side-swiped

1172 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Blackbird, Aug 23, 2000

hobbie

Discussion Starter · Aug 21, 2000

Leaving dinner on saturday night, heading home, I was lane-sharing by passing some slow moving vehicles (5-10 mph)on the right. A person in this line of cars then decides he needs to park his car as I am passing him and knocks me and my bike over on the side. Fortunately I had no injuries besides a minor scrape on my leg.

The bike of course didn't fair quite as well. Broken left lower fairing, major scrapes on the right lower fairing, bent rear brake pedal.

Luckily the guy in the car behind my 'assailant' gave me his business card and basicly said he would be available to back me up for insurance matters, ie the guy didn't really look to see if it was clear.
I was going about 15 to 20 mph at the time.

Some other aggravating matters - the passenger of the car that hit me felt a need to make various statements - 'You had to be going at least 35 mph since you are on a motorcycle. ' I guess she must be an X-Man and can tell a person's speed from behind without even seeing them. The driver also had to inform me that it is not legal to to pass him on the right. I did not feel a need to start any arguments with this person. He has since contacted me to offer me the option of paying for his damages and not involve insurance since he assumed I am at fault. I informed him that in California, Lane sharing is legal. he did not have anything to say except 'Oh.' .

Anyway, it is up to the insurance companies to slug it out now.

Just wanted to get it off my chest.

Jonathan.

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Wolfman

· #2 · Aug 21, 2000

Passing on the right is legal there? Here that is grounds for a REAL good ticket! Hope ya'll can work it out! Glad your OK though.

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95% of Harley Davidsons are still on the road today,
5% actually made it home!

Bryon Hart
Ocala, Fl
95 ZX-7

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Spitfire

· #3 · Aug 22, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by hobbie:
'You had to be going at least 35 mph since you are on a motorcycle. '<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If that quote is word-for-word, then that cager had to be a moron......"since" doesn't even make sense.

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AZ Scott

· #4 · Aug 22, 2000

Huh?

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Life is hard.
It's even harder when you're stupid.

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Spitfire

· #5 · Aug 22, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by AZ Scott:
Huh?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, I know. That's not quite what I wanted it to sound like.

It just seems like the quote doesn't make sense in the fact that "You had to be going at least 35 mph since you are on a motorcycle." sorta sounds like the person who said that thinks that a motorcycle is only capable of 35mph, and not 25 or 15 or whatever.

OK, now I'm starting to confuse myself......just ignore anything I say........that's what I do.

Confused again.............

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AZ Scott

· #6 · Aug 22, 2000

I'm pretty sure that is indeed what the car driver was implying -- that bikes are "always speeding", and that they are incapable of going slower than 35...

You know how bad people are at judging speed. "That sucker done come by me goin' a hunnerd 'n fitty miles an hour!" Yeah, whatever...

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Life is hard.
It's even harder when you're stupid.

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scotty

· #7 · Aug 22, 2000

Hobbie,
Good luck with the insurance folks. Let us know how it pans out.

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I wouldn't be so paranoid if you all weren't out to get me.

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· #8 · Aug 22, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by AZ Scott:
You know how bad people are at judging speed. "That sucker done come by me goin' a hunnerd 'n fitty miles an hour!" <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

dang... i coulda sworn i was doing more than 150...

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FASTER THAN A SPEEDING TICKET!!!

Austin Sportbike Board

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Yellojacket

· #9 · Aug 22, 2000

Spitfire, Damn man you crack me up you write and think like I do. I often confuse myself easily too. ROFLOL!!!

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VTRPilot

· #10 · Aug 22, 2000

Bad news Hobbie...passing on the right in any situation on a public street in California is ILLEGAL! Had the cops shown up, you would have been cited and therefore liable for any and all damages to all vehicles involved. I don't mean to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you might think about just letting this go with the other driver. If it were me, I'd just tell my insurance company that "I came out and my bike was on its side! I don't know what happened!" Yes, it's unethical, but so is taking money from clients year in and year out without really providing them a tangible service other than "peace of mind." Insurance companies hate motorcycles except when they get to charge the premiums for them. Best of luck bud, and don't let the bastards get you down...

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C'mon guys! It's all ball bearings these days!...STC

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Sui-tzu

· #11 · Aug 22, 2000

Change the word "passing" to "Lane Sharing" and he should be OK, though, no?

-Sui

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"The woodman does more by skill than by brute force; by skill the pilot guides his storm-tossed barque over the sea, and so by skill one driver can beat another."

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hobbie

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 22, 2000

Yeah, I imagine I will probably found at fault for this incident. Even though I was riding with in the lane and not on the shoulder to the right of the vehicle.

The CA V.C. doesn't mention lane sharing except to specify that certain 3 wheeled motorcycles can't do it (21714b). Also the CA DMV handbook says it is legal but not safe and discourages it. Of course there are the laws concerning passing on the right which will most likely not come down in my favor.

It is a pretty common practice though in San Francisco where I live - passing on the right if there is room to do so at a stop light, etc. Will I continue this practice? probably. I will certainly have a a higher level of cautiousness when doing so than I did in the past.

I will post the insurance results when the dust settles.

Jonathan.

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mashuri

· #13 · Aug 22, 2000

I don't think the law requires that you only share lanes on the left side of the vehicle. Since you were in the lane, you were "lane sharing" and not passing on the shoulder. I think you may be in the right according to the law. BTW, I split lanes all the damn time in L.A. traffic. It's just too painful to sit on this bike for that long.

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"You must be fast 'cuz I was haulin' ass when I passed you"

1999 Blue/White YZF-R1: 2 Bros. C4 exhaust, Dynojet jet kit, timing tricker, dyno-tuned by Graves
2000 NBM/Lt Oak int/Blk top C5 Convertible - MN6, Z51, Vortex Rammer, A&A Exhaust, C/R X-pipe, Corsa tips, !CAGS

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Blackbird

· #14 · Aug 23, 2000

<for this post plz keep in mind that we driver/ride on the left>
Well lane sharing is certainly illegal here. All the same at justabout every set of lights I squeeze up inbetween two cars. I get away faster than them, and I feel I'm doing my bit to not clutter the roads. That and I like some clear track infront of me - especially when there's a nice corner coming up. Hate it when you're stuck behind people who go around perfectly good corners very slowly!

In NZ you are allowed to pass on the left if there are two lanes your side of the centreline, or if the person is indicating a turn right.

L8rs!

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Dave
CBR600F3

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