I recently learned that in the Netherlands, there is a presumption of guilt if an injury or death involves a motor vehicle and the guilt is assigned to the operator of the motor vehicle. That is radically different from the US. By law, no particular type of travel has extra protection or responsibility, but the way things are practiced, the auto driver is often given legal deference. We in the bike and pedestrian communities are working to change it, because basically, injuring and killing people with your car is a de facto right. Getting hurt while walking or cycling is just the cost of living.