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A cyclist ran into my car

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preslove said:
You have to pay insurance for your car because if you hit someone, not force someone to hit someone, you can likely kill them. This is not true with a bike. Apples and oranges.

A car is a deadly weapon, far deadlier than a gun.
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And if a cyclist spills his bike or pulls out in front of a car and the car swerves into a pole/another car/etc.? It can be just as lethal. Again, I'm not saying it's likely, but it can, and does happen .. however infrequently.
 
TheVrolok said:
And if a cyclist spills his bike or pulls out in front of a car and the car swerves into a pole/another car/etc.? It can be just as lethal. Again, I'm not saying it's likely, but it can, and does happen .. however infrequently.
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The cyclist would not be held liable in that instance. The car driver should have come to a stop in a safer manner.
 
highland145 said:
This.
And this.
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I still don't get what you're saying. In your original post you say you pull up to the right of a car stopped at a stop sign, and then intentionally confuse them.

#1 Why are you pulling up to the right of a car? Unless you're in a bike lane you should be in single file.

#2 Since the driver is stopped and not turning right, and cutting you off then they are being cautious, and courteous. So why are you intentionally messing with them? It's the job of all cyclists and motorists to do everything in their power to prevent an accident. By intentionally causing confusion you are making an accident much more likely.
 
preslove said:
It is very unlikely that a cyclist would ever be found liable for a major accident. Do you have a link to any such examples?
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No link but a friend of mine watched a cyclist blow through a stop sign and get smeared across the intersection by an H2. The driver of the H2 was not found liable for the cyclist's death. The late cyclist's family attempted to sue for wrongful death but the judge dismissed the case.
 
dpodblood said:
I still don't get what you're saying. In your original post you say you pull up to the right of a car stopped at a stop sign, and then intentionally confuse them.

#1 Why are you pulling up to the right of a car? Unless you're in a bike lane you should be in single file.

#2 Since the driver is stopped and not turning right, and cutting you off then they are being cautious, and courteous. So why are you intentionally messing with them? It's the job of all cyclists and motorists to do everything in their power to prevent an accident. By intentionally causing confusion you are making an accident much more likely.
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I give.
 
Gigantopithecus said:
No link but a friend of mine watched a cyclist blow through a stop sign and get smeared across the intersection by an H2. The driver of the H2 was not found liable for the cyclist's death. The late cyclist's family attempted to sue for wrongful death but the judge dismissed the case.
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Was the cyclist's estate sued/fined for damage the smearing did to the H2? If not, then my statement still stands.
 
highland145 said:
Exactly. Happens at stop signs regularly. I ride in fairly low traffic areas and there is no excuse. I have started messing with the drivers. When they come to their stop, I pull up to the front right of their car, without crossing the stop line. Then I wait like there is some confusion about who has the right of way. They'll start to pull out to make the turn and I move up a foot. He, he. Pisses them off, which is the point.
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Seems to me that since they made it to the stop sign before you, then they have the right of way. Why are you pulling up beside them anyway, shouldnt you be behind them? Also, why are you intentionally pissing off drivers? You sound like a complete asshole.
 
Gigantopithecus said:
No link but a friend of mine watched a cyclist blow through a stop sign and get smeared across the intersection by an H2. The driver of the H2 was not found liable for the cyclist's death. The late cyclist's family attempted to sue for wrongful death but the judge dismissed the case.
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People sue because it's the thing Americans do.
 
preslove said:
I seriously doubt that the OP's car was even noticeably damaged. Cars are 2-3 ton killing machines, bikes are not. Requiring insurance would be idiotic.
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I paid $500 to fix a nice dent on my car after some dumbass hit me on his bike. That was only the deductible. The total was almost $650.

You guys need insurance for when you fuck up. He was going the wrong way, broke a light and slammed into me.
 
preslove said:
Was the cyclist's estate sued/fined for damage the smearing did to the H2? If not, then my statement still stands.
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Remembered this.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/driver_sues_dea.php
has nothing on Spanish businessman Tomas Delgado when it comes to being callous and cruel about killing cyclists. He killed 17 year old Enaitz Iriondo with his Audi A8 and had to pay 33,000 euros compensation because his insurance company acknowledged that he was driving too fast, but now he is suing the dead kid's family for causing $20,500 in damage to his audi and another 6,000 euros for the rental while his car was being repaired. "I'm also a victim in all of this, you can't fix the lad's problems, but you can fix mine," Delgado said, ahead of a January 30 legal decision on his suit.
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Unfortunately there is no minimum age, drivers tests, or insurance required for cycling so motorists need to rely on their own insurance to cover the cost of damages.
 
[sarcasm]It's ALWAYS the driver's fault when a car hits a cyclist. Because you know cyclists NEVER run stop signs and red lights, or block (by riding in the middle or side-by-side) live lanes on busy high speed roads during rush hour.[/sarcasm]

I have a big beef with cyclists in the Toronto area. The big culprits are bike couriers in downtown Toronto and the Lance Armstrong wannabes that ride out in the country. A great deal of them have total disregard for the rules of the road. I tend to see more cyclists making more serious infractions than motor vehicles. Toronto especially, I tend to find cyclists ride vary aggressively in traffic; cutting off vehicles and pedestrians, and running lights. You have to have eyes in the back of your head.

Of course drivers need to respect slower speed vehicles, but if the cyclist starts a fight with a car, it's not going to be the car that looses.
 
speg said:
So I was making a right hand turn and had just passed two cyclists in the bike lane on my right. Knowing we would t-bone if I turned in front of them I slowed to a stop and waited for them to go through.

As a cyclist myself, I know some people don't do this or don't see you, or whatever. You often have to stop/dart left around a right turning vehicle.

I guess that's what he was thinking as the next thing I heard was a thud and the cyclist was on the ground on my left. He was fine, and we both apologized, he said he didn't see me until it was too late and one of his brakes weren't working.

So that sucks. If too many idiots cut off cyclists, they start anticipating it and then when it doesn't happen they are caught off guard.
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Still confused on how he ended up on your left. The only way for that to happen is if he hit your right side of the car flipped over it since only the right side of your car is exposed to him.
 
highland145 said:
Exactly. Happens at stop signs regularly. I ride in fairly low traffic areas and there is no excuse. I have started messing with the drivers. When they come to their stop, I pull up to the front right of their car, without crossing the stop line. Then I wait like there is some confusion about who has the right of way. They'll start to pull out to make the turn and I move up a foot. He, he. Pisses them off, which is the point.
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You are committing multiple crimes. You do not belong on the road. People like you contribute a large amount towards disdain towards cyclists, and actually increase road rage and a lack of courtesy towards those on bikes.

Good job, sport. By trying to be a dick, you made your situation worse all the while committing crimes.
 
Deeko said:
You are committing multiple crimes. You do not belong on the road. People like you contribute a large amount towards disdain towards cyclists, and actually increase road rage and a lack of courtesy towards those on bikes.

Good job, sport. By trying to be a dick, you made your situation worse all the while committing crimes.
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Links? Your opinion is important.

The courtesy wasn't there to begin with pertaining to the drivers I have exampled.

By the way. We decided I was an asshole.
 
Necrolezbeast said:
I ahr ignarint...

As a cyclist myself I see this sort of attitude all over the place... just learn the rules and stop acting like a hardass for no reason and all is well. Treat the fellow street-goers with respect no matter their vehicle, there's no reason for people to think that their form of transportation is better than the next guys..

Seriously, for anyone with this attitude I hope for your children to be ran over by many a fellow jackasses... maybe then the attitude will start changing....then again, probably not
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Maybe cyclists can also learn and follow the rules of the road then too? I see WAY more "infractions" of the rules of the road by cyclists that consider themselves "vehicles" and want to be treated as such. You see their rolling stops where they BARELY slow down. Their weaving around and between cars at stop signs. No hand turn signals. The list goes on and on.

I have MANY friends that are cyclists (past and present). And they all agree that there is no group more arrogant and self-centered on the road then bikers.
 
highland145 said:
Links? Your opinion is important.

The courtesy wasn't there to begin with pertaining to the drivers I have exampled.

By the way. We decided I was an asshole.
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Links to what? Passing a car at a stop sign is obviously illegal. And adding your little game of chicken to it, a cop could easily construe this is reckless driving. A car doing something you don't like does not give you a free pass to commit unsafe crimes. Next time you commit a crime on your bike (which from the sounds of it, you do frequently), I guess cars have a free pass to "accidentally" merge into you, right?

You do not belong on the road, period. In fact, some states give jail time for reckless driving. Fuel for thought, kid.
 
Deeko said:
Links to what? Passing a car at a stop sign is obviously illegal. And adding your little game of chicken to it, a cop could easily construe this is reckless driving. A car doing something you don't like does not give you a free pass to commit unsafe crimes. Next time you commit a crime on your bike (which from the sounds of it, you do frequently), I guess cars have a free pass to "accidentally" merge into you, right?

You do not belong on the road, period. In fact, some states give jail time for reckless driving. Fuel for thought, kid.
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Links to what? Passing a car at a stop sign is obviously illegal.
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Pulling beside is the same?
which from the sounds of it, you do frequently
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Did I say that?

Fuel for thought, kid.
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LOL.
 
highland145 said:
Pulling beside is the same?
Did I say that?

LOL.
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1) Of course, why wouldn't it be? If there isn't a lane on the side of the car, and you pull up next to it and/or pass it...that's a crime

2) Frequently enough to post about it. Those cars have as much a right to run you off the road as you do to play your stupid little game. As in - neither of you do. You're committing a crime, and don't belong on the road. Hopefully, some day a safety-minded cop sees this and you get the punishment you deserve.

3) I don't really care how old you are. You clearly have the attitude of a child, and I am treating you as such.
 
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