Many years ago I read an article on motorcycle safety and they found that the majority of the accidents occurred within a few miles of the rider's home.  Some people drew the conclusion that it was because that is where the majority of the riding is done, I feel that it's because you're in familiar territory so you let your guard down.
DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, EVER!!!

After work I put acid in a new battery for a Buell and started fooling around with fuel injection adjustments on my 2004 Triumph Sprint.  Typical motorcyclist unwind after work behavior.
Adjustments completed to my satisfaction I put on my helmet, jacket and gloves (already had boots on) and went out for the all important test ride.  The test ride is always the best part!

I live on a shaded, residential street atop a small rise in the road and the speed limit is 25 MPH.  My driveway is pretty long so I get going and pull the clutch in look ahead, all clear, look right, all clear, look left and HOLY SHIT!!! here comes an SUV doing about 40 and he's about to run me right over!
I grab the front brake and I'm on a small patch of dirt so I skid for about 3' until the front wheel hits nothing but pavement and it decides to throw itself on top of me at the end of my yard.  Luckily, my fat (but hairy) body prevented any damage to the motorcycle but my left foot and both shoulders sure took a good shot.
To his credit, the teen aged boy who was driving the SUV stopped and helped me right the bike.  Everything looked okay, I was crunched but not broken so I told him it's okay and he can go, I'll just soak everything in ice.  I was battered, he was shaken, kind of like a martini, ha, ha.
Of course, I had to complete the test ride before everything tightened up.  Yes, everything worked fine.

The moral of the story is: do not EVER assume that you're safe on a motorcycle no matter where you are or how slow you're going.  
Learn from my mistake and take the extra second to stop and be damned sure that the coast is clear.
Even at the foot of your driveway they are out to get you.

The first time I heard that the majority of accidents happen within a few miles of home, I moved.  

nvboy

That's why you should always be out touring as far from home as possible.

I found on the bike you really have to stop to look. The second glance is sometimes what gets you out of those situations and you can't do it if not stopped. On a bike I often curse those that come to stop signs and don't stop, just carry on coming out in front of you.

I had the reverse of you 2 years back, except I'm on the main road on the bike going slowly and the car not going fast should but doesn't stop so inevitable contact occurred from my left side. Just 1 mile from home. You just come out worse on the bike but buggered shoulders don't get better.

You guys talked me into it, after some X-Rays today I shall pack up and move!

SteveFord wrote:You guys talked me into it, after some X-Rays today I shall pack up and move!

Just need to find a house with a 2 mile long drive...

I hadn't heard that "few miles from home" statistic - but it does make sense. The first few miles of the trip,  you're warming up and getting into the groove, the last few and you're definitely relaxing on home turf and on familiar territory. My last off did occur just over a mile from getting home. Of course, this particular cloud's silver lining is that having an incident so close to home means that it is easily walkable (assuming you can still walk) to fetch a trailer, tools (hammer?), assistance (tea and sympathy?) and such like if the bike is no longer rideable.

Sounds like you had a very close call, but your instincts saved you, even if the emergency stop on loose stuff resulted in you ending up in a snotty heap on the ground. Kudos to the young driver for stopping - many drivers (all ages and genders) wouldn't bother - even if it was their fault. Glad to hear that you are nothing more than bruised and a little battered and that the bike was OK too.

I have to agree. My most recent accident happened less than 100 ft. from home and at approx. 10 mph

A neighbours dog ran alongside me and next thing I know I am on the ground looking at the bottom of a k100 - a view I had not seen before !

Dog survived but new helmet and damaged knee for me. The owner of the dog did cough up some money to repair the bike.

Note I live in the city and dogs are not permitted to run wild.