Originally Posted by
squeakywheel
The assailant and his insurance company are probably not worried about the $92 fine. They are worried about a law suit from you. If they get the ticket dismissed, then their defense in the civil suit with you is stronger. Just my intuition. I don't have any personal experience in these matters.
Kind of the way it works in VA. Getting off the ticket won't close the civil claim, but it certainly doesn't hurt in the defense of it. I ran into something similar in a car accident in NoVA years back. I won the ticket portion (as I should have) and he lost his ticket but the guy who hit me's (from the rear no less) ins company wouldn't pay based on "contributory negligence". My ins company said that claim is used heavily in VA. Basically means "you were there and if you hadn't been it wouldn't have happened"... That's *exactly* how they described it too. That's why I always scoff at the "you were hit from the rear therefore the other guy is guaranteed at fault" claims.
kokomo61, Hope you get better soon. Bikes can be replaced, make sure you're OK.
-R