Hi again. Had my three minutes in court. The driver was defending himself against a charge that carries a $100 fine and three demerit licence points. (That about $50 for you Yanks and £35 for the Brits! If you lose more than twelve points over three years, you lose your licence.) The hearing was before a Magistrate - no jury; not major enough.
I had to give the details of the accident from my POV and draw a diagramme of the accident site on a whiteboard. (I didn't think about using my left hand for that, Mike.But since I've been back riding for the last three weeks, it would have been a bit dishonest!
)
(Details of accident scene: double-lane highway with wide left shoulder (we ride on the left in Oz.) Coming up to left exit to another road via slip-lane. I intended to proceed straight ahead; driver wanted to exit via the slip-lane. He came around on my right and knocked me off.)
It was then the driver's turn to ask questions. However he started to talk at length about his POV, and was quickly pulled into line by the Magistrate, who told him the time for a statement was later. So he had two questions:
1) Had I seen him when he saw me look around prior to crossing the exit ramp from the highway? Answer: No, but because of the blow to my head via the helmet, I had very little recollection of events surrounding the accident. (Note: he saw me some time before the accident.)
2) Didn't I think I should stop before proceeding ahead? Answer: No, because I am a vehicle with the same rights as a car, and since I am simply continuing to travel forward, I have the right of way over a car turning off the road.
I will find out tomorrow afternoon what the outcome was, when I contact one of the people who was at the court. I didn't want to hang around and have any contact following the hearing. I will be terribly disappointed (:irritated) if it isn't what we all know it should be. I think he was starting to think he should just have paid the fine and been done with it. Meanwhile, a friend today went through a speed camera, and will probably have to pay double the fine that went with this guy's charge.
Thank for the messages of support. I'll let you know what the outcome was.
Cheers
Beaver