Wow, what a morning!

[dbarnes42]

Anyone who lives in, near or has driven through Atlanta can tell you what the traffic is like. You should see it when it snows!

I commute daily, 42 miles one way. I work nights and I miss most of the traffic. Or so I thought.

This morning, at 2 am, I was southbound on Interstate 85, 3 miles from my exit. I looked in the mirrors and saw a car behind me, in the next lane. No big deal. I looked again and the car was gone. I felt a very solid smack on the back of the bike and the bike began to wallow. I saw the car shoot 2 lanes over, with sparks coming from under the car.

By the grace of God, I stayed upright and got the bike stopped. The driver never stopped. I am sure he/she was drunk or high and has no insurance.

What I saw amazed and terrified me. The left saddlebag was completly gone! Along with the left turn signal. It was like both of these were never on the bike. The bracket in front of the saddlebag was bent forward and my left leg was pinned to the bike.

As I sat there, waiting on the police to show up, I realized how lucky I was. This could have been horribly worse. The police show up and we begin talking. This was my first accident ever, car or motorcycle in 26 years. I have had my motorcycle license since I was 16.

As we are talking, I saw a man come walking up the road. He stopped at my bike and began shaking his head. I said to the police officer "this better not be the person who hit me because if it is you are taking me to jail tonight". Turns out, this gentleman saw the whole thing, called 911 and then followed the car giving 911 the plate number and description of the car. The man told me that when the car bounced off me, he swerved in front of him and cut him off. He also told us the man was travelling well over 80 in a 55. This man is truly a good samaritan!

I have no physical injuries. I am very mad. My toolpouch full of Craftsman tools was in that saddlebag!

The sparks that were coming from under the persons car were from parts off my bike. Hopefully one of them punctured the oil pan and the engine seized! The man who called 911 told us the car that hit me had a lot of damage to the front end.

I am sure if this person is ever found, they will say they didn't see me. I have a strip LED on the back of the bike. I alsohave reflective tape on my helmet and bike. I was wearing a reflective vest.

Ride safe, ride smart and BE SEEN!!!

[old_chopper]

He or she should be hunted down and shot. All I have to say about them.
Glad you are still here able to tell your tale! Blessed today for sure.

[Steve]

Glad that you are OK.

The bike can be repaired.

I had similar thing happen many years ago in California. We were sitting at a light in the left-turn lane, about 11pm on Friday night. We were about 6th or 7th vehicle from the light. I saw the left arrow come on, so I reached for the clutch to put it in gear. As I reached for the clutch, I looked in the mirror to see headlights. I did not even have time to tell Mrs. Steve to hang on. Chevy 4x4 pickup locked up all four tires just before hitting us (four skid marks about 30 feet long). After crawling out from under the bike (a fully-dressed KZ1300), I called for the guy in the corner gas station to call the police, then turned to the guy in the pickup. I asked him to turn off the headlights and turn on his 4-ways. He reached into the truck, then got in and started backing up. I got his license number as he backed away. He pulled into the gas station that was beside us, then walked away. The gas station guy came out to help me lift the bike to get it out of traffic. By the time we had the bike in the gas station lot, the sheriff arrived. He said he had gotten a report of "truck vs motorcycle" and was looking for the accident. I assured him that I was the "motorcycle", and the "truck" was the one beside us. He asked where the driver was, and I had to say "he walked thatta way". After making sure we were basically OK, he walked down the street and found the driver at a taco shop, getting a meal. Probably trying to get some taco sauce in him to cover the smell of alcohol, because he was obviously impaired. We got to watch the officer administer several attempts at several field sobriety tests, all of which were failed in grand style. The pickup driver was shouting many obcenities intended to show concern for the care of his truck when it was towed, but the officer told him that he had given up his right to a nice truck.

When the truck hit the bike, the first thing it hit was the trunk. Of course, the first thing the trunk hit was my wife's back. Just a minor strain there, and that was the only injury. The bike sustained about $2000 in damage, but it was all to the accessories, so I was able to drive it home.

Yes, besides all the furry critters that show up at night, it also seems to bring out the chemically-impaired, so WATCH OUT.

.

[spyug]

Holy cow man how terrible, but glad you are still with us. Obviously it could have been so much worse. Great thing for that man to get the details and get the cops up to speed. Hopefully they will apprehend the twit.

As you know, riding at anytime is dangerous but doubly so at that time when all the barflies are heading home. there was likely nothing you could do to avoid that situation.

I think you are likely going to have a case of whiplash at the very least and I'll bet you are going to be really sore when the adrenaline wears off. You should get to a doc for a full workup then off to your lawyer to get them up to speed.

I would urge you to go the medico route no matter how you feel now as you could have something happening that you are not aware of. There was a recent case around here where a pedestrian was hit but felt fine and refused a hospital trip only to drop dead a few hours later. Better to be safe.

Let us know when the cops grab the reject.

Hope you can resurrect the ride as well.

Thanks for posting .

Good luck on a full recovery.

cheers,
Spyug

[Steve]

Don sent me this picture of his bike and asked me to post it:

[Chris]

Sure glad to hear you're uninjured. Be careful for a while though...keeping that bike up and avoiding anything worse may have used up your quota of luck for quite some time.

[Skateguy50]

wow, glad you are ok... night riding around here the drunk cagers are much more a risk than the deer.

I was driving last night (may 5th is a bad night to be on the road) and on a 4 lane stretch of road a car was heading right at me on my side of the road with no lights on... I swerved around and honked my horn. That person was also going way to fast and heading into a down town area, I cant imagine he made it home without causing some sort of damage. If I was on the bike I would likely have swerved as well and been fine but was glad to be in the car if an impact happened.

[skreemer]

My company has one of it's main offices in Laweranceville GA. I've had a number of opportunities to ride the roads out there. Most of the folks there I think as a rule drive like idiots.

[mvalenti]

Sucks!

Sorry to hear about the bike, but thank got your ok. Bikes can be repaired and replaced, good folk like you cant.

-Mark

[dbarnes42]

Thanks everyone! I know the bike can be fixed and propably wont cost to much. Need a turn signal, new bags although those might have to wait a while and a new side cover. After looking at the bike for a while yesterday I noticed the side cover has several cracks in it now. Also, there is a rip in the seat I just had recovered!
It just amazes me that people don't see us or at least they say they don't. Here is an idea: OPEN YOUR EYES! Put down the cell phone. Stop trying to put on makeup. Stop trying to eat a Big Mac. Pay attention to the task at hand! I know it will never happen, I am merely venting!

[ddaniels]

Good job keeping the bike upright after being hit. And, I sure am glad you and your lady are ok...especially her taking most of the brunt of it. Man, could've been a whole lot worse. I think you were being looked after. Hopefully, the moron will be caught and given maximum punishment.

[dbarnes42]

I have NO DOUBT I was being looked after. I have talked to several people who ride also and they have all said the same thing-this could have ended up very bad.

Still no word from the police yet if the person has been caught. I will be able to get a copy of the poice report today, as well as the 911 copies. I know from talking with the gentleman who called 911 that he gave them the license plate of the car that hit me.

I have had my license since I was 16. I have ridden all types of bikes and raced motocross. I can take no credit for staying upright. I know who was in control of the bike at that time and HE was definetly looking our for me. God is great!

[Billyboy]

I have had my license since I was 16. I have ridden all types of bikes and raced motocross. I can take no credit for staying upright. I know who was in control of the bike at that time and HE was definetly looking our for me. God is great!

Wow, buddy. "Jesus, take the bars!"
Hope he gets what's coming.

[ddaniels]

I have NO DOUBT I was being looked after. I have talked to several people who ride also and they have all said the same thing-this could have ended up very bad.

Still no word from the police yet if the person has been caught. I will be able to get a copy of the poice report today, as well as the 911 copies. I know from talking with the gentleman who called 911 that he gave them the license plate of the car that hit me.

I have had my license since I was 16. I have ridden all types of bikes and raced motocross. I can take no credit for staying upright. I know who was in control of the bike at that time and HE was definetly looking our for me. God is great!

Indeed HE is!

[dbarnes42]

Update

The good - I got a copy of the police report and I must have been thinking somewhat clearly. Right after the accident, the police officer asked me if I saw the car that hit me. I gave him a description. On the police report, I was very accurate.

Now the bad - apparently Fulton county has a unit set up specifically for hit and run accidents. But, the back log is MONTHS. I talked to an attorney who gave me this info. The police report has the persons name and address, but because of this backlog it might be a while before the police do anything. Also, according to the lawyer, this is a classic case of a driver with no insurance.

So, according to the lawyer, I need to go ahead and file a claim with my insurance and let them handle it. How wrong is it that someone hits me, damages my bike and I have to pay for it? Sounds really messed up to me!!!