from Symonds St, and stopped to give way to the traffic on her right, and the cager behind her didn't stop and drove into my partner.

Sam (my partner) is ok, some bruising on her right ankle and a nice limp to go with it... But otherwise she is alright. Thanks to the weather causing people to drive slower and her wearing all her gear.

As for the FXR, I'm still waiting to hear from the bike shop. I'm assuming the repair bill will be a pretty one... given that the rear faring on either side of the seat are damaged, the rear light and indicators are smashed up, the left mirror is smashed and the clutch level is bent beyond repair... That is the visual damage as it was exaplined to me (I was on my way home on the Northern Motorway focusing on riding in the wake of the cagers ahead trying to ignore the rain and hail and wondering why I hadn't bussed to work that morning at the time of the accident).

The possible damage to the engine and bike that arn't as visible could be the gear box (the bike was stuck in 2nd gear after the accident, but was still ride-able as Sam rode it up the road to Red Baron), there might also be damage to the suspension and rear wheel, as she mentioned she could feel a "pulling" sensation while riding it and could hear a rubbing noise from the rear wheel.

The lady in cage was very nice other than running into Sam. She said "I didn't see you... I'm sorry" Sam wears a R-Jays cordura/Kevlar jacket, with YELLOW on both sides, and rides a blue bike... but still wasn't seen... typical...

The lady gave Sam a smoke (lol which she needed) and let her use her mobile to call me. The cops weren't called to the scene, as no-one was hurt badly, and the lady said she would pay for all the repairs on her credit card...

So once again...

RIDE SAFE out there because you never know who "didn't" see you.

[scumdog]

You partner was injured, (even if in a minor way) so the offending driver HAS to (by law) report the crash as soon as practicable or within 24 hours.

Lucky your partner got off so light - but how bad would it have been before the offending driver DID decide to report the crash???

[NC]

The cops should have been called, I wouldn't have trusted her, she can't even see people infront of her..

[Oakie]

Yeah, I agree with the others ... you do need to involve the police. You're never sure what these injuries are going to finish up being ... even though they may appear slight. For the same reason you should do the old doctor visit and get the injury registered with ACC ... just in case there's something more to the injury than there seems as they won't be so keen to be involved 6 months from now.
Finally ... advise your partner's insurance company. If the other driver and her credit card don't quite come up to expectation, It'll be nice to have the insurance company there to back you up.

Poor old FXRs. It's all their fault as they must be invisible. Mine got knocked over twice while not moving. Fortunately both times it was parked at the roadside and I was not upon it. Still ... they're a bit bigger than the proverbial breadbasket aren't they?

[Keystone19]

Hey, glad Sam's ok, that's the main thing.

Agree with the others about a wee trip to the doctor to register with ACC and the police...

[eliot-ness]

[QUOTE=.The lady gave Sam a smoke (lol which she needed) and let her use her mobile to call me. The cops weren't called to the scene, as no-one was hurt badly, and the lady said she would pay for all the repairs on her credit card...

So once again...

RIDE SAFE out there because you never know who "didn't" see you.

[/QUOTE]

Hope you got something in writing. Our friendly motoring brethren, (polite name) can be a a mite reluctant when they see the size of the bill. Most think of bikes as cheap toys. Also, you should have got a witness. No report to the cops means no proof. Not trying to dampen your monday. just speaking from experience. Hope Sam's o.k. and I'm 100% wrong

-----------------------------

[Ghost Lemur]

Unfortunately the rearending is an all to common accident. Makes a good case for filtering to the front and avoiding all possibility of it happening (unless you are already at the front). Have also heard of people keeping their eyes in the mirror ready to move quick if a vehicle coming up behind doesn't stop.

Glad Sam's relatively unscathed. Sounds like she could do with one of these --->

[Ms Piggy]

I'm glad Sam isn't too badly hurt but, I'd definitely report it b/c then she has to pay her for the bike repairs.

Make sure Sam goes and gets herself checked out by a doctor (if she hasn't done so already).

[placidfemme]

Thanks everyone for your advise... I'll be calling Red Baron in a minute to find out about the bike, and talking to Sam after that to let her know whats happening, I'll then be calling up the insurance company and see what we need to do (I've always had insurance on both bikes but I've never needed to use it so I'm wet behind the ears when it comes to this kind of stuff). I'll also ask Sam to go see a doctor and make sure her leg is ok. She was limping all day yesterday and still limping today, she had her riding boots on, so it might just be a twisted ankle...

Once I have all that sorted I'll be calling the lady (I have her address, 2 contact numbers, full name, and the number on my mobile that Sam called on incase she proves difficult to reach).

Can I still make a police report about it now? Or is it too late as it's more than 24 hours since the accident?

As I mentioned in a PM to scumdog, if I had been there, the police would have been called, unfortunatly I wasn't.

I'll keep you all in the loop as to what everyone says

Thanks again

[Ixion]

Underdammit cagers that DON'T STOP. One of my real angry buttons.

I have this silly habit of actually stopping for red and amber lights, and give way and stop signs.

Seems that 90% of car drivers are incapable of using their brakes.

"If *I* can stop on my two wheels, why can't you with four ?"

At least once a month I have to take emergency action to avoid the idiot who either slides past me with all wheels locked (WTF - you were *behind* me, you had *longer* to stop than I did) ; or just roars past me without making any effort at all to stop "Er, that's a *red* light. Doesn't that mean *anything* to you?"

Always stop at the left or right hand side of the lane, and angle yourself a bit. Watch the mirror and if someone looks like not stopping, move to the right or left as case may be, so they have room to go past. You can straighten the angle when you take off.

Best one was last week. Tootled up to an amber light and stopped (cos I could safely). Noone close behind. Car behind stopped OK. Then HOOTED at me, and waved his hand to show that I should proceed through the amber light (which actualy changed to red whilst he was waving!).

I doubt that 10% of drivers know the correct behaviour at an amber light. (I realise that your's wasn't at a traffic light. Give way and stop signs are just as bad)

[scumdog]

Got cleaned up in a MARKED work car one day by a blind/lying bastard.

I was stopped at the lights, lights went to green, Mr Effwit was coming from opposite direction and made a right turn - right into my path!! I swerved to my left to get out of his way thinking he would do the "Oh shit" and panic and hit the brakes but noo, he kept going and I ploughed into his whole left hand side.

Told me "I thought I had a green arrow stiil and it was o.k. to turn right, sorry"

Three months later he tried to say I had run a red light!!
WTF I was stationery when he first hove into view along with half a dozen other cars AND the guy in the lane beside Mr Effwit came to a stop O.K.!!

Luckily he had also confessed at the time to the Sgt. that turned up.

[ManDownUnder]

Good luck to Sam and her bike!

No good when this crap happens but it might come out ok - be cautious (i.e. keep a diary of what was said, by whom and when), but also expect the best from the cager. They might be legit and I think they deserve some respect for trying to help.

Good luck!
MDU

[Biff]

Best of luck to Sam mate. Shite happens - like blind bstards getting driving licences.

[placidfemme]

Well I just spoke to the bike shop... and they say the bike only has cosmetic damage (farings, lights, idicators, mirror e.t.c) and they are sorting out a quote at the moment. I called the lady who hit Sam and firstly pretended to care and asked her if she was ok or hurt at all during the incident... she said she was fine... she also mentioned this was the first accident she's had in 20 years... I asked her what she thought was the reason why she didn't see Sam (was she wearing too dark clothing... was the bike too small... was the weather that bad?). She is now saying that she did infact see Sam on the bike... but her foot was wet from walking in the rain and slipped on the accelerator, forcing her to drive into Sam... uh huh...

So I have spoken to Sam, and she is going to get her ankle checked out this afternoon, and is now thinking about calling the cops (Sam likes to believe there is good in everyone...). So we'll see how it pans out.

Thanks again for all the advise and concern

[crashe]

All the best to Sam.
Hope the bike is gonna be ok.

I think Sam can report it even now, just get her to explain that she was in shock and was dealing with a very sore ankle...
Apologise for not coming in sooner to report the accident.
It will take some time to write out what happened at the scene of the accident. But you will probably need a copy of it for the insurance company.

The insurance company will go after the woman and you WONT loose your no claims.

Let us know how you get on.