Saw someone in an SUV plow into the back of another car

[buffaloe420]

Used to live in SF back in 77. was in dead stop traffic on one of the freeways so I lane split. never heard of lane splitting back then and rare to see anyone doing it back then, don't think was legal. anyway was going 20 to 30MPH when saw car on the left side front tire turn to the right out of corner of my eye. I bump the throttle just in time that the car just miss my back tire by about 2". if I was going the same speed then I would of been pined between two cars. I know this was his intent because by time he stopped was only a foot from car in the right lane. I did manage to kick his bumper going by (was not very hard since more worried about getting clear) also flip him the bird. Went about block further then merge back into a lane and waited in traffic as the cars did. This was last time attempt lane splitting as will make you a target of road rage. This is also the time I understood why outlaw types carry chains and pipes.was riding a 74 RD350 Yamaha.

 

[CZroe]

Exact opposite of what I did when riding home on my motorcycle after a graveyard shift one morning in the same city. I saw a car suddenly veer left while heading north on the 163. She hit the barrier wall and flipped upside down and ended up facing oncoming traffic. I knew that I would be able to get to the person in that car faster than anyone under a seat belt and behind a door and I had a helmet to provide some protection if I were in an incident trying to cross to the center, so I pulled over immediately. The only problem was that every motorcyclist passing by thought that a motorcycle must be involved and they all felt obligated to stop too.

FWIW, the occupant extracted herself from the car before I could cross and insisted she was alright. Before that I got 911 on the phone (Bluetooth kit in my helmet) and had to insist that they keep me on the line as I crossed and approached the car. They wanted to just say "we know" but no one reporting it had actually *responded* and they needed someone in case they needed me to provide aid. I gave my info to the authorities and moved on to get out of their way.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Exact opposite of what I did when riding home on my motorcycle after a graveyard shift one morning. I saw a car suddenly veer left while heading north on the 163. She hit the barrier wall and flipped upside down and ended up facing oncoming traffic. I knew that I would be able to get to the person in that car faster than anyone under a seat belt and behind a door and I had a helmet to provide some protection if I were in an incident trying to cross to the center, so I pulled over immediately. The only problem was that every motorcyclist passing by thought that a motorcycle must be involved and they all felt obligated to stop too.

FWIW, the occupant extracted herself fromt he car before I could cross and insisted she was alright. I gave my info to the authorities and moved on to get out of their way.

I wasn't about to stop in rush hour traffic on my motorcycle for a minor fender bender. Nobody was injured...at least not to any extent that they would need my assistance anyway.

 

[CZroe]

Not sure I'd use "fender bender" and "plow into" to describe the same accident then. My incident was 0800 rush hour traffic.

 

[goobernoodles]

Exact opposite of what I did when riding home on my motorcycle after a graveyard shift one morning in the same city. I saw a car suddenly veer left while heading north on the 163. She hit the barrier wall and flipped upside down and ended up facing oncoming traffic. I knew that I would be able to get to the person in that car faster than anyone under a seat belt and behind a door and I had a helmet to provide some protection if I were in an incident trying to cross to the center, so I pulled over immediately. The only problem was that every motorcyclist passing by thought that a motorcycle must be involved and they all felt obligated to stop too.

FWIW, the occupant extracted herself from the car before I could cross and insisted she was alright. Before that I got 911 on the phone (Bluetooth kit in my helmet) and had to insist that they keep me on the line as I crossed and approached the car. They wanted to just say "we know" but no one reporting it had actually *responded* and they needed someone in case they needed me to provide aid. I gave my info to the authorities and moved on to get out of their way.

Good job, hero.

 

[cr2250]

This was on 101 headed to Petaluma. The first one that went by me really caught me off guard. I'd say traffic speeds were slow but still, it just takes one car doing a quick lane change to make a real freaking mess of someones day.

101 to petaluma "no where land" is where I've almost closed line a motorcyclist in stop and go traffic, haha close call.

 

[CZroe]

101 to petaluma "no where land" is where I've almost closed line a motorcyclist in stop and go traffic, haha close call.

Clothes Lined.

Mind explaining how you were high enough with clearance below to do that?

 

[hanoverphist]

That's why I lane split. Could have been me that idiot plowed into the back of.

i always look in the rear view to see where the driver behind me is looking when im slowing down. i also think lane splitting has its own set of problems and dangers. ive ridden motorcycles most of my life, and ive never felt the need to split lanes. now, getting in between cars to avoid an accident is a different beast altogether, ive had to do that a couple of times.

 

[hanoverphist]

101 to petaluma "no where land" is where I've almost closed line a motorcyclist in stop and go traffic, haha close call.

i was at a freeway off ramp red light about 5 cars back and stretched, hit a motorcycle cop on the helmet. he was pissed, but whatever. he wobbled and almost hit the car in front of me, but i had no idea he would attempt to do that without a siren blip since splitting was illegal here in az back then. i heard they were attempting to get it legalized here last year, so it may have changed.

 

[HumblePie]

Isn't it illegal to not stop for an accident that just occurred if you witnessed it?

 

[alkemyst]

Isn't it illegal to not stop for an accident that just occurred if you witnessed it?

No

 

[HumblePie]

No

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue


In correct. In California he has a duty to either rescue or at least notify authorities for rescue. Failing to do so is illegal, but it is a law largely ignored as the wiki states.. Also since he was part of the cause of a perilous situation (although not directly the cause) he would have such duty in all 50 states due to Tort law.

 

[alkemyst]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue


In correct. In California he has a duty to either rescue or at least notify authorities for rescue. Failing to do so is illegal, but it is a law largely ignored as the wiki states.. Also since he was part of the cause of a perilous situation (although not directly the cause) he would have such duty in all 50 states due to Tort law.

Umm, you may want to go back and read that wiki a bit more.

IMHO I think people should be forced to be more involved, but there is too many loopholes that allow them not to act even if the victim wanted to open a tort law case civilly.

Since you knew your own answer and it's unique to the area, sharing the law with us would have been appropo.

 

[jtvang125]

I love Cali for the lane splitting. Generally speaking, the only time it annoys me is when I am not doing it because I am in a standard car, looking at all the motorcyclists passing me up. I don't think it is any more dangerous or less than riding a motorcycle in the first place. All the experienced ones I know all say it is up to the motorcycle rider to see and avoid the dangers around them.

As for the speed, I rarely see a motorcyclist speeding by. I think it might be a misperception based on you are stationary vs them moving 15-25 mph. Kind of like when you are backing up and think you are out of space, but turns out you have another 5 feet. Just a perspective kind of thing.

Maybe you just haven't long enough in cali, especially so cali, but I've seen riders split lanes at all speeds. I've seen many times where traffic is moving at 70 and a rider will blow right by doing 80. Even motorcycle cops do this.

 

[JulesMaximus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue


In correct. In California he has a duty to either rescue or at least notify authorities for rescue. Failing to do so is illegal, but it is a law largely ignored as the wiki states.. Also since he was part of the cause of a perilous situation (although not directly the cause) he would have such duty in all 50 states due to Tort law.

LOL! Rescue them from what?

And I was not a part of the cause. I was coming up from behind them. Let one of the other 50 cars around us stop to help if needed. I'm not parking my motorcycle on the freeway in rush hour traffic and getting off. Fuck that.

Funny, because traffic was heavy again this morning and I saw no fewer than 3 seperate incidents where 2 cars were pulled over on the side of the freeway exchanging information because someone rear ended someone else. At least they had the common sense and courtesy of getting both vehicles out of lanes before getting out and exchanging info.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Maybe you just haven't long enough in cali, especially so cali, but I've seen riders split lanes at all speeds. I've seen many times where traffic is moving at 70 and a rider will blow right by doing 80. Even motorcycle cops do this.

I've been here for 21 years. You do see this occasionally but most riders are pretty responsible and not doing stupid reckless shit like you describe.

 

[waggy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue


In correct. In California he has a duty to either rescue or at least notify authorities for rescue. Failing to do so is illegal, but it is a law largely ignored as the wiki states.. Also since he was part of the cause of a perilous situation (although not directly the cause) he would have such duty in all 50 states due to Tort law.

err, did you read it?

In the common law of the United States and other anglosphere countries, there is no general duty to come to the rescue of another.[1] Generally, a person cannot be held liable for doing nothing while another person is in peril.

since he was not part of the CAUSE he has no reason to stop and i doubt those are his kids...

 

[HumblePie]

err, did you read it?

In the common law of the United States and other anglosphere countries, there is no general duty to come to the rescue of another.[1] Generally, a person cannot be held liable for doing nothing while another person is in peril.

since he was not part of the CAUSE he has no reason to stop and i doubt those are his kids...

I did, but if he can be pointed as part of the cause of the incident, no matter how indirect, he has a responsibility under law to render aid. The ford explorer driver could have said they were looking for you in their blind spot and failed to noticed the driver ahead of them slammed on the brakes in time. I'm just saying..... Again, while the letter of the law is clear, it is almost never enforced. Just an example of how people could be breaking the law and never even know it.

 

[alkemyst]

I did, but if he can be pointed as part of the cause of the incident, no matter how indirect, he has a responsibility under law to render aid. The ford explorer driver could have said they were looking for you in their blind spot and failed to noticed the driver ahead of them slammed on the brakes in time. I'm just saying..... Again, while the letter of the law is clear, it is almost never enforced. Just an example of how people could be breaking the law and never even know it.

So rush hour everyone pulls over and calls

 

[Specop 007]

err, did you read it?

In the common law of the United States and other anglosphere countries, there is no general duty to come to the rescue of another.[1] Generally, a person cannot be held liable for doing nothing while another person is in peril.

since he was not part of the CAUSE he has no reason to stop and i doubt those are his kids...

Unless they are an emergency responder or otherwise in the medical field. Granted that would be considered an exception to the rule.

 

[waggy]

I did, but if he can be pointed as part of the cause of the incident, no matter how indirect, he has a responsibility under law to render aid. The ford explorer driver could have said they were looking for you in their blind spot and failed to noticed the driver ahead of them slammed on the brakes in time. I'm just saying..... Again, while the letter of the law is clear, it is almost never enforced. Just an example of how people could be breaking the law and never even know it.

OK you read it..but didn't understand it. gotcha.


the OP is in now way responsible for the accident as such he has no duty to stop.

 

[Lithium381]

i hate tailgators.... or gators with tails