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When bikes crash

gneGnegneGne Registered User regular
edited April 2007 in Help / Advice Forum
Wow, I got in my first traffic accident.

What I would really need right now, is what my rights are and in how much I am responsible.

So this is what happened.


| . . . . . . . . . . . . . .^ |
. . . . . . . . . . x. . ^ . . . . . <<<<<<
- - - - - - - - - - - -0 - - - b i k e r o a d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >>>>>>
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |

0 = me
x = other man
^ = way I wanted to go

So I wanted to turn left there, but I got intercepted. This bike road is a one-way road. This means one-half is for going that specific way.

So we crashed and luckily I have nothing but a few scratches on my legs. The other man however, his front wheel got wrecked. We both stood up and I immediately asked if he was alright and I apoligized.
Without even asking if I was alright he started about my insurance and how I am gonna pay for his wrecked bike. I told him it would be ok. Later on we exchanged numbers and names etc..

So now I'm back at home, but I started thinking if it really was all my fault. I agree that I didnt give directions and I didn't look behind me. But I also think it was his fault for quite a bit. He was cycling pretty fast and he intercepted me while I was already slowing down and turned my wheel for just a little bit.
I am from the Netherlands but I couldn't really find any clear info on the net about bike accidents. Any help?

pasigcopyox6.jpg
gneGne on

Posts

  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2007
    Well, if he just ran into the back of you, I'd say he's at fault. Either way, you're not supposed to admit fault in these situations. You just let the insurance companies fight it out.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • FawkesFawkes __BANNED USERS regular
    edited April 2007
    Er, afraid you are at fault if I have that diagram correct.

    You were supposed to at the very least check there was nothing behind you, as you were turning directly across the other lane of the road to turn left. If he was going in the same direction as you, as I think you mean, he was overtaking on the outside which is what you are legally meant to do. His speed has nothing to do with it, unless he was over the speed limit (unlikely on a bike), which you wouldn't be able to prove anyway.

    Even if he was going in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the road, you would be at fault, as he would have right of way. The only way in which he would be at fault is if he was actually cycling the wrong way down the outside lane (the one you had to turn across).

    You really need to make that diagram a bit more clear, ie which direction he was travelling is important.

    That's according to the British rules of the road, of course it may be different in the Netherlands.

    Fawkes on
  • gneGnegneGne Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Maybe this is a bit more clear?

    22727279jo6.jpg

    Brown = me
    Grey = him

    Grey wanted to go to the right down the orange road and he was overtaking me. I didn't give directions but I was on the good half of the lane and was already slowing down.

    gneGne on
    pasigcopyox6.jpg
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2007
    Ah...the Kandinsky maneuver.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • FawkesFawkes __BANNED USERS regular
    edited April 2007
    Yeah, totally your fault.

    Fawkes on
  • gneGnegneGne Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Maybe... but you know that we both weren't allowed to cycle on the upper part (lane) of the orange road. So he was at fault with that though...

    gneGne on
    pasigcopyox6.jpg
  • FawkesFawkes __BANNED USERS regular
    edited April 2007
    He was overtaking on the outside, that's how you are meant to do it...if he had to go far out to do so, that actually means you were too far out, especially considering you didn't signal/check to turn.

    Fawkes on
  • SzechuanosaurusSzechuanosaurus Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2007
    Yeah, I mean depending on what speed he was traveling at he was presumably intending on overtaking you. I don't really know how it works with push bikes but with cars basically you don't overtake and you SURE AS HELL don't overtake at the approach to a junction. Assuming it was a junction. I dunno, to me it just seems like he was riding recklessly anyway - if he hit you then he was either cycling too fast or not paying enough attention to what was in front of him or both.

    Keep schtum and let the insurance companies fight it out.

    Szechuanosaurus on
  • gneGnegneGne Registered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Well Im gonna write him a letter right now. Thanks for the help, although the rules might be alot different here in Holland. Gonna discuss this with my dad when he gets home.

    gneGne on
    pasigcopyox6.jpg
  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    edited April 2007
    Having done a lot of bike path riding, it does sound like he was planning on overtaking you, probably because you were slowing down to turn, or just cause he was going faster.

    On the trails I ride, we always shout something before passing like, "On your left!" as it really covers all you need to know. Did he say anything before passing?

    You unfortunaly didn't signal, but since you wouldn't have been in his path during the turn, as he was in the same lane, that shouldn't be a problem.

    MichaelLC on
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