View Single Post
Old 07-30-2008   #15 (permalink)
bross
Let's Ride!
Extreme Forum Supporter
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Osoyoos, BC Canada
Posts: 6,579
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dinoSnake View Post
Don't necessarily take "full responsibility" for this occurrence - road construction crews are supposed to leave the work area in a safe and passable condition after their workday is completed, and / or mark the area properly to warn of any dangers.

2 years ago, in my own home town, I was in my car passing over a construction site in my Jetta. Then WHAM!, the car bottoms out over some spot in the construction area and I think "Oh no...". Sure enough, about 600 yards later...the oil light comes on! The impact had punched through my car's (aluminum) oil pan.

I went back to look at the area that bottomed against my car - when the work crew temporarily recovered the area for traffic they left the manhole, smack dab in the middle of the road, about 6 inches higher than the roadway itself. Add in a "convenient" dip, just before the manhole, that the clueless b'tards also 'left'...and the car, with its suspension compressed after the dip, bottomed out against the manhole. No warning signs were posted at all.

I immediately called for the police and, as I had my camera in the back seat, started taking pictures of the scene. The police not only filed a full report but also, upon inspecting the condition of the roadway, put up warning signs and rerouted traffic around the manhole.

I filed with the state for damages and included my pictures and the police report. Guess what? They paid for my repairs in full. Took about a year, but I got every penny back from the construction company's insurance company.

If they left gravel smack in the middle of an intersection that is dangerous and negligent of the work crew during cleanup, especially if they did not post significant warning signs of any impending problem to legal motor vehicles (your motorcycle) using the roadway. I would see if I could get the money back for every single repair you have to make to your ride.

Oh, and chest hair shows you're a man!
While I agree with everything you said and in your case I believe you were totally justified and glad you got compensated, but I also believe it's up to us as riders to be vigilant in scanning and see sh!t like this about to happen and react and deal with it before it causes a crash. We're the only ones looking out for ourselves and I bet joho learned from this and he'll be a better rider because of it. Not saying it was OK this happened, or that the construction company isn't at fault here. Just trying to stress how important it is to be careful.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by team ftb
I believe we let the research get in the way of good times far too often.
bross is online now   Reply With Quote