Mark,
I'm glad to hear that this incident didn't result in nothing more than a broken taillight.
When I'm at a stoplight by myself, with no cars to "protect me"(see below), I always check my mirrors looking for just such a situation like your's to happen, until a car stops behind me to act as a shield of sorts. And I never take my bike out of gear either, just in case I have to get out of the way of some inattentive driver who "didn't see me". And whenever you're on your bike never stop thinking about your "escape route". In fact, I believe this "always thinking" attitude is one of the main reasons why riding a motorcycle is "therapudic". You can't think about all the other little problems that are nagging at you if you want to survive the ride.(I know that sounded omminous, but as anyone here should know, is more the truth than not)
(okay...this is "below')
And....I don't know if you were sitting alone at that light, but if there were other vehicles there, than this is yet another reason why "lane-sharing" or lane-splitting" should be legal in all states as is the practice in California.(actually it's considered "not illegal" if done with care here, and thus you will not be cited)
If you're sitting between two cars at a stoplight and someone who "didn't see you" or more actuately, isn't paying attention to their business at hand, such as in this situation, then that person would of course "rear-end" the car that you're stopped next to, instead of YOU.
But once again, because most states are run by people who've never swung a leg over a motorcycle, they have little idea about the laws that they pass regarding motorcycling in their respective state legislatures, and how best to insure the safety of M/C riders.
Cheers,
Dwight
(and thanks for giving me the opportunity to get my soapbox out about the lane-splitting issue again)
