How do you tell your parents you were cycling along and a car came out of nowhere and you accidentally hit it, causing damage. When the driver then gets out and starts swearing at you. Who would be in the wrong?
2007-07-02 02:38:54 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
Firstly, tell your parents straight and explain exactly what happened to cause the accident & include what happened afterwards.
From what you have said there is a chance that you may not be in the wrong. If the car pulled out in front of you - the car is wrong. You ahve just the same rights as any other vehicle on the road & must be respected as such.
In the event of an accident do not admit fault - that is the decision of the police/insurance company to deal with. If you have admitted fault but because the driver was shouting/being abusive, then it does not count. You were acting under duress. Note also that if the driver was abusive you can take action against them - even if it was your fauly.
(So you had an accident - operative word is accident. You did not go out & vandalise his car. He has no right to be abusive)
Get your parents on board. tell them about the way the car came to be in your path & how the driver reacted. HOWEVER don't make up anything extra. Keep it straight and simple. I can only guess that you are young (how to tell parents). A car driver may try to bully you into admitting guilt whether it is your fault or not, however the picture may change considerably if the car driver has to deal with you & your parents together. For this reason you need to tell your parents all there is to know about the event. Your parents will be hard pressed to help if the car driver can bring up details they don't know in advance.
Even if you were in the wrong, your parents knowing the details will allow for damage control of the issue.
You may feel it was your fault even if it was not. Tell your story exactly as it happened & get your parents decision on it too. Also, where there any witnesses? In general witnesses to a cycle/car accident will be sympathetic to the cyclist. If you can, find them & get their version of what happened.
At the end of the day, how far you have to take things will also have to take into consideration the amount of damage incurred - including to your bike (from your question I am presuming you were thankfully not injured)
Your parents will be glad you weren't hurt and are likely to put that before all else. If your parents tend to be hard to approach, print this answer out & ask them to read it first before reacting.
Good luck.
2007-07-02 04:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know the details of your accident but if there was damage the cops should have been called and they could site the person in the wrong. But if the guy is trying to get money out of you saying it's your fault it's time to just tell your parents something like; Mom , Dad, I was riding along on my bike and this idiot in a car came out of no where and cut me off and almost killed me and he's demanding money for the damage I did to his car. And it was he who crumpled my BIKE!.
Just tell them man. I'm sure they are more concerned with your safety than some damage to some a holes car. Good Luck
2007-07-02 02:54:32 · answer #2 · answered by blastabuelliac 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most likely the driver of the car. When a bicycle is on the road. Laws say that you have to treat it just as you would another car. When you pass, you need to be fully in the other lane.
If there was damage, then the police should have been called and a report filed. Tell your parents what happened and they will take it from there. good luck -- Just glad you weren't hurt.
2007-07-02 02:45:04 · answer #3 · answered by Fordman 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry but it is not possible for a car to come out of nowhere it must have come from Somewhere, without having the full details it is not possible to apportion blame for example if you were on the main road and the car driver came from a side minor road causing you to hit him he would be at fault. also most car drivers will swear when they realise they are at fault. In any event tell your parents about it they will just be grateful you were not hurt.
2007-07-02 02:58:25 · answer #4 · answered by SAPPER 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just be thankful that your parents have not needed to visit you in the hospital or even worse
Blame is not normally the issue when a minor on a cycle is involved. The driver might try to get your parents to pay up but realistically it is likely to be him that will ultimately take the blame
Just tell them and accept the consequences.
2007-07-02 05:10:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your a cyclist your in the right, dont care about the law or what anybody else says. a car weighing 2 tons made of steel and a kid on a bike. the driver would be in the wrong no matter whos at fault. i had a 71/2 ton flat bed lorry run over me when i was 15 years old on a bike, the bastard drove on by as his rear wheel crushed the bike frame into my legs. its bad enough cyclists have to carry a flashing neon sign saying " cyclist on road" actually the latter obviously isnt true but even if they did no doubt a car driver would smack into them and make it the cyclists fault.
2007-07-02 03:10:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mom & Dad, I've got good news and bad news. Good news: I'm alive! Bad news: My bike isn't!
Seriously though, who is responsible depends upon the facts of the incident. Without knowing that, it's not possible to say which of you is at fault. However, when a vehicle operator states that the other vehicle "came out of nowhere" it indicates that at least that person was not paying close attention to their driving.
2007-07-02 04:06:48 · answer #7 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just 'fess up now. I'm sure they'll just be glad you're okay. We don't know, 'cos we weren't there, but car drivers are constantly being reminded to look out for bikes. If he didn't leave you "wobble room" or room to stop, I'd be pretty sure who's at fault.
2007-07-02 03:39:57 · answer #8 · answered by champer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The car didn't come out of nowhere they don't just materialise out of thin air.
Anyhow you sound young, Are you allowed to cycle on the road at your age?
2007-07-02 06:48:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right away. The fault is not the issue. Being upfront and forthright is what's important. Let the judge decide fault about the accident, don't be at fault with your parents.
2007-07-02 02:47:36 · answer #10 · answered by David S 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋