Rear-ended today!

[ridersblock]

I'm going up to campus today at about 11:30am and I'm stopped at a red light, behind 4 other cars, by the Staples on 17th and Soquel Ave. The light turned green, as I wait for the cars in front of me to go, as I take it in the rear by a Toyota Previa. The visible damage on the bike is just a few light scratches to the exhaust and tail. Her van has a nice imprint of my rear tail. I get a police report just in case there is any hidden damage, and I am off to class.

What should I do?
Call her insurance?
Ask her to give me my $500 deductible and call it even?
Just take it up the @$$?

[luckygirl]

You need to file a claim under her insurance policy if she hasn't already. She is 100% at fault in this situation. If you don't have any trouble dealing with her insurance company, work with them to get your damages fixed.

If they hassle you, you may have to get your own insurance company involved.

You better call me if you need more info or would like me to elaborate.

Sarah~

[SatanCruz]

What Sarah said. File a claim, they'll pay for any damage (usually including damaged gear), get checked by a doctor if you feel injured at all. Get the bike checked out, you never know if you've got any subframe, swingarm or shock damage.
I got rear ended in my car -- still dealing with the insurance a month later.

[ridersblock]

^^^
Thanks for the advice! None of my gear was damaged since I didn't go down. I got a jolt from the impact and when I tried to put the bike on its kick stand and get off the bike it remained upright. I don't feel any injury (yet). I am going to bring my bike to Richard at Cycle Imports tomorrow and see what he can find. The scratches on the exhaust are so small that only I know they are really there. So I if get AAA involved they will probably only give me a $100 for some new exhaust end caps, IF there is no other damage.

Originally posted by ALANRIDER7
As an intial check, put the bike on a PitBull swingarm stand and rev it up in 3rd gear. Take the speedo up to 60mph, then 80mph and finally 100mph. If anything is bent, it will shake and vibrate.

I did what ALANRIDER7 (on BARF) said to do and it didn't vibrate much out of the ordinary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfaSSRN_kBo <-- for video of roll on

[seric]

[antipathy]

Holy crap that's a great photo! +1 to photo album archives!


Hey Rich I'm glad you are ok. Too bad about your sweet bike - i'm surprised the damage isn't worse. Next time I see a vehicle get ass-packed by a minivan I'm going to turn around and say, "Dude that was totally you!" (just kidding)

[mrtnz]

+1 What Alicia said...

I hope you get this done and over with soon!

[thornatty]

...don't forget the "crash depreciation" factor you'll face when you sell or trade in the bike...and be especially suspect of anyone with a Sao Paulo license tag...
-brucewayne