banjo_mole 

1. No, I do much for the dear lady, and she treats me well, but usually doesn't bring me things. *shrug*

2. Military brat? Hmm... Yes, I get miltary insurance. (Something I forgot to mention above,) but I don't live on a base or with my enlisted family members. It's hard for me to get into this and still avoid politics, so lets say "no," I am not... Unless I misunderstand the term.

kergin

This is a double-edged sword, and I wish Canadians wouldn't pull it out as an argument so often. In Canada, you can only sue for damages lost, so things like x number days of work lost, bike repairs, etc... I don't have a problem with that, but some drivers are unrepentant mother-****ers that deserve the financial ruin a US system would allow.

Charles Wahl

To me the term simply means "progeny/dependents of a family whose support depends on military employment." Nothing political about it, excepting the authoritarian leanings of many people in the military, the fact that progeny/dependents/spouses did not choose a military lifestyle, and that there are sometimes strongly-held opinions/reactions on both sides of that -- you see, I was one myself.

Business810

Wow, I've been late to the game on every big thread lately. Sorry to hear about the accident Nick, and take it easy!

mkeller234

Glad to hear you got the medical ok.

I wonder if your friend mentioned that the flowers were from you and not him

rotharpunc

yea...he did look like he was up to no good in that pic you posted!

gamecat

Glad to hear you're alright. All's well that ends well. Take some ibuprofen before bed tonight, you'll be happy you did in the morning.

Mike Mills

Excessive speed

Wreckless driving

Display of speed

Riding on sidewalk

Exceeding 15 mph basic speed limit law in a school zone.

Entirely your fault.

You are hosed.

txvintage

Dunno what school zone speed limits are in your area but they are 20 mph here, so no excessive speed, displays of speed, or exceeding a school zone speed limit.

He clearly stated the other party tried to claim he was riding on the sidewalk when indeed he was not.

Wreckless driving? No, he clearly wrecked.............................but if you meant reckless driving I would offer that is speculation.

Fault seemsd to lie with the vehicle who turned left into an unclear intersction and lane.

Nick, glad to hear the check up went well and nothing serious so far. The next few days are going to be long ones.

While it's a drag your Ironman took a ding, in the overall spectrum of things it's pretty minor collateral damage.

Blue Order

A) Excessive speed: He was going 20 MPH; that is not an "excessive speed," even for a bicycle.

B) "Wreckless" driving: Reckless driving would require proof that he operated a vehicle "in willful
or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property." That did not happen in this collision.

C) Display of speed: Again, 20 MPH, and in California, "exhibition of speed" is a motor vehicle offense-- doesn't apply to cyclists.

D) Riding on sidewalk: He wasn't on the sidewalk (and even if he had been, that is usually not illegal).

E) Exceeding 15 mph basic speed limit law in a school zone: In California, the speed limit in a school zone is 25 MPH; he was going 20 MPH.

F) Entirely your fault: Even if he had done any of the above, it would not be "entirely" his fault. After all. the car turned across his path of travel. Unless he was in a right-turn only lane, he had the right of way, and from what he's told us, it doesn't sound as if he was in a right-turn only lane. And even if he was, the driver still had a duty to keep a proper lookout, which clearly didn't happen.

So, entirely the driver's fault, unless Nick was in a right-turn only lane, and even then, Nick would only be partially at fault.

gamecat

Mike Mills, Blue Order is entirely correct. Please take your Perry Mason impression to another thread.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

banjo_mole 

No, I indeed was not in a right-turn-only lane, I know better!

But I don't see how anyone could hope to cite me for wreck-less riding, as I made it quite clear that I did indeed wreck!!!

Apparently I got on the news for it, too. No one told me about that. Until I was shopping and mentioned that it happened, the people in line behind me said they heard about that on the news.

And, of course, this morning my neck and shoulders hurt like they've never hurt before, stiff and sore and I'm trying not to move my big ol' dome around...

Oww...

You guys rock. Thanks for being such pals,

Nick

Mike Mills

I'm glad to hear you are okay. You even got the little pun of "wreckless" driving, so you must be okay.

The post was intended to be somewhat humorous, building upon the other drivers claim that you were at fault. It is an example of a more complete set of charges which a lying sack of **** might levy against you.

I was involved in one accident where the driver did drive off, leaving me sprawled on the ground in the middle of rush hour traffic.

I was involved in another (automobile accident in a parking lot) where a driver backed into me, then claimed I hit him in the rear. We had just driven the car off the new car lot. The only good news is new paint is easy to match.

jack002

So, lets recap here, the OP hits a car by passing one and going 20 in a school zone and banging into another one turning left in a careless manner and has to post about it on BF, thus adding to his former injuries with further ones to the body, ego, head, etc. Ok. So am I the only one here thats seeing a pattern of behavior here?

Kommisar89

I’m glad you are ok Nick. I broke my collarbone and the doc told me to one day expect a touch of arthritis in my should. It's been 15 years and hasn't happened yet (fingers crossed). Most of you guys have an interesting interpretation of the legal situation but maybe I'm not understanding it correctly. Here's what I am picturing in my mind: Nick is next to this SUV and sees him slowing for the right turn. Not wanting to be cut-off by the SUV he speeds up, passes the SUV on the right, and proceeds through the intersection. I'm the driver of the oncoming vehicle waiting to make a left turn. The traffic clears. I see an SUV approaching in the right lane (I assume there is no special right turn lane here). He is still far enough back from the corner and going slow enough that I can safely make the left turn without interfering with the turn or causing a hazard to any oncoming traffic. I proceed to make the left turn with plenty of room between me and the slow moving, right turning SUV. Suddenly, a cyclist that I could not possibly have seen because he was obscured by the SUV, passes the SUV on the right hand side (I'm pretty sure that is illegal) and proceeds through the intersection and runs into me. I cannot see how the driver of the left turning vehicle had an obligation to anticipate a vehicle to the right of another vehicle already in the right lane would pass on the right and proceed through the intersection. I’m a cyclist myself and commute by bicycle more than I drive a car but I honestly can’t see how the driver of the left turning vehicle here caused the accident and I could certainly see that happening to me or anyone else in similar circumstances. To think of it another way, what if Nick had been riding a small motorcycle instead of a bicycle and had done the same thing? Would you still be saying it was all the fault of the driver turning left?

riva

Yes. If you're making a left it is your responsibility to make sure your path is clear. People going strait or making rights have the right-of-way.

It is not illegal to pass cars on a bicycle or moped.

Kommisar89

That's not what the cop told me when I got hit. He specifically said it was my fault because I was passing on the right. I was in much the same situation an Nick - I was next to a truck about even with his back wheel and moving at the same speed. The truck suddenly slowed and turned right before I could react and I slammed into the side of it.

If what you are saying true then the driver of any left turning vehicle is screwed. Let's assume he did "make sure the path is clear". He could not possibly have seen a bicycle on the other side of the SUV and he had no more reason to assume Nick's bicycle would come speeding out from around that SUV then that a Martian flying saucer would beam down from outspace and land in the middle of the intersection. Or would he be at fault for hitting the Martian too? I know there are a lot of jack*** drivers out there but I just don't see how the left turning driver was at fault in this particular instance. But like I said earlier, I'm no legal expert and the laws don't always make sense.

BassManNate

Now, now. I think he's learned his lesson. This is C&V not A&S.

Amani576

I know there is no such thing as a faultless accident, but this kinda seems like one. Neither Nick, nor the driver could really anticipate the other. They just kinda collided much to the surprise of each other. Nick is incredibly lucky to be moving, and I think he knows that. I think he could've been a little smarter by not have been sprinting through the intersection, but we all make mistakes. Nick is hurting, and I'm pretty sure he won't do that again (Take the lane instead). I doubt the car was badly injured. If the other people come after you, they're just being pricks.
Again, take it easy.
You never did say how your parents and girlfriend reacted to it.
-Gene-

DavidW56

Actually, I'm wondering why either his mom or dad didn't take him to the hospital, unless he didn't disclose this event to them. I understand why you didn't think of seeing a doctor -- at your age, you think everything's fine if you're walking and talking. At age 24, I was clipped across the forehead by the open hood of a car I was helping jump-start -- the idiot behind the wheel had either left it in gear, or put it in gear, and the car leaped forward when the engine caught. My wife (my fiancee at the time) sat up that night with me, not letting me sleep too much, fearing I had a concussion. Knowing what we know now, I should have gone straight to the ER.

I'm glad you got medical attention and are fine now. Use this experience to be a more cautious and defensive rider.

King of Kadence

Wow, glad you're ok.

I've had accidents when I was a youngster(door prize!). I've been lucky and never been hurt. Having an accident is a good learning experience of just how quickly and instantly things can go wrong and also how much accidents suck.

The thought of mrs banjo mole becoming the young widow banjo mole is too much for me to bear.

Be safe.

USAZorro

Nick - we're glad you're going to be ok, and we can tell you've learned a few things from this.

I'm closing the thread, because it appears to be devolving into something one would see in A&S. If people want to continue the discussion there, feel free. I am locking the thread here, because this is the Classic and Vintage Forum.

For C&V regulars, please send any further expressions to Nick in PM.

Thanks for playing everyone.