Originally Posted by Slaninar

In my country it's usually the driver's responsibility, no matter what happens. For a cyclist/pedestrian collision - the cyclist gets it. I had a situation:

Riding slowly on a separate bicycle lane. An elderly pedestrian runs for a bus, across the lane, jumping between a tree line, hitting me sideways (my upper body took most of the hit). He fell, and started shouting, crying. I had called an ambulance, they picked him to the hospital. Then came the police and took my data. Another cyclst, that was riding behind me, stopped to give his report to the police, of how it all happened. There was no way for me to see, or avoid the pedestrian.

I was then taken to the hospital along with the bike Blood was taken, to test for alcohol. The final verdict was: if the pedestrian has any bones broken, the public prossecutor would press criminal charges against me, for causing "grevious bodily harm" - and I'd have to pay some good lawyers and forensics to avoid a severe fine. If there's no bones broken, then it's settled, no charges ?!?!?! From then on, I like bike lanes even less.