Need opinions - accident while splitting lanes

828 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Choi85, Oct 31, 2006

notoofast

Discussion Starter · Oct 28, 2006

Got pickled as the driver to my right pushed across the BOT dots. Couldn't help scraping my muffler against her car. No damage to bike (including me) but I scratched the shit out of her car. I told her she was lucky that all she had to worry about was a scratch. Should I have done more. Forgot to tell you she had handicap plates on her car.

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badass1000

· #2 · Oct 28, 2006

was she changing lanes or just pulling to the center? Did she have her turn signal on.
I have had people purposfully move to the center lane so that bikes could not pass them.
I was down by monteray for the moto gp races and a bunch of bikes were all driving down the center as trafic sat parked. Some guy in a full size truck kept moving closer and closer to the center as about 15 of us split lanes passing him. As my girlfriend went by in front of me I thought her helmet was going to hit his mirror. The guy was clearly doing it on purpose. I went by and knocked the fuck out of his mirror. Fucking dick head. We had a lady in a new bmw do the same thing. A friend on his 954 ran his knee puck down the side of her car.
I can see if it was a accident or if she was changing lanes. But the people who do it on purpose deserve it.

reddeth

· #3 · Oct 28, 2006

But the people who do it on purpose deserve it.

+1 to that! Hammer of justice I say... (I used to work for a custom bike builder and he had a tradition of making a mounting point on his own bikes for a small brass hammer, if someone gave him shit, he knocked the fuck out of their mirrors!).

notoofast

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 28, 2006

Traffic stop and go. When she started moving she drifted left - probably had her wheels turned left while she was stopped. I was unlucky to be beside her when she started moving. Guess it taught me more that splitting lanes might be legal but you better be damned careful. Anyhow, I hate to admit that shit happens and be grateful your not the shit. Hate freeways - everybody thinks they have a race license.

JohnyCakes

· #5 · Oct 28, 2006

I have been intentionally hit while splitting lanes...people are su fucked up sometimes...they cant stand sitting in rush hour traffic while I make my way in between cars, so they block me in, open their doors, or in this case just swerve and hit me.

And then being that splitting is illegal here in NY, I cant do anything about it cause if I call the police or highway patrol, guess what?? I'm gonna get written up for violations...thats just the way it is.

You wanna split lanes, better be ready for whatever, and dont cry when it happens. (this comment is not intended for the original poster)

Reactions: 1

Avplayer

· #6 · Oct 28, 2006

yea but in Cali it IS legal to lane split

Reactions: 1

Blakester

· #7 · Oct 28, 2006

Even though splitting lanes is legal in Cali and going between cars to get to the front at a red light, most drivers don't know this and aren't looking out for you. I have been honked at for going to the front at a stoplight and the lady was waving her hands like "what are you doing". Gotta watch your ass.
I doubt if this lady did it on purpose, sounds like she might have been elderly with the handicap plates.

OhSicksGix

· #8 · Oct 28, 2006

wow man, that sucks, could have been worse, i would kicked the womans window in

JohnyCakes

· #9 · Oct 29, 2006

Avplayer said:
yea but in Cali it IS legal to lane split

I am well aware of this

Avplayer

· #10 · Oct 29, 2006

JohnyCakes said:
I am well aware of this

well ssssssssssoooooooooooooooooorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy! :hammer

whoisjoe

· #11 · Oct 30, 2006

Blakester said:
Even though splitting lanes is legal in Cali and going between cars to get to the front at a red light, most drivers don't know this and aren't looking out for you.

I know that lane splitting isn't strictly legal in CA (rather, it's just not illegal). Nevertheless, I was shocked to find not a single reference to it in the CA driver's manual. I mean, a mention of this under the motorcycle section strikes me as the least they can do.

Blakester

· #12 · Oct 30, 2006

whoisjoe said:
I know that lane splitting isn't strictly legal in CA (rather, it's just not illegal). Nevertheless, I was shocked to find not a single reference to it in the CA driver's manual. I mean, a mention of this under the motorcycle section strikes me as the least they can do.

We'll it is strictly legal, being that it isn't illegal. If something isn't illegal, that makes it legal, right. There is no where that says you can't drive a car and eat a hamburger, so therefore it is legal. You aren't going to find that in the handbook either. Samething right?

Reactions: 1

whoisjoe

· #13 · Oct 30, 2006

Blakester said:
We'll it is strictly legal, being that it isn't illegal. If something isn't illegal, that makes it legal, right. There is no where that says you can't drive a car and eat a hamburger, so therefore it is legal. You aren't going to find that in the handbook either. Samething right?

Alright, you make a good point about the legality of it, but as a matter of practicality, the handbook should still mention it. Think about it--this is supposed to be a guide for people learning to drive a car in the state of California. If drivers are not aware that they should expect lane-splitters, and their lack of awareness makes the roads more dangerous, then it should be in there, shouldn't it?

Blaise

· #14 · Oct 30, 2006

The only thing the DMV states (and they are the only ones who have) is that you are allowed to share lanes as long as it is done within reason.
Which roughly translates to if the cop thinks you're being safe about it.

My opinion on what happened is that you have no right of way while splitting. If you scratched up the side of her car, it's entirely your fault.

If you were in your own lane and she entered it, you'd be in the right.
However, you should have stopped and offered her your insurance information for destroying her property.
Remember, even if they have no respect for what you're doing, you have no real right of way for it either. If/when the CHP shows up NEVER admit you were splitting, in the case of an accident.

Reactions: 1

Big Worm

· #15 · Oct 30, 2006

Blaise is right, if she came into your lane then your in the right, which what it sounds like if she came over the dots. I could not see you being at fault unless it was at high speeds but you claim it was stop and go so she would be at fault. Be careful, I've been hit on the fwy splitting lanes, it's no fun for sure.

Reactions: 1

Blakester

· #16 · Oct 30, 2006

whoisjoe said:
Alright, you make a good point about the legality of it, but as a matter of practicality, the handbook should still mention it. Think about it--this is supposed to be a guide for people learning to drive a car in the state of California. If drivers are not aware that they should expect lane-splitters, and their lack of awareness makes the roads more dangerous, then it should be in there, shouldn't it?

You are right. I just think that if the rider gets hit while sharing a lane, it is the riders fault. The car in the lane originally has the right to that entire lane and if you choose to ride in the same lane and they cross no lines, you would be at fault. You basically have to look out for them and use your judgement and take risks while doing it.

Valhalla

· #17 · Oct 31, 2006

just because its legal to ride without ahelmet here in florida, does that make it a smart thing to do?

the same goes with lane splitting. its entirily your fault for being in her lane.

Reactions: 1

Choi85

· #18 · Oct 31, 2006 (Edited)

wow. people bashing on lane sharing...haha. comparison between wearing a helmet and lane sharing? apples and oranges.

I live in cali, i do this lane sharing thing when theres traffic, theres no harm and no foul to it. I actually feel safer between cars in traffic, don't have to worry about getting rear ended. This is just my opinion. i've been lane splitting for a good two years now for practically everyday. As long as you dont fly by cars going above 15mph of their speed, you're golden. Otherwise it scares the bajesus out of the people in cars and is illegal at that point. (30+mph lane sharing is illegal in california [just as a note to those who don't know])

If you're lane sharing and the car int eh same lane hits oyu, your fault. If a car from another lane hits you, their fault.

As for the accident, ALWAYS write down driver information or else they can claim that you did a hit and run and then you're really phucked.

Oh, and when you're driving in a car, make room, kindness goes a long way and sets a good example so other drivers know what to do.

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