Lotta people using the terrible term "accident" in this thread.

I strongly urge you all to STOP using this horrible word! It's deeply embedded in the American psyche that any collision in a car is an "accident," an "act of god," the convergence of circumstances completely beyond anyone's control. The reality is that VERY FEW collisions are the result of the above. The VAST MAJORITY of crashes are the result of irresponsible behavior of drivers. Drivers CHOOSE to drive poorly and wreck as a result.

Like the woman interviewed on the Bay Area news a few weeks ago. "I was on my phone when this guy slammed into me!" she exclaimed. An out-of-control RV smashed into her on the freeway. And she readily admits she was on the phone! (Sure it could have been hands-free and legal...) But maybe, just MAYBE if you CHOSE to instead place ALL of your attention on driving, you could have AVOIDED being hit! Like if you had been checking your mirrors regularly instead of yakking on the phone, you could have seen it coming and taken evasive action! But nope, this "poor lady" was the victim of "unavoidable circumstance." I call BS!

And when a collision occurs, why START the discussion or evaluation of the incident with a word that implies innocence on the parties involved? Isn't that a rather subjective way to begin the conversation? It MIGHT have been an "accident," but why assume as much before any facts are known? And given driver behavior today, it's a RARE case indeed where a collision was totally unavoidable and everyone was driving responsibly. Very rare.

SFPD has prohibited the use of this word in their official reports. Good on them.

So we should use more appropriate language: crash, collision, wreck or incident are excellent alternatives.

Any cyclist using the "a" word is inadvertently aiding and abetting the entitlement of drivers that promotes a society and justice system that repeatedly refuses to hold drivers responsible for egregious behavior behind the wheel. This is why you can kill behind the wheel and face ZERO consequence. Like the Oakland driver a few years ago who doored a cyclist (violation of CVC 22517) which threw him into the path of a bus, killing him. This driver was neither detained nor cited, but instead was allowed to leave the scene to attend a damn hair salon appointment! Sorry, but if you violate the vehicle code and kill someone, the rest of your day should be "ruined." I'd expect that person to spend hours and hours at the local police station showing proof of vehicle registration, insurance and proper maintenance. Also submit to a drug screening and have phone records investigated. Again, you just KILLED SOMEONE!

But not in the USA.
Driver: "It was just an accident and I didn't MEAN to kill him!"
Police Officer: "Ok, fine driver, please be on your way. Sorry for the inconvenience and all the blood."

Yeah, the word "accident" is part of the problem.