I hit a car today....need opinions

**crashe** · 7th February 2007, 16:52

Originally Posted by Weasel

I'm not a traffic cop, but it's your fault.

Hit anyone from behind, unless they are braking dangerously, and it's your fault.

Nup mate...... see my above post......
The woman driving ahead of me that I clipped........
slowed down, speed up and then slamed on her brakes within seconds..... within 3 foot of a ped crossing....... I was still technically at fault.....

if behind......... you are in the wrong......

And I did everything possible to not hit the car.

**Mole_C** · 7th February 2007, 17:03

Originally Posted by crashe

Nup mate...... see my above post......
The woman driving ahead of me that I clipped........
slowed down, speed up and then slamed on her brakes within seconds..... within 3 foot of a ped crossing....... I was still technically at fault.....

if behind......... you are in the wrong......

And I did everything possible to not hit the car.

Think he means if there braking to try and knock you off or ripping a handie or something... in which case i don't know who would be at fault.

**festus** · 7th February 2007, 17:14

Been there, done that (twice) and both times on a bike, but also managed to stay on both times. Years apart too, so cannot explain it.

Hate it when drivers do that, they take off then brake while you are looking right, but I was in the wrong both times and had to pay damages although minor...........

**stunz** · 7th February 2007, 17:17

Surprisingly, it happened to me once before. No damage or injury but the non english speaking driver of other vehicle adamant that the police should attend. (through stuttered translation by her poor 9 or 10 yr old son in the car with her) Happy to oblige luv and called the local constabulary for her.

They duly showed up, listened to my reasoned explanation of what happened then her translated rantings and arm wavings and told me to be on my way. Boy was she spitting tacks that I wasn't going to be handcuffed and carted off in the back of the paddy wagon.

The difference here though is she pulled out onto the road, I took her recently vacated space at the edge of the road, then she decided to reverse back again...

**Aitch** · 7th February 2007, 17:28

Rode Code says you have to leave sufficient space between you and the vehicle in front to allow you to stop without hitting it. Bad luck.

**Lucy** · 7th February 2007, 17:33

Put yourself in their place. For example, if you were about to go when you saw a gap, but a) stalled b) had a wasp fly in your helmet, c) felt a cramp in your leg/heart/brain/whatever, and decided not to go, but wait for the next gap. Would you be understanding of someone driving in to the back of you?

**gijoe1313** · 7th February 2007, 17:34

Ahh poopies ...

glad to hear you are okay and I guess it's only a bit of money to sort out, better than sorting it out on a hospital bed! Imagine the situation in reverse...you going off, pulling hard to stop (due to engine or whatever else difficulties) and the cage (or gah, something bigger) "nicking" you in the side

This happened to me, but fortunately no harm - no foul! Your case however is what everyone else has said

Chin up and always consider things could have been a lot worse! (Small comfort as it may be..)

**Fub@r** · 7th February 2007, 17:38

Think we all need to take a bit more caution on the roads lately......... I think the cagers are suffering from sunstroke.

I've had so many near misses in the last week with dipshit cagers, worst one was today where I had a full lockup lanesplitting the north western because this git chnaged lanes without looking or any indication

**DUCATI*HARD** · 7th February 2007, 17:43

if he had crossed the line at the intersection and then stopped you might have a chance.i had hit a car from behind but he had stopped two metres or so after taking off from the stop lines,he accepted he was in the wrong and paid for my car to be fixed.also if he was going and you went to go it must have been clear???never accept liability.

**apteryx_haasti** · 7th February 2007, 17:53

Originally Posted by KATWYN

Who's in the right and whos in the wrong.......

Heres the scenario.

At a stop sign sitting behind said car...

First of all, sorry to hear about your accident - whether it's your fault or not, accidents are never good.

I agree that you're probably at fault, but I'd add that as well as the hitting them from behind thing, there's also the fact that you were at a stop sign in a line of traffic, therefore, even if the car in front of you goes, you still have to come to a complete stop until the way is clear once you get to the front of the queue. Unlike at a give way, where you can go without coming to a stop if the way is clear.

Therefore, even if the car in front was turning the other way from you, unless there is a separate lane for your turn (or space for you to be level with the other car at the stop sign line) then you still have to stop completely before proceeding through the stop sign.

That's my understanding anyway...

Hope it doesn't turn out too expensive for you (or your insurance, at least!)

**KATWYN** · 7th February 2007, 17:54

Ok *sigh* general consensus of this thread - I was at fault.

Mental note.....as crashe said, I will never assume a car has gone...when it
"goes"...people change their minds -for reasons unbeknown to the vehicle behind (i.e., in this case
me on my bike)

Thanks guys and gals

**Colapop** · 7th February 2007, 18:01

Regardless of whether it was your fault or not - NEVER ADMIT LIABILITY. That sounds like a real suck arse dishonest thing to do, but you could end up paying much more than you need to.

**Hitcher** · 7th February 2007, 18:02

It's your fault.

**Patrick** · 7th February 2007, 18:04

Originally Posted by Mole_C

Think he means if there braking to try and knock you off or ripping a handie or something... in which case i don't know who would be at fault.

The one doing the handie....Careless Use...

Deliberately trying to knock you off? Dangerous Driving, or "Lucky..." Depends on how you take the comment...!!!