dgrenthum

crazy, was taking my kid to the doctor and was on a busy two lane road. I was headed east and a car pulled out of a side road to head west. Unfortunately, a cyclist crossed right in front of the car as the car was trying to hurry into traffic. The cyclist had the right of way but I'd be damned if i was to cross in front of a car at an intersection without them acknowledging me. Well not since i was hit by a car

I stopped to render aid and he was in the middle of the intersection. He insisted on moving out of the intersection. Left leg injury but no blood. Lucky guy i guess, if i would have been 2 seconds sooner him launching off the guys hood would have put him into the side of my car or under my wheel.

Driver was cool. Had his cell phone out as soon as he got out of the car. Asked the cyclist to lie there while he got help. Moved the guys bike out of the intersection. He questioned having an ambulance sent and i insisted. I feel bad i didnt stay.....I wonder if i should call and make a statement, other witnesses were there when i left. hmmmm....

All in All......Public Safety reminder: Be aware, you might have the right away but its not worth getting smashed for.

rkerider

That's an awful thing to witness, but I'm sure both parties appreciated you stopping to assist. Since the motorist stopped it will just be between the cyclist and the motorist insurance company. If you'd stayed on scene the police would gather your information and you could be a witness if it goes to court, but I don't think morally leaving early was any problem.

kennytb

Agree with your safety reminder. Stay safe. Drivers are so often inattentive. I hope that the rider is alright.

SeaDawg

My understanding is that if there's an injury, you should stay to offer help and if no one else is around to do so, provide an eyewitness report. Yea, it's between the cyclist and the driver, but without at least one third person, it's he said-she said.

Not saying you should have stayed longer, since at least one other witness was still there when you left.

Neil_B

I wouldn't worry about leaving. Oftentimes the police have enough information from the participants and the first witness they find and don't need additional reports. When riding to work in 2007 I witnessed an accident between two drivers. The police didn't bother with my statement.

kansastdi

If you have to leave then just give your name and phone number to victim and have the police interview you later.

Wogster

Especially this time of year, in many parts of North America, there haven't been a lot of cyclists around for the last few months, but they are all coming out of the wood work now, and drivers are not used to them yet. Probably a good idea to runs lights in flashing mode during the day until the cycling season is in full swing.

Pug

Excellent advice !

exile

Call the police and give a statement. Or at least try to get into contact with the victim (cyclist).

As was pointed out before; it becomes a "he said, she said" dispute. You never know what other witnesses saw.

I post sometimes in the Advocacy and Safety forum. All to often you hear stories about cyclist's having to obtain a lawyers because the Driver's insurance only wants to pay the minimum amount. Remember the police were not there and did not see what happened.

There was one case where the police actually showed up to the hospital (never made it to the accident scene) and was hoping the cyclist could provide information as to what happened and who witnessed it.

I guess if the cyclist was in a coma they would have wrote him off as an "uncooperative" witness.

Basically, you are witness to an accident. You don't know what the driver told the cops.

In one case a driver told the cops that the cyclist purposely rammed the side of the car taking off the mirror. According to the driver he felt threatened by the cyclist and came out the car with a baseball bat. The other cyclist who were there stated the driver sideswiped them and were trying to stop him to get his information.

Seve

x 2

OiS

I think best thing is to either wait for the police, or failing that, at leave your name and number with the victim before taking off.

As for the safety issue, when I am riding my bike, I always ride with the attitude that I am basically invisible. Unless I make eye contact, I am always weary about enforcing my right of way!