Maybe we can all take a moment of silence for my 2000 VFR, which is very likely to be totaled out after smacking a deer.
Here's the story - I was riding in rural Wisconsin just after dusk, which as I figured out is a stupid thing to do, but I'm from L.A. and only recently moved up north - we don't have wildlife in L.A. - and it never crossed my mind that deer would be a problem. Anyway, I was nearing the tail end of a 200ish mile trip to see an old friend, going 75 miles per hour, light traffic. I'm cruising in the right lane and all of a sudden 3.gif (this forum has an emoticon for it! crazy!).
Anyway, my thought process went something like this (and keep in mind that this is all happening in less than a second) "is that a, oh crap it is, get out of the, uh oh, not good, oh crap oh crap oh crap - SMACK."
Like I said I was in the right lane, and the deer just came off the shoulder and was running across the road. The guy who was driving behind me and pulled over to help said that he saw my headlights go out from the impact before he noticed any brake lights, which means I probably didn't even have time to react. I can slow it down in mind but the whole thing was over in a split second. The guy also said that as soon as I skidded to a stop, I was scrambling off to the shoulder, so I guess I knew subconsciously that there was traffic behind me.
The poor VFR ended up in the left lane about 30ish feet away from impact and the very, very dead deer about 20 feet more in the right lane. I came away with a sprained ankle, a cut on my elbow, and some soreness. I've always been a theoretical believer in protective gear, but I had never had the kind of accident that actually validated my decision to cover up. I actually think that one of the things that saved my hide as well was the fact that I hit the deer pretty much directly in the side - I didn't clip it and go spinning off sideways somewhere, I actually almost flew over the bars because it was such a direct impact. I later found out that highway 29 in central Wisconsin is like death alley for deer, and they like to come out at dusk. Oops.
Anyway, the bike is likely a total loss. I've never had to make an insurance claim in my 8 years experience, so I'm new at it. If anyone has any pointers in dealing with insurance people, getting the full value of the repairs or replacement, etc., please let me know. Thanks for listening, and watch out for deer!
As for insurance companies, I have no experience with US ones. Assuming you have full coverage, your task is to make a convincing a case that the bike was n top condition. Collect all invoices you have kept into a nice folder (not a brandnew one). add pictures of the bike. Check the internet what a bike like yours (minus the crash biggrin.gif ) would cost you. Check if your policy covers your gear, you'll HAVE to ditch your helmet.
Glad you're pretty much ok. Your injuries are exactly identical to the last deer I hit on a bike... Which was the FIFTH deer I've hit on a bike over the years.
Trust me, it's pretty screwed up when you start to get used to the sights, sounds and impacts of hitting a deer!
I've spent a lot of money repairing deer damage...
But like you, the gear has saved me every time. Even the time I was rear ended on my old Honda Shadow by a drunk schmuck in a ford pickup.
Deer and drunk guys suck. Oh and gravel sucks too because it almost got me last week...
Man thats a scary story! Good thinking on getting out of the flow of traffic....Glad to hear you're ok buddy, get back in the saddle as soon a possible. fing02.gif
Alien TLR, Oct 8 2006, 12:41 AM Glad you're pretty much ok. Your injuries are exactly identical to the last deer I hit on a bike... Which was the FIFTH deer I've hit on a bike over the years.
Trust me, it's pretty screwed up when you start to get used to the sights, sounds and impacts of hitting a deer!
I've spent a lot of money repairing deer damage...
But like you, the gear has saved me every time. Even the time I was rear ended on my old Honda Shadow by a drunk schmuck in a ford pickup.
Deer and drunk guys suck. Oh and gravel sucks too because it almost got me last week...
Wow, you're hard core.
I have to say, given the choice between a deer and a drunk driver, gimme the deer!
man that sucks. grew up 26 years in Pa before i moved and collected more deer by car than rifle. i was fortunate to have never have hit one on a bike. i had a friend that was missing for a day. as a group we started searching and he was found over a hill after a dead deer was spotted along the road. no evidence of him or the bike could be seen. he was tore up and lucky to be alive but he is fine. when they found him one of his foot pegs was found broken off and still stuck in his leg.
I just learned that in order to protect those poor animals, warning signs will be posted every half mile on both sides of the road to warn them for such irresponsible motorcyclists like yourself!
I put these little whistles under my fairing, dunno if they work or not but never hit a deer yet, maybe they will follow me like the pied piper, anyway I have some extras I can send you for free because is a bummer bambi messed you up, PM me if you want em, is the placebo effect, DOUG goofy.gif
This is a especially dangerous time of year to ride. Darn bucks got nothing but s_x on their minds. goofy.gif
Can't guess the number of near-misses for me but I've tangled with four of them over the years. Luckily it was always with a car or truck. Took out two in one incident with a '55 Oldsmobile more than a few years ago. Guess who won that skirmish. laugh.gif Thing was built like a tank and sustained only $50 in damages.
I know how you feel. I hit a deer on my 2000 three weeks ago and it was not fun. I did not have collision on my bike so I am coming out of pocket to fix. I am getting front fender, front fairing,left turn signal, Left fairing and rear fairing for under $1,000 from RideNow powersports Very nice customer service. Service Honda stinks. The rest of the broken items I got off E-Bay. Not too bad for my baby. Thank GOD for riding gear, I still to this day after 15tears of riding and three accident do not understand people who ride in shorts and tea shirts, I guess they do not know how it feels to go down. Well glad to hear you are OK that is the main thing Bikes can be repaired. Oh I would buy the bike back from insurance and fix it or at least sell parts on E-Bay you will probably make your $$$ back. Greg
WE DON'T HAVE WILDLIFE IN L.A.!...............BULL!!!!!!!!
in the forty years i have driven in and around l.a. freeways, i have seen cows, coyotes, cats, dogs as big as deer and probably every household good or appliance. and that's not to mention the stupid animals behind the wheel! EVERYWHERE you ride you must be ready for the unexpected!!!!!!!!!
I am very glad your injuries are relatively minor..............pain sucks
may your viffer rest in peace.......(with the other faster yellow ones) goofy.gif
VFR FLYER, Oct 8 2006, 10:21 AM WE DON'T HAVE WILDLIFE IN L.A.!...............BULL!!!!!!!!
EVERYWHERE you ride you must be ready for the unexpected!!!!!!!!!
And I always see your L.A. drivers on "World's Wildest Police Chases"...
Actually, they often show specific clip of a guy running from John Q. Law on a motorcycle (don't know what type it was) that flew up a exit ramp off of an interstate and slammed squarely into the back of a criscrossing city bus. He (surprisingly) lived. blink.gif
DougFromIndy, Oct 8 2006, 10:37 AM I put these little whistles under my fairing, dunno if they work or not but never hit a deer yet, maybe they will follow me like the pied piper, anyway I have some extras I can send you for free because is a bummer bambi messed you up, PM me if you want em, is the placebo effect, DOUG goofy.gif
Glad you survived Vainglory! Does anyone know if these whistles have been proven to work? Seems like cheap insurance if they help at all.
Man, that sucks... sorry to hear. Got my first bunny the other day, so I can sorta relate. Damn thing came out in front of me (two lane backroad with a car in the oncoming lane,) I went right... so did he... no more bunny. He was a fair size bunny. I remember thinking to myself "I'll never hear the end of it if I trash this bike skidding around on a bunny.) smile.gif
Re: Whistles Northern Alberta, lots of wildlife. I'd never seen deer run up to the side of the road, stop, and take off the other way until I installed the whistles. Coincidence, maybe, but the company I work for believes in them enough to supply them free for all who want 'em. That incident was in my company truck. I haven't installed them on my bike; I generally only bike in daylight.
So on a related note, assuming that the bike is actually totaled out, what range should I be looking at for compensation? I paid $5500 when I got it (I don't recall when but I've had it awhile).
It had 23,000ish miles when I hit Bambi, no damage, no problems, no modifications. All stock, great condition. I would hope that I wouldn't get much less than 5500, because from what I've seen, that'd be what it would take to replace it.
i dont know if they would give retail value? about 5400 with KBB.com id lean to the fact that they would lean more toward trade in value of 3775 with kbb.com you would then have to fight them up in value to get the best offer.
Vainglory, Oct 8 2006, 06:12 AM I came away with a sprained ankle, a cut on my elbow, and some soreness. Thanks for listening, and watch out for deer!
I hit a deer too once... no details, except for that it was scary as scary is! I'm sorry about what happened. You are soo lucky to be alive/not badly damaged, in my opinion. That must mean something about you... You are very fortunate!
This week at the hospital, in emergency/trauma, I have seen 4 (FOUR) bad motorcycle accidents. 2 of which were not anywhere near as dangerous of scenarios as what yours was, and only 1 is alive today, and he is going to be much more than sore.
I really do empathize with you, but just count your blessings! You are still here for a reason...
Vainglory, Oct 9 2006, 06:43 AM So on a related note, assuming that the bike is actually totaled out, what range should I be looking at for compensation? I paid $5500 when I got it (I don't recall when but I've had it awhile).
It had 23,000ish miles when I hit Bambi, no damage, no problems, no modifications. All stock, great condition. I would hope that I wouldn't get much less than 5500, because from what I've seen, that'd be what it would take to replace it.
Any ideas what it was worth?
It is now a cold, financial transaction. Check your coverage on what you were insured for. A value as per a certain list, or a value that enables you to buy a similar one.
If the latter, the more convincing your case/documentation is that your bike was pristine, the more money will roll out. Up to a point: you get what you accept/negotiate.
Should an assessor (sp?) want to visit you and your house looks like a garbage tip, meet somewhere else (guy looks like shit = his bike must be shit) Is your riding gear covered. You could argue that because of the fall, the seams of your gear have streched and therefor need to be replaced (like climbing rope, once used, replace).
You said you were doing around 75mph; is that within the local speed limit? What speed was taken down on paper by the plod?
Good luck.
PS: I got knocked down the day I was supposed to start relocating my fiancee's stuff from Luxemburg to the Netherlands. The -opponents- insurance company paid for time my brother took off to do the moving on my behalf and some present to thank him. I'm convinced that this -and other stuff they compensated- was due to the fact I had insurance cover for legal assistance (they asked repetedly if I had that insurance). They had to put an offer on the table that *I* accepted. If they didnot, the case would go to court that cost them even more. So a settlement was reached.
wirelesswill, Oct 8 2006, 10:57 AM Man, that sucks... sorry to hear. Got my first bunny the other day, so I can sorta relate. Damn thing came out in front of me (two lane backroad with a car in the oncoming lane,) I went right... so did he... no more bunny. He was a fair size bunny. I remember thinking to myself "I'll never hear the end of it if I trash this bike skidding around on a bunny.) smile.gif
Oh...just a rabbit, eh?
Run away!!! Run away!!! Run away!!! laugh.gif
Vainglory, Glad you got him instead of him getting you! Best of luck with the claim.
You have comp/collision, right? I had a friend crash a bike of mine (actually wife's), and I went to bed happy because I thought I was going to get some dough. When I woke up and realized I only had liability on that one, dough turned in to DOH!
Sorry to hear about your loss. Thank God that you're o.k. and nothing worse. I live in Wisconsin and deer are always on my mind when I ride this time of the year. Horny ba$tards. Where on 29 did you hit it? Take care and good luck with your bike.
DougFromIndy, Oct 8 2006, 05:37 AM I put these little whistles under my fairing, dunno if they work or not but never hit a deer yet, maybe they will follow me like the pied piper, anyway I have some extras I can send you for free because is a bummer bambi messed you up, PM me if you want em, is the placebo effect, DOUG goofy.gif
Yeah, I've got the same thing for tigers. It works...Haven't hit a tiger yet. goofy.gif I've got some more if someone wants to buy one. $500 a piece.
googus, Oct 8 2006, 08:04 AM Thank GOD for riding gear, I still to this day after 15tears of riding and three accident do not understand people who ride in shorts and tea shirts, I guess they do not know how it feels to go down.
+1.gif I don't know how it feels to go down..... And I don't wanna know.... That's why I wear gear. Know what I mean?
Ironically, after reading this thread, I hit one on the way to work this morning. It was still dark but I saw it in the road ahead of me. I just held my course, slowed down but it never moved! The big truck in front of me hit it then I did. Not a scratch on the bike! Not even a wiggle in the suspension!
Oh, yeah, I forgot an important point: it had been mangled by an 18 wheeler shortly before we hit it. It was all over the road, I spotted BOTH HALVES of the carcass and the red trail. I couldn't swerve into the other lane as a car was right next to me. Right through the chaos at about 60 mph. Yuck! When I got off at my exit ramp I could smell meat and/or hair burning on my headers. Oh well, could have been WAY worse.
My point is that they don't have to be walking around to cause trouble for a motorcycle. They're greasy even after they've checked out!
theoxmole, Oct 10 2006, 04:06 PM Ironically, after reading this thread, I hit one on the way to work this morning. It was still dark but I saw it in the road ahead of me. I just held my course, slowed down but it never moved! The big truck in front of me hit it then I did. Not a scratch on the bike! Not even a wiggle in the suspension!
Oh, yeah, I forgot an important point: it had been mangled by an 18 wheeler shortly before we hit it. It was all over the road, I spotted BOTH HALVES of the carcass and the red trail. I couldn't swerve into the other lane as a car was right next to me. Right through the chaos at about 60 mph. Yuck! When I got off at my exit ramp I could smell meat and/or hair burning on my headers. Oh well, could have been WAY worse.
My point is that they don't have to be walking around to cause trouble for a motorcycle. They're greasy even after they've checked out!
Vainglory, Oct 10 2006, 01:07 PM Update: the shop got back to me with an estimate slightly north of $6500.
She's totaled. pissed.gif
Glad your OK with the bambi hit! Ins. should offer you Retail less any deduct. in general. After they tell you how much they'll give you for the Total You should ask how much the would give you if you keep the bike. You can almost always put the bike back together yourself and have a grand or two left over to pocket of add mods. If I was closer I would try and work out a deal with you for the bike. beer.gif
End of thread · 30 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 18 Oct 2006
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