Hit tonite by lady running a red light

[mikeyscootin]

I was turning left at green arrow, she was coming from the opposite direction right thru red light.. oh well i went down.. nothing broken, just sore..

How do i determine the damage to my bike.. i don't know where it is at the moment but im sure it got all scratched up and stuff..anyone gotta clue?

[guyruss]

So glad you walked away from it. Peoples minds are wondering everywere else right now, thinking about the holidays. Good time to remind us all to be extra cautious this time of year.

Do you have insurance? Does the lady who hit you have insurance? I hope there was a accident report written up from the police. She should be responsible to fix your scoot.
Keep us informed.

Russ

[mikeyscootin]

we both had insurance and she got a ticket.. i just wondered about the mechanics of finding out how to fix the bike...since i bought it over the internet from motofino

[mikeyscootin]

didn't exactly walk away from it.. left in ambulance on a board..had cat scan.. just found no broken bones thank goodness. gave me vicodin and muscle relaxers.. don't help much with the pain but im sure in next couple days i'll be fine. thanks for your concern..

[swampsniper]

mikeyscootin said:

we both had insurance and she got a ticket.. i just wondered about the mechanics of finding out how to fix the bike...since i bought it over the internet from motofino

The parts warehouse is in Augusta, Georgia. Check the frame for damage, if it's bent it may not be worth repairing. Hold out for a new scooter.
[e-mail]

[scooterollie]

Mickey;
Thank God you are in good shape! This kind of incident sure can give you a scare. Hope you recover rapidly.

It is, indeed, difficult to determine the extent of the damage after something like this. You really need an experienced shop to take a look at it but, as we all know, that can be a problem with Chinese scoots. Personally, I would first try to locate Motofino dealer within a reasonable distance and get the scoot to them. If that isn't possible, maybe another GOOD shop that sells decent Chinese scoots would take on the job. As Swamp said, extensive damage will most likely result in the scoot being totaled since labor will be the most expensive part of the repair. That might actually be a good thing for you as long as your loss isn't too great. Give you an opportunity to move on to a new scoot.

[Aaron]

Ditto on the fact that you are relatively unscathed. Don't sign off on anything though problems could arise. Seriously parts and labor to repair the scoot quickly add up to the cost of replacing it. Shoot for a new one. If not try to find a reputable mechanic that will fix Chinese scoots and get an estimate.

Aaron

[mikeyscootin]

i found the scoot. on the side where she hit me there was no damage that i could see. i guess i slid under her and she stopped before running over it or my maneuvering got me just barely by her tire. i do remember the front of her car hitting me as i went down.. all the damage is on the left side, the side i fell on as i was making a left turn.
i rode the scoot home today. it sounded odd.. like it had a different muffler on it.. it didn't idle as fast as before, the right mirror was swinging around..the left mirror and handle bar were messed up.. the steering wheel was no longer centered.. looked like it wasn't going straight when i was. and there were deep scratches along the left side of bike. i did ride it about 3 miles not going over 25 mph... i'll keep you posted. i feel like crap, very so.. i hate to take the pain pills trying to rely on muscle relaxers but don't think im gonna be able to hold out. guess im just gonna be sore for awhile...thanks again for your concern.. it will be interesting to see how the insurance company of the other driver will handle this..

[newc77]

Thank God you are Ok and no seriously injured, not to understate that pain you are in at all! Get that bike to a good mechanic or Motofino dealer if you can. Too many repairs may indeed add up to the cost of a new bike so do not sign off on anything at this point. You need to see a good mech or shop that knows scooters inside and out. Glad she was insured. Now have your insurance co. make sure they take good care of you and your ride. Take care, get well, and keep us posted. God bless.
Tom

[Admin]

Thank God there don't seem to be serious injuries. Don't sign anything saying that until some time has passed. Sometimes things show up later. I agree that you should hold out for a replacement scooter.

[spazoo]

It's good to hear that you were not seriously injured. Be careful if you are scooting while taking medication, especially if the scooter is not 100%.

["Big Guy"]

Hi Mickey,

I'm surprised no one else here has told you to GET A LAWYER and let them handle it!

Chances are more than likely that the scoot IS totaled, and the lawyer will get you enough from the insurance to cover a brand new name brand of your choice, as well as pain and suffering.

With the accident being the other driver's fault and her getting the ticket, it virtually seals the deal, and the insurance company will want out of this ASAP.

As with any accident, don't settle too quickly and make sure you get the proper care for any/all injury related aches and pains. You never know what'll come up in the future from these apparently mild injuries.

I'm happy you were not hurt worse than a few bumps and bruises! You're one of the lucky ones!

[zippadeedudah]

Mickey... Hope you get well quickly. I am always a bit apprehensive when at a major intersection and I am the first vehicle in the left turn lane. I find it easy enough to scan left for incoming traffic, but sometimes it is difficult to see what is coming in the far right lanes as you begin to execute your turn, especially at major intersections. The second the arrow appears for you to turn, impetuous people located behind you expect you to move out smartly sometimes laying on their horns, while the law says you should not move out until you have ascertained that the intersection is clear and free and there is no oncoming traffic. I am glad she got the ticket...and of course...I have no idea where your vehicle was located in the traffic turn lane. You might have been the fifth car back, for example. Stuff happens. I once was a witness for a guy who got hit at an intersection at Fort Gillem, GA. He was at an intersection. The light turned green in his direction and he took-off. I was following the lady who hit him broadside and she clearly ran the red light and hit him and I testified to that, yet the federal Magistrate Judge ruled that he failed to fully check that the intersection was completely clear before proceeding. Intersections are tricky situations indeed. Wish you a speedy recovery. Anyway, take this Karma for your injuries and thanks for reporting this to the forum. Joe ;D

[mikeyscootin]

hi joe.

i was first in line to turn left.. and i saw her headlights.. it was dark.. i made the bad assumption that she was going to stop.. when i took off she was within easy distance of stopping for the red light which i KNEW she would do. no one runs a red light after all..it just became very evident a little to late for me that she was progressing thru the intersection as though she had a green light. the speed limit there is 45 mph.. i really think the same thing would have happened if i were in a car.. she just went through the red light as if it were green..

[fulltimerart]

Hi Mikey, glad you didnt get hurt too bad, and your feeling a little better. Be sure to take your meds and DONT sign off on anything--aches and pains can show up several days later. I got hit in Saint Augustine the same way---little old lady ran the light and hit my van in the drivers door and totaled it. She got a ticket, the judge slapped her hand and she is still driving. Luckily she had insurance, it paid my medical and paid off my new van--lost my down payment etc that was in it. Like other dawgs have said, get a lawyer---they know how to get the most for you. Good luck, Art

[swampsniper]

fulltimerart said:

Hi Mikey, glad you didnt get hurt too bad, and your feeling a little better. Be sure to take your meds and DONT sign off on anything--aches and pains can show up several days later. I got hit in Saint Augustine the same way---little old lady ran the light and hit my van in the drivers door and totaled it. She got a ticket, the judge slapped her hand and she is still driving. Luckily she had insurance, it paid my medical and paid off my new van--lost my down payment etc that was in it. Like other dawgs have said, get a lawyer---they know how to get the most for you. Good luck, Art

Nah, all the little old ladies in St. Augustine are EXCELLENT drivers! ;D You must have been hit by a tourist! ;D
"If you don't like my driving get off of the sidewalk"! ;D

[bunnii]

Go to a chiropractor! I cannot possibly express this enough. If it's bad enough they gave you muscle relaxers, you've probably knocked something out of place. I've come out of many a car wreck where it seemed like nothing was wrong till the next day when my head wouldn't stop hurting and my neck muscles were hard as a rock. Most chiropractors will give the preliminary evaluation for free and the sooner you get it checked out, the quicker your recovery.

I know the nature of injury from getting hit while on a scooter or bike is different, but one's spine is a fragile thing. At least do yourself the favor of stopping by a reputable doctor for an evaluation. It may mean the difference between a few months of recovery and years of using a handicapped tag. I am quite well acquainted with both results.

I'm very glad there are no major injuries, though.

Also, voice of experience from auto-insurance dealings: don't settle for the first amount they offer you. Tell them you want your medical bills covered, your bike replaced, and at least a couple grand for pain and suffering. We settled for only 1000 for pain and suffering from my last car wreck and I should have held out for more...because my neck and back have never recovered and I'm still paying chiro bills several times a month.

I second the lawyer suggestion. If you have to be taking muscle relaxers, you are probably far more injured than you think you are, and the insurance company will tell you over and over that chiropractors aren't a necessity for injuries.

God I hate insurance companies -_-

["Big Guy"]

Also, please remember that muscle relaxers and pain killers MASK the SYMPTOMS of an INJURY, be it soft tissue or bone.

Soft tissue injuries are the worst, since the injuries, if left untreated or MASKED by pain killers will for sure get worse.

I say it again, get a lawyer. Lawyers have a vested interest in your settlement, and a good one will get you what the law allows. No one can ever fully compensate you for soft tissue injuries, and they never seem to go away. I know, I played high school and college ball, and I still suffer all the time, especially when I watch a hit on TV! ;D

It really sounds like you need to take your time with this (other than getting a lawyer) and see what develops. I had ligament damage that went misdiagnosed for 10 years!

I guess you can tell that I'm not a fan of pain killers. This is because I have had medical training as a paramedic and understand that pain is the body's way of telling you that something is wrong, and the pain is there for you to protect the injury site, so as to not cause more damage to it.

Taking pain killers, or turning off the body's alarm system is not the best way to go, unless of course, you plan on getting in bed and resting, ensuring that you will not complicate the injury.

As stated above by Bunni, Chiropractors are amazing when it comes to soft tissue injuries, I don't care what anyone says. The insurance of the other driver will pay for Chiropractor visits and rehab. Do it! You'll be glad you did.

FYI: The more visits to a doctor, Chiropractic and rehab you get, the more your claim will be worth, so don't short change yourself! You only have one body, and I'm guessing a lot more miles to log!

Good luck!

[scooterlizard]

Do go to a chiropractor to get a head of any long term injuries that may pop up later. I had something similar happen to me and 4 months later I had a herniated disc that pushed in to my spinal cord and left me partially paralized down the left hip and leg for 6 months. My foot had gotten caught in the shift lever and pulled a bunch of stuff out of whack. when I went to get up from being run over my left leg was still under the bike. so some injuries may pop up later. what ever you do, don't let the insurance companies deny you any long term medical care, definitley get a lawyer to handle that end of it. good luck!