The Vent and Rant Thread

[desertblues]

Good for you, Stichawl.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by desertblues

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, Stitchawl. You must have been shaken up, after your narrow escape and I hope you're really allright.

Quite fine, and just bothered by the inconvenience. I've been hit many times when riding, and this one was quite minor compared with the others. It's a risk one assumes when riding a motorcycle. As Baretta used to say; "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time." I love the freedom that a motorcycle gives me. I can't give that up just for more safety. Pain shakes me up, messed up bikes just tick me off. All's well that end's well.

Isn't it forbidden in Japan as well to use a cell phone while driving?

I don't think so. In fact, in Japan it's permitted to have a TV screen in the front seat so the drivers can watch Sumo or Baseball while in traffic jams.

I hope your insurance will pay at least something.

This is what is most unusual with this particular accident. As I said before, it's usually a split payment between all people involved. For some reason, the other driver's insurance company is willing to accept full responsibility and even pay for a rental for me while my bike is being repaired. I don't understand why, and this has NEVER been the case other times when I've been hit. Some years ago I was T-Boned (hit in the middle of my bike) by a truck going backwards out of an alley into a busy street, the driver was clearly drunk, I got some broken bones, and yet I (rather my insurance company) had to pay 30% of the bike's repair. The truck driver's insurance paid the other 70% and my hospital bills. Very odd that this time an insurance company is taking full responsibility...

I'd like to say 'THANK'S' to all of you for your good wishes. It's nice to hear.


Stitchawl

[nohmi2]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

the actions of the contractor were beyond their scope of insurance, the responsibility was with the contractors insurance, he took off, (and eventually ended up in prison) we were never compensated

We have builders here like that. They have left some owners in really dreadful financial difficulties.

I hope there's a special hell for them.

[nohmi2]

Stitchawl. Having an accident like that can leave one shaken up for days.

I wasn't at fault, but I was very wary after that. There are some really crazy people out on the roads, espescially at this time of the year.

Take care.

Cheers

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

... so I started out for a ride in the rain. Going for a nice lunch and a visit to an import food store. I got two blocks away from the house, sitting at a stop sign when some dumb Fu@$@ing driver, busy chatting away on her cell phone plows into me, forcing me into the car in the oncoming lane stopped ahead of me...

I guess we got lucky. No one was injured. Only my tire hit the car in front, doing no damage. The girl behind me hit me at an angle and so did no damage to her car. But it completely demolished the rear end of my bike. Tore the fender right in half, spewing tail lights, directionals, number plate and fender all over the roadway. Unfortunately, under Japanese insurance law, I'm equally responsible for the accident simply because I was there...

I am NOT a happy camper right now....


Stitchawl

Oh No! At least YOU are okay.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by nohmi2

We have builders here like that. They have left some owners in really dreadful financial difficulties.

I hope there's a special hell for them.

as do I. it left me financially destroyed and with no way to repair my house. also tore my family apart

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

seriously, a trip to the puppy park works wonders! gets them all tuckered out, nothing like mad crazy wrestle boxing with the puppies, butt sniffing, tail wagging, drooling, ball chasing to tire out the little fuzzies!

We've tried that but our kids kept climbing the fence to get out

[Pookeysgirl]

We finally got our first snowfall in Burlington and I can't believe how many people refuse to clean the snow off their cars!!! These people are driving little Pontiac Sunfires and Honda Civics and still they can't be bothered to clean the snow from their tiny little windows and only use their wipers to clean their windshields. Why?! How can you see through 6 inches of window? And then they get pissed at me when they try to change lanes while I'm right beside them and they almost hit me! I drive a van and a truck. I clean the snow off every inch of my vehicles so I can SEE where I'm going!

Ok, I'm done venting

[WT Sharpe]

Sorry to hear about your bike, Stitchawl, but I'm glad you're okay. Cages and cell phones are a toxic mix.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Afternoon update;

As said before, no injuries, so there is some good. And... as of right now, it seems that her insurance company is willing to accept full responsibility for the accident and pay for all repairs... AND... it may turn out that they will pay for a rental for me until my ride is repaired! This is MOST unusual! In Japan, the insurance companies have gotten together and worked out payment percentages for various accidents. This avoids court interventions as the courts have ruled that the insurance companies know best... However, these decisions are ridiculous from an American standpoint. Here' a link to one page of their decisions. Read it and laugh. The circled parts show how much, percentage-wise, each driver must pay. Note the 3rd on the bottom... 60% an 40%... and imagine if you were the driver being hit...

Anyway, right now the insurance company is talking with my bike shop. Then they will call and let me know the next step. Although the engine and drive train are OK, I hesitate to ride the bike without a break light, tail lights, directionals, nor having a number plate on it. There is no bodywork left from the seat on back to hang any of those!

And no... the driver of the car wasn't ticketed for her actions. The police didn't see her talking on her phone, and were reluctant to take my word for it.

So... if all goes as the insurance person said (if I understood her Japanese correctly) I should have a rental in a day or so, and get my trusty steed to the vet for a new rear end, and all it should cost me will be a missed lunch today, and some minor inconvenience tomorrow... But can you imagine how much that poor girl's insurance is going to go up?


Stitchawl

I'm really sorry you'll be without your bike, but I'm happy to see you're ok! I hope the insurance company comes through for you. Good luck!

[dsvick]

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

We finally got our first snowfall in Burlington and I can't believe how many people refuse to clean the snow off their cars!!! These people are driving little Pontiac Sunfires and Honda Civics and still they can't be bothered to clean the snow from their tiny little windows and only use their wipers to clean their windshields. Why?! How can you see through 6 inches of window? And then they get pissed at me when they try to change lanes while I'm right beside them and they almost hit me! I drive a van and a truck. I clean the snow off every inch of my vehicles so I can SEE where I'm going!

Ok, I'm done venting

Good one!! I hate the people that clean a 6 inch square area of their windshield and none of the back window then go flying down the street at 40 miles an hour and get upset at you for being in their way or for driving a but slower than they would like you to.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by dsvick

We've tried that but our kids kept climbing the fence to get out

Originally Posted by dsvick

Good one!! I hate the people that clean a 6 inch square area of their windshield and none of the back window then go flying down the street at 40 miles an hour and get upset at you for being in their way or for driving a but slower than they would like you to.

I loved it when my Land Cruiser was still running... an older one, '84 with locking hubs, I'd be in 4WD, driving pretty cautiously and folks would come zooming up behind me, pass, give me a nasty look, and then I would pass them a couple of miles later in the ditch. I know I shouldn't laugh, but seriously....

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I loved it when my Land Cruiser was still running... an older one, '84 with locking hubs, I'd be in 4WD, driving pretty cautiously and folks would come zooming up behind me, pass, give me a nasty look, and then I would pass them a couple of miles later in the ditch. I know I shouldn't laugh, but seriously....

See, where I live down south, the DOT doesnt really know how to prepare for or recover from snow on the roads. But every idiot redneck with an SUV thinks that they have the market cornered on driving in the stuff. Yet, here I am with my nice, low-to-the ground honda (albeit with 4 wheel drive) having far fewer problems in the ice or snow as my fellow cohabitants. I look forward to testing this theory yet again on Thursday when we are due to have the first snowfall that should actually stick to the roads.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

This is what is most unusual with this particular accident. As I said before, it's usually a split payment between all people involved. For some reason, the other driver's insurance company is willing to accept full responsibility and even pay for a rental for me while my bike is being repaired.

I suspect it's that you were hit from behind while stationary at a stop sign. Perhaps the insurance companies figure that if you're moving, you might have moved in a different way and avoided the accident, even if you weren't in the wrong.

[kindlekitten]

ARGH! so Arwen has the runs AGAIN!!! I had taken her off of her regular kibble, a high end low ingredient food, put her on an even higher end lower ingredient food, containing stuff she hadn't had before. 3 days of normal poops, then the runs again. I've had her on bottled water, that's not the problem. started her on boiled chicken and rice over the weekend, they (I have to feed both the cats the same thing) are PISSED!!!! they're marching up and down with pickets insisting that I am starving them! out of desperation I just gave them some raw chicken. they ate a couple of bites, gave me dirty looks and returned to the picket line!

I'm at my wits end!!!!