Topic: Got in a little accident today

[DaveBarbier]

So tonight as I was riding home from a friend's house a car hit me from the side at a 4 way stop sign. Low speeds so nothing too bad, my arm hurts but I'm fine. My helmet has some scratches but my jacket is fine. The girl hit me on the right on my points cover and the bike smashed on the ground on it's left side. Her fault, I had right of way. The only damage I can see is to the points cover, which could be really bad I think, and the left clip on bar is toast. Which brings me to my question. If a car hits my bike on the points cover how bad could that be for the engine internals? I'm going to assess tomorrow but how do I check for serious frame/fork damage or engine damage? I didn't try to start it up.

Thanks


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1978 Honda CB550K

[flybox1]

#1 glad you are ok.
#2 seek legal council. A necessary evil. They will take their cut, but get things done quickly for you.
#3 itemize everything on your bike that is damaged and or needs to be replaced.  Heavy impact to the.points cover can bend the advancer shaft, and totally ufk up the points plate and plate mounts, but it's possible to do more damage.
Check all engine mounts for cracks. 
Check everything.....

[brooze72]

Sorry for your incident, that's just so wrong! But glad you're OK.  Check the frame & engine casing for any crack, kink or in the case of the frame, paint flaked or chipped.  These could be signs of deeper problems.  Maybe get it checked out by a pro, you'll need an estimate for her insurance anyways..

[Sdsbassist]

Glad you are ok

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[Don R]

Check it closely forks, triples, mounts, dyno cover  They are correct about a professional estimate. The helmet people say replace it if it's dropped banged or scratched.

[calj737]

+5 that you're okay!

If struck on huge right, then landed left, you need to very carefully ALSO inspect the left side of the bike. Obviously you indicated the clip-on was toast, so possibly your left fork is also bent. Check the trees for cracks, especially near the pinch bolts. Check your left rear shock too. Any visible scratches on the swing arm? Could easily have "tweaked" your bushings.

No doubt, a full inspection by shop is in order, and even a State Inspector (if they have that in your state). Those guys can be very anal and often don't miss a thing.

Post up some pics when you can, and as Don said, "Replace your helmet!"

[DaveBarbier]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I'll post some pictures later today. Ugh, this is such a bummer.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[ekpent]

Hopefully the case did not crack or break around the points cover, that would make for a real bad day.   Glad your OK 

[calj737]

Dave - was this test-riding to solve the front end bounce issue? What an effing bummer to have this happen just as Spring arrives- relieved you're not seriously hurt. Bikes can be more easily fixed than we can, though, so there's some hidden blessings in there somewhere.

[DaveBarbier]

Dave - was this test-riding to solve the front end bounce issue? What an effing bummer to have this happen just as Spring arrives- relieved you're not seriously hurt. Bikes can be more easily fixed than we can, though, so there's some hidden blessings in there somewhere.

Yeah it totally was, haha. I rode to a friend's house for the test, hung out a bit, then was planning to go put more air in the tires to see the bounce situation...then some honda civic decided to head butt me and my bike.


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1978 Honda CB550K

[70CB750]

Glad you OK!

[Wobbly]

Unfortunately, with our old bikes, the insurance company might give you $ 100 and tells you to keep the change (yes, I slightly exaggerate to make my point). Appraisals would have to be less than one year old--and who has one? It's always good to keep recent receipts if you invested serious money. Insulting--but true. It doesn't matter how much the repair is when it is higher than the estimated value, it's considered a total loss. While parts are rare and expensive, the insurance value of these bikes is not--unless you have an appraisal as mentioned above.
As to your question, your engine should be fine. Frame and fork are a greater concern--but you won't spot anything just looking at it. Pictures would be nice.
Yes, have the dealership write up an estimate. Of course, if parts are needed that only exist in some exotic location, the prices for not existent Honda parts really don't help. It's always tricky with older vehicles.

[lucky]

Good thing you did not get a crushed right leg.

The statement: "Her fault, I had right of way."

That makes me think you may get hit again unless you change that self talk to....
I may have the right of way, but what is she going to do next? She is on my right .


It was a 4 WAY STOP.  she was on your right, ("she hit my points cover", she has the right of way.
You were both stopped. It is not a matter of who got there first.
The lawyer might tell you that.

If her vehicle is on the right , then she had the right of way.
 

[Powderman]

You can always fight the insurance appraisal on the value of your vehicle. Your insurance may pay you the true value of your bike agreed upon by you and your insurance company and then they just go after the at fault drivers insurance for reimbursement. I was hit in my cherry 86 Mustang GT and was totaled. His insurance company offered me $2200, I laughed at them on the phone and then hung up. We went back and forth a couple of days and they raised it to $2300. It was strange that the next day my insurance called me and asked if they had settled on the value of my car. I told them they weren't even in the ballpark on it. We discussed what I thought it was worth and we agreed on $5k and they immediately cut me a check and went to "subrogate" against the other company. I'm with State Farm.

[lucky]

You can always fight the insurance appraisal on the value of your vehicle. Your insurance may pay you the true value of your bike agreed upon by you and your insurance company and then they just go after the at fault drivers insurance for reimbursement. I was hit in my cherry 86 Mustang GT and was totaled. His insurance company offered me $2200, I laughed at them on the phone and then hung up. We went back and forth a couple of days and they raised it to $2300. It was strange that the next day my insurance called me and asked if they had settled on the value of my car. I told them they weren't even in the ballpark on it. We discussed what I thought it was worth and we agreed on $5k and they immediately cut me a check and went to "subrogate" against the other company. I'm with State Farm.

I hate this new "subrogation" thing. Third party stuff.
My wife was hit from behind and it took almost one year to get reinbursed for the $800 dollars we paid for $500 deductable and $300 for the loaner car. We still have not received the $300 back.

[Powderman]

Where I live last month 34 tickets were given out for people not making a complete stop at stop signs.

The statement: "Her fault, I had right of way."

That makes me think you may get hit again unless you change that self talk to....
I may have the right of way, but what is she going to do next?


It was a 4 WAY STOP. If she was on your right she has the right of way.
You were both stopped. It is not a matter of who got there first.

If her vehicle is on the right , then she had the right of way.
 

You make a lot of assumptions here. The person on the right having the right of way only applies if you both come to a stop at the same time. The fact that she was merely on the right doesn't give her the right of way. And the fact that she hit you in the side and you not hitting her in the side doesn't fair well for the "she was on the right , so it's her right of way" argument.
Also, You never have the right to demand your right of way. If you have the right of way but are the last one that could have avoided the accident you can be found at fault.

[Powderman]

You can always fight the insurance appraisal on the value of your vehicle. Your insurance may pay you the true value of your bike agreed upon by you and your insurance company and then they just go after the at fault drivers insurance for reimbursement. I was hit in my cherry 86 Mustang GT and was totaled. His insurance company offered me $2200, I laughed at them on the phone and then hung up. We went back and forth a couple of days and they raised it to $2300. It was strange that the next day my insurance called me and asked if they had settled on the value of my car. I told them they weren't even in the ballpark on it. We discussed what I thought it was worth and we agreed on $5k and they immediately cut me a check and went to "subrogate" against the other company. I'm with State Farm.

I hate this new "subrogation" thing. Third party stuff.
My wife was hit from behind and it took almost one year to get reinbursed for the $800 dollars we paid for $500 deductable and $300 for the loaner car. We still have not received the $300 back.

Subrogation is a not new thing, my accident was 20 years ago now.

[Gman]

Better scratches on the helmet, than on the head.  Good for you for wearing protective gear.

+1 Get a new helmet.

+10 Glad you are OK. 

Good luck with the insurance bit.  Any receipts you have for work done, parts, etc. may also be useful in trying to recoup a reasonable amount of $ for your bike.

Cheers,
G

[Operator]

Happy to hear you walked away from it.

Insurance varies so much between states/provinces/countries that all I'm going to say is talk to your insurer and make them aware of the true value of your vehicle when you get your policy. Here in Canada I have always paid an extra $2.00 per month to ensure that if my bike is written off, they will pay me based on "replacement" rather than "blue book" value. In New Brunswick the difference is about $1500.00

[PeWe]

CB750 can withstand a lot. I hope your bike is OK, frame not twisted. Check that both wheels lines up correctly. Alternator cover is the part that often hit the ground, gear pedal too with its mechansim..

I survived my years on bike by never trust other drivers, especially car drivers that often did not see me, almost that often did not care and had the mindset that bikes are something that have no rights.
I got the feeling for when cars will just change lane or cross the street just in front of me or beside me.

A bike rider must drive slightly faster than all other and never trust that the car will stay behind that STOP sign. Be prepared to gear down and pass the obstacles. Braking to avoid things was not  my cup of tea with a CB750, better to gear down, twist the throttle and drive where possible. It's a completely different way of driving with a bike compared with a car.

It was different in Italy (2:nd half of the 80's). I did not dare to stop in the cities where it was a STOP sign, I was sure that the cars behind me should hit me from the behind... Sexy girls walking beside the street screaming wild when they heard and saw a CB750 with loud 4-1 + 2 guys + luggage + front wheel lifting over the street.

[DaveBarbier]

CB750 can withstand a lot. I hope your bike is OK, frame not twisted. Check that both wheels lines up correctly. Alternator cover is the part that often hit the ground, gear pedal too with its mechansim..

I survived my years on bike by never trust other drivers, especially car drivers that often did not see me, almost that often did not care and had the mindset that bikes are something that have no rights.
I got the feeling for when cars will just change lane or cross the street just in front of me or beside me.

A bike rider must drive slightly faster than all other and never trust that the car will stay behind that STOP sign. Be prepared to gear down and pass the obstacles. Braking to avoid things was not  my cup of tea with a CB750, better to gear down, twist the throttle and drive where possible. It's a completely different way of driving with a bike compared with a car.

It was different in Italy (2:nd half of the 80's). I did not dare to stop in the cities where it was a STOP sign, I was sure that the cars behind me should hit me from the behind... Sexy girls walking beside the street screaming wild when they heard and saw a CB750 with loud 4-1 + 2 guys + luggage + front wheel lifting over the street.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Yes, I'm definitely getting a new helmet. And PeWe, I agree. I'm a new rider so I need to gain more experience with quick maneuvering on instinct. And hopefully my 550 is as strong as the 750, ha. I've never assumed drivers see me. It seems you need to be offensively defensive. I'm going to be more careful now, even though I was never careless to begin with.

Going to be getting an estimate shortly from a shop I like in my town. The guy knows vintage Honda's very well. He actually might even be on this forum, haha. Will keep you guys posted. Hopefully I'll be back riding sooner rather than later.

Thanks!


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1978 Honda CB550K

[WhyNot2]

Well, I got rear ended in Oct, caused 6 grand damage. I watch the hell out my sixes.

More than a few times have I put the kickstand down and walked to the curb, cause I thought the idiot wasn't going to stop. Embarrassing, but hey.............................


Have that bike checked, call a lawyer, although I'm still waiting on mine. Call yours and their insurance.  Report it.

Also have had dummies run me off I95, pull out in front of me.....like I tell my wife when she tells me to "be careful", I tell her "I'm as careful as I can be, its the others that need to be careful"

I've put 46,000 on the Harley, 5 grand on the 750, since I've owned them, and plan on a bunch more.

Stay safe bro..........................

[Bootlegger56]

Glad you are OK.  There are only a couple of suggestions!

HIRE A GOOD LAWYER!
DON'T TALK TO HER INSURANCE EXCEPT TO GIVE THEM YOUR LAWYERS NAME!

I learned the hard way on this with a sweet little gal calling up feigning concern over my condition and having a personable conversation with me regarding me and my properties condition.  When I saw a copy of the transcript at the ATTY's office it made me look like an idiot and her like a PHD.  I repeat DO NOT TALK TO HER INSURANCE!!!
 

[WhyNot2]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yea, the one that contacted me, was a sweet sounding young female, that expressed genuine concern for me and my bike. She worked with me well, till she found out I contacted a lawywr, and she became broom hilda, and swore she was gonna get me........................

[VTCBike750]

I just had to deal with insurance companies. This winter I had a guy pull out in front of me after 19 inches of snow. T-boned him in the intersection, he had the audacity to yell at me for hitting him when he was taking a right on red.

I will say that Progressive was decent to deal with, no major flak, and I got well reimbursed for my totaled 95 accord.

+1 that your ok.

Yet to have my first bike accident, plenty of bumps and scraps in cars.

[72 yellow]

Was she on the phone or texting ??  Distracted driving will count against her if she was.  Glad you are OK.

[DaveBarbier]

Was she on the phone or texting ??  Distracted driving will count against her if she was.  Glad you are OK.

Thanks. No she wasn't, as far as I could tell, at least I don't remember seeing a glow from inside her car. I'll have to read the actual police report but the cops on scene gave her a ticket for either failing to stop at a stop sign or failing to yield to traffic. I forgot which.


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1978 Honda CB550K