A bike ran a stop sign and ran into the side of my car earlier this year. I was driving at speed (30mph) with traffic. Not sure why he proceeded since I didn't have a stop sign or traffic light. I assume he was high. I got out and told him we should call the police but he refused and took off. He didn't seem to be hurt. I followed him for a few blocks just to make sure he was okay.

I've been hit twice by cars while on my bike.

In one case, I had the right of way after the driver and I both came to a stop at a four-way stop sign, and the car hit me going about 2 miles an hour as we both proceeded into the intersection. It was raining and I figured that was probably why. No damage to the car. Turned out there was minor damage to my gear shift mechanism, but I paid for that because I hadn't asked the driver for their info.

In the other, I was in a bike lane commuting to work near Dupont Circle. A Lyft driver drove into the lane and hit my arm. They stopped and apologized and said they hadn't seen me, they were trying to go around the car ahead of them to turn right and didn't look to see if there was anyone in the bike lane. It was raining (again) and I didn't want to be late for work, so I told them they should feel free to leave without making any report to anyone. No damage to car or to bike. I had minor pain on my elbow/wrist/lower arm but it went away on its own after a couple of days.

Anonymous wrote:gong

ped/cyclists/scooters violate laws at rates as high or higher than drivers. MD at least is a contributory negligence state, if you're even a little at fault your options are limited in court.

The fact you think these are any sort of public safety equivalent means you need to be institutionalized, or have your drivers license revoked at the minimum.

Anonymous wrote:I have been hit twice by people on bikes. Both times I was stopped in traffic on CT Ave and the bikes hit me from behind or clipped my front while trying to whiz around me.

Bikes do not belong on major roads. And bikes should not whiz in between cars.

PS - Why on earth is that stupid restaurant on CT Ave across from Comet still allowed to block off a lane for outdoor seating that doesn’t exist? Every day there’s a near miss when cars try to switch lanes.

Oh geez, you poor baby. Were you OK? Thank God and G0d you were protected by four tons of steel machinery.

Anonymous wrote:Cars must yield to pedestrians and bikes. If a car hits a pedestrian or bike (with the obvious exception of an unexpected pedestrian jumping out in front of them without a crosswalk etc) then it’s usually the fault of the car driver for not paying attention.

gong

ped/cyclists/scooters violate laws at rates as high or higher than drivers. MD at least is a contributory negligence state, if you're even a little at fault your options are limited in court.

Recently? No. But 4 or 5 years ago I was driving and a bicyclist blew through a stop sign at a 4-way stop doing about 20-30 mph and hit me. Bike stopped and he flew over the car and landed hard. He was all scrapped up and plenty mad at me and was looking like he wanted to take a swing at me until the cop who was behind me at the 4 way stop walked up.

My insurance company dealt with it. He had a lawyer call me and write a nasty letter. Apparently his client hadn't told him a cop was an eyewitness witness.

Anonymous wrote:First, are you or are they ok?
Second- who is considered at fault? Is it criminal or usually considered a vehicular accident? Whenever I see bikers on roads I always think- it's just a matter of time before they are hurt. I'm always careful around bikes, but I've seen crazy things.

Too many variables in your question, OP. One of the most important is which jurisdiction? Was the bike in a protected lane or a crosswalk? Did one party break another law, like running a stop sign or light, as above? Etc

I had a friend in college who was hit by a car but it was his fault (he ran a stop sign). He wasn't badly hurt and he did pay for the guy's mirror.

I bike and have had a number of close calls but never actually been hit. It shocks me how I'm completely in bike lane not possibly impacting someone and they decide to try to splash me or buzz too close. One time when I was 12, biking home from school through my suburban neighborhood a woman nearly hit me to screech at me that I should be on a sidewalk (which isn't correct).

I have been hit twice by people on bikes. Both times I was stopped in traffic on CT Ave and the bikes hit me from behind or clipped my front while trying to whiz around me.

Bikes do not belong on major roads. And bikes should not whiz in between cars.

PS - Why on earth is that stupid restaurant on CT Ave across from Comet still allowed to block off a lane for outdoor seating that doesn’t exist? Every day there’s a near miss when cars try to switch lanes.

Luckily no, but had several close calls with cars turning right on their red arrow or on no turn on red (in dc bikes follow pedestrian signals), or just turning and driver watching for cars in the direction where car traffic is coming from, and not looking in other direction with potential pedestrians / bikes on sidewalk / bike lane.

I mostly cycle on separated bike lanes, so intersections are my main encounter with cars.

Cars must yield to pedestrians and bikes. If a car hits a pedestrian or bike (with the obvious exception of an unexpected pedestrian jumping out in front of them without a crosswalk etc) then it’s usually the fault of the car driver for not paying attention.

Anonymous wrote:It’s hit and run and illegal.

It’s not a hit and run if you stay at the scene.

Anonymous wrote:It’s hit and run and illegal.

I imagine it's not always hit and run. But, of course, yes, if it is.

It’s hit and run and illegal.

First, are you or are they ok?
Second- who is considered at fault? Is it criminal or usually considered a vehicular accident? Whenever I see bikers on roads I always think- it's just a matter of time before they are hurt. I'm always careful around bikes, but I've seen crazy things.