Modern Vespa

Coming home from work tonight, I was a lucky member of a four vehicle pile up! I was third in line behind a stopped car waiting to make a left turn when the car behind me was rear-ended. I was hit from behind and ended up slamming into the car ahead of me. So, damage to the front and rear of the bike. I was able to get the bike started and limp home, but steering was definitely an adventure.

I was thrown sideways and ended up under the bike on my right side. I did manage to hit the kill switch pretty quickly and get the bike up off the ground before I even knew what I was doing.

I just got back from the ER with some minor bumps and a sprained back and neck. Overall, I feel all right, but miss the MP3 already!

I'll have to see what the insurance companies have to say, but whatever the case, it looks like I'll be back to four wheels for a bit. Bummer, I had a pretty nice trip planned for vacation next week to really put that J Costa through it's paces. Oh well. Maybe I'll take whatever insurance money I get and put it towards a Mana or BMW F800GS!

Hi Oldspice,
glad to hear that you're ok. Terribly sorry about your MP3 though. Sounds like she made the ultimate sacrifice protecting you. Hope you mend well and will soon be back on the road.

Greetings from Germany,
Charles

Sorry to here! Glad you weren't second in line.

Sucks.

Glad your ok, but sounds like your kinda of excited now on your next purchase , I would be too , no offense intended, but glad to hear your ok , .

Glad your Ok and like your attitude is to get back on the horse even if it is a different horse.

One thing I was taught early on when stopping in traffic: Plan an escape path. Do not stop at the center of the lane but to one side with some room to move forward to the side of the vehicle in front of you. If you are fortunate enough to see it coming you can move out of the way. If not you may be rear ended, but not sandwiched between the rock and the hard place.

WOW! Sorry to hear of your accident, but thank God you were not injured! It could have been so much worse.

Seems like I have heard this type of accident more than once; what's wrong with these drivers? Sue the insurance company for pain and suffering and get a new 2009 mp3 500 and all new riding clothes.

And the pain and suffering from missing your riding vacation should be worth millions.

good to hear your ok, sucks for your 500

would it be wrong to ask for pictures of the bike? and i am looking forward to getting the saddlebags that you for those!!!!

Damn that sucks old. Glad you weren't hurt too bad...that is the important thing. Was the driver of the offending car texting or something?

Glad you are relatively OK (sprained back and neck is no laughing matter) I predict you will be in a bit of pain today. But obviously could have been much worse!
Let us know how you are doing and what your plans are. Also, what the insurance settles for.

Glad you are ok.

Make sure you really go after the insurance companies. One of my co workers got $1500 just for pain and suffering when he got hit. He had a bruise on his ass and just a little soar. Play it up and get every damn penny you can out of them that you deserve.

Wayne B

Condolences on the loss of the scooter, congrats on surviving to write about it and living to replace it.

and don't forget about not being able to use your vehical for comuting or taking that vacation you planned. Riding the scoot saves gas and you are just trying to help do your part for the enviroment and all.


glad your ok and spirits are good.

quick put the OEM parts back on. Min. damage is great for you, or anyone hit on a bike. Five days later is the real picture, whiplash is likely. Usually about the second or third day it shows up. Good for 10-20k but the lawyers and MD take most of it.

if whiplash is suspected that could haunt you for the rest of your life. happened to my mom 45 years ago and she still has headaches and other problems from it.

Bummer. +1 about putting the OEM bits back on.

Careful with that back and neck, I'm wincing as I think about it.

Thanks everyone. Very sore today, that's for sure. I'll try to get out an take some pictures in the next couple of days. By the looks of it, the back end received the most damage, but even thought the front end looks ok, and the hydraulic lock works, steering is really iffy. Also, the front panels on each side are buckled, so there's definitely something up there.

Funny thing is, I had a bad feeling that something like that was going to happen as I was waiting for the car ahead to turn. I did actually inch myself over to the side of the road and gave myself about a half car-length in front of me, but all that wasn't enough. I think the car behind me actually was tying to get out of the way a bit too, as it kind of hit me from an angle. My exhaust burnt a hole right through her bumper! The car in front just got some scrapes on their bumper and trunk. Needless to say, I was the only driver that ended up on the ground after it was all over.

And, the comment about the Mana or 800GS was a part tongue in check, part serious, and all Vicodin induced! Once the dust settles a bit, I'll get back in touch with my insurance agent and the shop to see what my options are. I'm hoping the MP3 is fixable, but am a bit worried about that front end.

Anyway, thanks again for the well wishes everyone. Ride safe out there!

thats the reason why i always ride to the front of the pile. I rather risk a fine than a life!

good to see you back! buying another 500?

Sorry to hear this, oldspice. I do hope you are back to riding soon.

OMG, OldAs.....horrible, just horrible! Please put your all into getting better. Many bikes to choose from later....rest, take meds and Dream about them for now.

Old Spice - Sh*t happens, I am sorry you were there at the wrong place and time. Hope your soreness will get better soon. I like to use your mishap to address a question. Does anyone know whether grabbing tight to both front and back brakes would have helped sustain less injury to the scooter and rider, or is it best just allowing the scoot to receive the impact without using any brakes?

Well, I can tell you that I was riding the shit out of both brakes as the car behind me hit! Didn't seem to make a difference. I though that since there was a good chunk of space between me and the car ahead of me, that hard breaking would save me from hitting it. But, I believe the physics of the whole affair won out over the break pads.

No contest in my book, replace the scoot. Nothing will ever be the same if they try to fix it and you don't want anything but reliable, solid machinery under you when you are riding... its a shame, but better safe than sorry.

just curious: did you have the tilt-lock on? best of luck in your recovery and subsequent test riding.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that... glad you're alright.

I actually believe in intuition and it sounds that it might have been at work just prior to the accident. I had a similar experience before I crashed my motorbike a year ago - it was a sort of strange, "if I carry on at this speed in this direction I will crash" feeling but I ignored it because I was travelling at 50km/hr (30 mph) in the open, countryside road (speed limit is 100km/hr or 60mph) with no apparent danger. A strong sudden gust of wind then knock me off-balance and I failed to correct myself in time before the loose gravel on the road took control over my bike and I crashed.

That was also the first time I donned my Dainese armoured leather trousers that I've had for several months but never worn on a ride which saved my leg from a bad, bad road rash (possibly worse?). I've no idea why I decided to pick that day to wear it, but I'm glad I did.

No contest in my book, replace the scoot. Nothing will ever be the same if they try to fix it and you don't want anything but reliable, solid machinery under you when you are riding... its a shame, but better safe than sorry.[/quote]

Too bad they don't give you a decision.. Hopefully the cost to repair will be at least 75% of the value of your MP3 so it will be totaled. You might do some research about the value (what you would have to pay for an MP3 of the same age & mileage) so you know where the numbers have to be. Forewarned is for armed so they say..

Bashed both ends? Write-off for sure. Make *damn sure* they do write it off as well, you do NOT want a scooter you don't have complete faith in.

I don't think it will take more than a few seconds for the decision to be made though, once they get around to it.

No tilt lock on, just holding to both hand brakes.

Yes, I'm hoping for a complete write-off. I don't think I could trust the bike even if it was repaired. Too much goin' on up front to fully trust a repair. And that by no means is meant to knock my mechanic as they passed the J Costa install test with flying colors.

I've tried to find the definitive site for assessing value but haven't had any luck. Both KBB and NADA don't have any info on the 500. Anyone know of another reputible assessment oufit?

A few months (and miles) back, I was offered $6599 as a trade-in value. I would suspect/hope that I'd at least be able to $5500 to $6000 for it now. If so, that would take a little bit of the sting out of buying a new scoot.

The 500 is off to the shop tomorow morning and then the fun begins

That fracking sucks from someone who had a crash and went flying over a car I can only appreciate it. A 17 year old almost killed me in 2007. Ended up with a broken ankle and three broken vertebrae. My vespa 200 wsa trashed like a pretzel.

Make sure you spend a long time at the hospital and go to several Dr. visits the first week. Actually go back to the hospital.

Try to stock up on all the drugs you can. It will build your case. Ask for physical therapy/ultrasound it will build your case. I'd recommend acupuncture. It was the single best thing I've done.

As for being totaled. No adjuster will be able to make a call. A friendly note from your vespa deal will do. Just don't get into a conversation with the adjuster and deny them access to the bike until your ready to settle your case.

I'd not talk to the insurance adjuster from the at fault party. Spend the time and hire yourself a lawyer. Many of them can't find work and will be willing to do an entire case for a fixed amount or 10-20% rate.

Save your recipts and get some made. Towing, storage, recycling, cab fees home can all be claimed.

PS DO NOT GO BACK TO WORK! by doing so your claiming that your ok. Go back to work when you feel 100%

At first I was bothered by Nick1's post - thinking that those are the reasons why insurance is so high. Folks get sue happy or want to get the most they can out of an unfortunate situation - an accident - not an on purpose. But then I am thinking that if you don't protect yourself then no one else will do it for you. I cannot decide which is worse. If I am not making myself perfectly clear let me restate that I am not picking on Nick1. He probably had an awful experience which propels him to offer you his advise. Probably was trying to be fair and then everyone else was trying to take advantage - sucks.

Whiplash does last for weeks or even months - had it myself. You don't know how long you will be sore and I mean really sore. And for me, especially since it wasn't my fault, I would want my bike replaced. So whatever it costs to replace my bike (same year, same shape and you bet - same taxes) and its components then that is what is fair. But insurance people don't usually see it that way. It goes way better of course when it isn't your fault.

I am so glad that you are for the most part OK and at least healthy enough to be worrying about your bike instead of your body - you must be getting better.

Well, the bike's at the shop getting looked over. I talked the the tech before hand and told him that if he didn't think he could fix it, then have it declared totaled so we could move on. I explicitly told him I didn't want to worry about any integrity issues down the road were they to fix it. We'll see.

Went back to work today, but came in late and most likely will head home early. I'm stiff and sore and still a bit fuzzy, but overall, could be worse!

Thats why people go to jail for fraud.. No one has a "right" to claim injury if they aren't hurt. Make claims that are true and will get you to the position you were before the accident.. RE: hiring a lawyer.. why give up a percentage that you would get anyway to some parasite.. make a judgement as to whether the adjuster is or can be fair.. some can be.. others are not.. so wait and see how it feels.. My $.02, sorry about that.. but have no patience for those that steal from the system.. No excuse for that.. we all pay for it..

Noth,

I think the idea was that if Oldspice were legitimately hurt (not always immediately apparent), he could avoid prejudicing his case.

In principle, I hear you on tort abuse.

There is nothing wrong with seeking medical help for an injury. Insurance companies both medical and auto will do their best to prevent you from getting adequate care and compensated for your injuries. We live in a society where bonuses are awarded for denying coverage and not paying fair and reasonable compensation is rewarded. And get this your credit score is a metric which decides your compensation!

When I had my accident the insurance company was ruthless and told me to go away and that my case was only worth 5000. They told me my 4000 dollar scooter was only worth 2100. My lawyer was the only thing that resulted in Fair and reasonable resolution.


Unless you go through the process and are denied a MRI or a CatScan and after you get our of surgery can't walk at 1AM and they try to push you out the door and order a cab to take you home you just won't understand.

PS climbing 3 fights of stairs, in a drug induced daze, with a broken vertebrae and a broken ankle is extremely hard. But this post is not about me.

Hope you get better old spice and back on the road soon!

I have to agree with Nick1 for the most part...

No, you don't want to lie, but at the same time you need to cover your ass...

I was hit on my scooter in 2006 - other driver's fault, shattered scapula, broken ribs and clavicle, totaled scooter. Over $50,000 in Med. bills and still no resolution (from my own insurance company no less - because the person at fault was underinsured). I am not trying to screw the system with my lawyer, just want to be compensated for nearly 2 years of lost work and a future lifetime of sore shoulders and PT work...

To the OP - do what it takes to have your scooter fully replaced, your body repaired, and your peace of mind made - regardless of cost...

Good luck,

Desi B.

Main reason you should always get the "max" underinsured/uninsured level from your insurance. Here in NJ, yes they go after the guilty insurance company; but when that is min. or non, all the cost falls back on your own policy! Sure forfeit your right to sue, could cost you for life!

I hate to disagree with you about bonus's paid for denying coverage.. but that's not the way it is.. I fully appreciate where folks may get that idea.. but some insurance carriers are different than others.. Some seem to deny everything and others seem to pay every thing.. Thats the truth.. I also agree that he should be sure about the extent of his injury.. but to get treatment where nothing is waranted only allows insurance companies to charge everyone more so it is sociopathic to to suggest that one should ALWAYS assume the worst. Too bad about your experiece.. so, get a new insurance company (assuming that it was your company that tried to short you). Regarding ininsured/underinsured coverage... absolutely buy a decent limit. A friend of mine got hit badly in the rearend by a car.. His Lexus was airborne and was eventiually totaled.. and the idiot that hit him had only $20,000 liability limits.. so he is glad that he has a $250,000 limit for underinsured coverage. He's OK now.. but at least he has some recovery.. which does nothing to really make up for his injury.. [/quote]

Well, finally heard back from the shop today - had a bugger of a time getting the parts list and labor pulled together, but the good news is, the 500 isn't totaled. That said, the repair bill will be around $2000. Most of the damage is cosmetic, I'm told, and the suspension didn't sustain any damage, which was my biggest worry.

So, now it's up to the other person's insurance company to get payment readied. I fear that that's going to take a while, so there's a good chance I'll be without scoot for a good chunk of the quickly disappearing remainder of the riding season.

Anyway, at least the 500 shall ride again! I may end up either putting up for sale or using it in a trade in for a Mana 850 after all, so if anyone's interested....