Originally Posted by Sagido

Yesterday morning my wife and I loaded up the Ultra Limited, for a 355 mile trip to visit family in Lynchburg, Va. The bike 1,300 miles new, just purchased in November. On our route, less than a mile from home. We were passing our high school campus, with tons of traffic because of a wrestling tournament. As we moved closer to the school, cars were parked on both sides of the road. A small SUV we had been traveling behind for over half a mile moves over to the right, and appears to be stopping at the crosswalk to let someone out. We move to the left portion of our lane, then suddenly they turn hard left right into our path. Thank god we were not moving fast, but we were not able to avoid a collision, and hit her squarely in the drivers door. She rolled down her window, and asked if we were OK, I asked someone to call an ambulance, since I could see blood dripping on my fuel tank.

I set my jiffy stand down, and my wife got off the back, and called the 911, and asked for an ambulance and police. The women driving the SUV says I must not have seen her turn signal that she was making an illegal U-Turn to park in a spot open on the opposite side of the road. A few witnesses step forward and said she did not have her signal on, and I was not doing anything dangerous. An ambulance arrived, and EMTs started to check me out, and asked if my wife had any injuries. I had a 2 inch laceration below my nose to my upper lips, likely going to leave a scar.

Needless to say I was not happy, but did not go ballistic since my wife was OK. At one point I was expressing my displeasure with the enforcement of traffic laws(Illegal U-Turns, and basic disregard for basic safety) of our local law enforcement officers. The officer didn't even dispute, my statements, and more or less told me he didn't have time to stop people for making U-Turns in the middle of busy roads, parking illegally, or making standing U-Turns from parking spaces. Monday I plan on speaking to our local chief of police, and ask him to make his officers more aware of more than just writing tickets at easy speed traps.

I was taken via ambulance to the local emergency room. No concussion (wearing a helmet), but has a pretty nice laceration on my upper lip. ER Dr put nine small stitches in to help keep the scaring to a minimum. Today looks like I have a fat lip with stitches in it. But gonna have a scar.

I called my dealer, and they arrived with an hour to take the bike. As low speed as the collision was, the damage to the bike looks extensive. The tab for the engine guard is slightly bent. Fairing, inner fairing, lower fairing, fender, engine guard, and some things I didn't even have time to take in are damaged. Talked to the service manager, and he told me he would get the painted parts on order yesterday in order to speed up the process.

I have spoken to my insurance company, and her insurance company. The police officer told me she is being cited for the U-turn, but I didn't get the chance to press him for much else. I talked to her adjuster, and he called her saying she didn't dispute any of the facts that I presented, and was waiting on the accident report. He said he will be out to see me first thing Monday morning. Debating on calling an attorney, but not going to sign anything without speaking to one first. I know I want a rental bike since this is clearing not my fault, and this is my primary form of transportation at this time of year.

I will post pictures when I can. Having trouble at the moment.

Originally Posted by jai yen yen

Glad you are O.K. If I read your story right you might end up being half at fault. It sounds like you were passing the car in the same lane they were in, just because they moved over to the right side of the lane doe not mean you can pass them in the same lane. Maybe different where you live but here where I am I would be found partially at fault. If the car had not done a uturn and had just proceeded you would have been 100% at fault. I do hope it works out for you.

Originally Posted by Terrabella

Like the rest, glad you and the wife are ok. I suppose it is the price we all pay for riding motorcycles. All of us cannot be too careful. Had the something happen to me but avoided the collision thanks to ABS. They never see us until its too late.

Originally Posted by Jinks

It'd be wrong to say the other driver wasn't at fault, but remember all the old tales about "I didn't see him"? Well, this is why we have to be better than the other driver. You got off light. A little faster, a little closer, a little less luck & your bike could be total or you or your wife could be dead. The amount of damage to that door wasn't really "low" speed. It wasn't fast, but it shows you weren't watchin' for someone doin' something stupid. They got you! It's good that you got off as light as you did, but I hope you learn from the accident.