think5577

OK, OK... no, I havent yet nor do I plan on it, but just wondering if I started an accidcent between 2 cars and I'm not hurt BUT see it... what do I do?

Ride off?

Stop and confess?

Just wondering!

PWRDbyTRD

IF you saw it, atleast give your info to someone so if the cops needs a 3rd party's story they can get it

think5577

No, No... if I personally started it with me riding my bike?

khuon

In almost every state in the US, you are obligated by law to stop and wait to give your account to the police. In some cases, you are also obligated to render assistance.

PWRDbyTRD

LoL man, if it started with you I'd definitely hang around. That could get you some form of a citation.

waterboy

Its amazing that you even "wonder" what to do.

I am amazed every day as I see people aviod taking ownership for their own actions. What ever happenned to doing the right thing because its simply the right thing. You dont stay becuase of the consequence of some law- you stay, you help out- becuase its the right thing to do period.

That you even have to ask the question tells me a lot about you.

boyze

ditto ditto ditto ditto and another ditto

John00

If you don't stop it would be Hit and Run, and if someone was hurt you could be charged with a felony.

montyj

Take Off Like The Wind!!!!!

ajay677

Absolutely, stop, render assistance, wait for the police to arrive on the scene. If you, as you said, caused the accident, DON'T, give your account to the police. You are under NO obligation to make a statement. (practice saying: "I'm more than happy to talk to you with my legal counsel present.") DO give your personal information, name, address, name of insurance company and so on. DO call your lawyer as soon as practical and talk to your lawyer about the incident. And no, I'm not a lawyer and I'm not giving you legal advice.

my58vw

It depends on the situation...

if you were a small part then you should stop... the only kind of accident I can think of is the one where you were riding unsafely and caused a casr to swerve into another car.

If the accident was real bad you should still stop and see what happens...

Waxbytes

I am not sure how a bicycle rider could "cause" a 2000+pound car to have an accident.

khuon

The same way another 2000+ pound car can cause someone to have an "accident". There are variations on the idea and of course other possibilities but picture if you will a cyclist swerving into the lane either from the shoulder or from an adjacent lane causing the traffic in the target lane to take evasive maneuvers which may result in loss of control of one or more vehicles and collisions. A person stepping out into the middle of traffic can also cause the same thing as could an animal.

swifferman

definitely stick around because if you don't you could be charged with a more serious offence. In Canada you get charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident or hit and run if you directly caused it. Don't know if that applies if you're on a bike though...

steveknight

with lawyers who needs to fess up?? (G)

Rowan

Calling caloso, calling caloso...

Ask the question of a qualified legal person if it concerns you so much. Having said that, if your behaviour as a cyclist is such that you have to ask the question, then enrol in a recognised rider training course.

With a few exceptions, no-one here is qualified to give you an accurate answer.

Pat

I suppose that one can imagine a set of circumstances where a cyclist sets a chain of events in motion that ends up in a vehicular accident with the cyclist left unscathed. However, I have never ever even heard of a reasonably responsible road cyclist causing an accident and if they did it would probably require temporary insanity. It is such a remote possibility that it is not worth worrying about.

Now, here in central FL, many motorists have a compulsion to pass cyclists at high speeds on blind turns. It is a form of Russian Roulette, central Florida Roulette?. The motorist might claim that the cyclist "caused" the accident but it was his own illegal, irresponsible and stupid behavior that resulted in the accident. I have seen motorists pull this dumb stund hundreds of times and so far they have all been lucky.

Dahon.Steve

If you cut a red light and the driver has to take an evasive action killing someone else on the street, you in fact caused the accident.

I've never caused an accident but left the motorist in situation where an accident nearly happened! The situation happens quite frequently when a car on the opposite side tries to make a left hook in front of you.

A motorist at night saw me at the last minute and came to a stop right in the middle of the road! I stopped thinking he was going to cross in front of me (Left hook). As a result, another car coming at 40 mph came to a screaching hault. I did not cause this near accident because the motorist should not have made that left hook unless the road was clear. Quite frequently, the motorist will miscalculate your speed and put you in a terrible position.

iridebikes

The right thing to do is stop. Cyclist ask and want all motor vehicles to treat us with respect and honor our right to use the roads the same as they do. If your at fault fess up and if your not no harm will come by stopping. Running off just disgraces all of us.

think5577

Well thanks for labeling me. Cant someone ask to know whats the RIGHT thing to do? Now I said "Ride off" seeing what some of you might say, and some choose that side.

I guess I know what happens when asking a "common sense" question in this forum. I would totally stay and see if people are ok, and I would hope someone does the same if I was in accident. Im no idiot on the street that I would cause one, but some things are nice to know.

What ever happened to "There are no stupid questions."?

Anthony King

Somebody in elementary school told you that, right? Or maybe it was at a corporate employee meeting. (The two environments are strikingly similiar.) They were well-intentioned and trying to help out the shy kids/workers--but they were lying. There are plenty of stupid questions. Plenty.

FRED CASTRO

Does your 12 speed Peugeot have Siimplex rear derailleur? Mine does and I need a replacement. Any ideas? Thanks- Fred Castro

OregonXC

Mine does too but it works great!

think5577

HAHA ok.

Yeah, it sure does. Try eBay or LBS. But try starting a new thread with that question.