Well, it turns out that the young man who pulled out in front of me last week had even less insurance coverage than the state minimum. Florida's no-fault insurance laws require a minimum of $10,000 property & $10,000 bodily injury coverage. The law allows a person to waive the $10,000 bodily injury coverage if they can document at least that amount in the bank. I have learned that they almost never ask for that documentation. He only had the property damage coverage listed on his policy, and Progressive is not positive that even that coverage was valid at the time of the accident. The bottom line is that I will in all probability not see a red cent from this accident. Policies like this are usually issued to people with no real assets. They don't care if you try to sue them for lack of coverage, because they don't have a pot to pi$$ in. Lawyers will generally not pursue a case like this, (mine included)because the payday is just not there. Can't blame them for that. On a brighter note, Progressive insurance gave me a check yesterday that will basically pay me for what I laid out for the bike when it left the showroom floor. The only loss I will be facing, as far as the bike is concerned,is the $3,000 I paid for all the extras. Recovering any money for medical bills, loss of work, and pain & sufferingjust ain't gonna happen.I may take him to small claims court at some point down the road to try and recover what little I can. Hell, if he has to pay me $50 a month for the next 10 years, at least he will be accountable for this accident to some degree.

Today I am a whole lot wiser when it comes to no-fault insurance laws here in Florida. If I end up replacing the bike, I will make sure that I have uninsured/underinsured coverage on my policy. Here in South Florida, there are thousands of drivers out on the road with little or NO insurance, and the chances increase everyday that you will end up exchanging paint with one of them. And if you do, you can easily find yourself in a financial hole with NO recourse. These kinds of people could care less about insuring their 12 year old rusty brown Corolla. "Go ahead and sue me, I ain't got nothin you can take, bitch!" If you are ticketed with an accident in Florida, and they find out you have no insurance, they will suspend your license for 3 years. Oh, but wait, all you have to do to keep your license is go down an purchase an insurance policy and bingo, here's your license back!If they're not concerned about motoring around town with no insurance, they probably aren't too worried aboutnot having adriver's license either!

It's now painfully clear to methatI now have to buy insurance not only for myself, but also for the increasing number of people out on the road with veryfew brain cells, andeven fewer assetsor insurance policies. Of course, if you only plan on getting hit by a Mercedes or a Jaguar, none of what I've written applies to you. It's been7 dayssince my accident, and I'm getting better everyday. Life is good. Please ride safe!

DJK

[IMG]local://upfiles/19578/274A1B16C8AB451BA3C1EA0EDB5169BF.jpg[/IMG]

 

That sucks, that just causes problems for the rest of us that are trying to do the right thing. good luck, the sob should have to pay your medical bills at least. What if he'd killed you? Killed by a sob that shouldn't even have the right to be on the road!

 

You should get to keep his car and drivers liscence until paid in full.

 

I'm going through the same for a car crash. I either pony up the money to cover the idiots and freeloaders or eat the loss. WTF!!!

Another argument to tighten the borders.

 

Sorry to hear the rest of the story and the way it worked out. If you go after the other driver in small claims do it within a one year time period. Can you pull any of the extras off your bike before the insurance company gets it?