Need advice from someone fluent in Victorian Roadlaw.

[Burnsy]

I think the advice that Ian gave is very sound, isn't there an obligation under road traffic to report traffic accidents?

Insurance, you may not have any but maybe they do and their insurance company will come after you.

I agree, get the name and details of the witnesses, go down the local cop shop and fill out an accident statement. I think in WA it is reportable if it is over $350 in damage or someone is injured, $350 is not much when it come to panel repairs.

[ian]

Yes, there is a pedestrian crossing there, which she was pretty well on.

good. It makes the "I was creeping forward" defence more difficult to sustain. If you're creeping forward without checking for peds you're not keeping a "proper lookout"

Cops? Not if I can avoid them. Don't trust them anymore than lawyers or insurance companies.

Speaking of which, I have neither.

you're not riding uninsured (compulsory third party) and therefore unregistered are you?

VERY VERY naughty if you are — go find a lawyer as a matter of urgency.

you may be able to report the crash by phone.
A reluctance to report the crash — particularly to tell your side of the story — might be interpreted as an admission of culpability

Doctor? I'm not bleeding anywhere and there's no sore spots...

Well, see how you feel in the morning.

if you don't report you will have to pay for physio on the stiff neck you develop next week.


ian

[pawnhead]

She actually said something quite similar to that on the telephone. To which I asked..

In the same situation would you assume that a pedestrian wouldn't pop up either? And not look in the direction you're going to travel before beginning to accelerate?

Got an earfull of abuse rather than an answer at that point, however.

I'll assume there was no zebra crossing there. I certainly wouldn't jump out in front of a car if I wasn't certain that the driver had seen me. That's just common sense, and if it's not at a zebra crossing, then the pedestrian would be at fault. I wouldn't even cross at a zebra crossing unless the driver sees me and is preparing to stop.
You might remember what happened to that poor girl Sophie Delizio. First hit by that pensioner whilst in a childcare centre (I was working just around the corner at the time and saw the choppers), and then hit again by a pensioner whilst being pushed across a zebra crossing (Again, I was just around the corner at the time and saw the choppers).
Of course it wasn't her fault but if you're careful then these thing wouldn't happen. Always assume the worst, especially if you're on a bike.


edit:

Yes, there is a pedestrian crossing there, which she was pretty well on.

Sorry, I should have read further before responding. I still think that you're in the wrong though. I reckon that the most likely outcome is that you'll both be charged with neg driving.

One time as a child, my father stopped in the middle of the road when I pointed out some model planes flying. Someone ran into the back of us, and after reporting it, both my father and the other driver were charged.

[cflake]

In VIC, you can pass stationary traffic on a motorcycle providing you're in the same lane and passing on the right. If you passed on the left and she hit you while you were passing, then I'd say you're in the wrong. However since you stopped in front of her.... as you said it shouldn't matter how you got there, the fact was that you were in front of her. The solution? Always pass on the right or buy some louder pipes!

btw, don't bother asking a copper because most of them don't know the road laws anyway.. But they know how to fill out a speeding ticket!

[Sturdee]

There is no requirement to advise the police of an accident if both parties are present and if no one is injured. In fact reporting it to the police outside these circumstances is inviting trouble.

You broke the law to get into the position to get where you were hit so you are in the wrong and if the police is called in you will get booked.

Secondly IMO you will be held responsible for the damage as well. So get good legal advice as quickly as possible or leave town.


Peter.

[Waldo]

G'day,

Article99, pretty rough getting smacked form behind, but I think you'll find some trouble passing on the left in a slip lane.

I'm gonna stir the hornet nest here and it's something I find stupid and unique to Vic - slip lanes. There are three lanes, one of them is a slip lane. If anyone tries to be impatient and think that they can accelerate out of a slip lane that ends 5m or whatever out of the traffic lightsw just to get past a couple of cars and push back in - watch out for me, because if you're next to me then I'll block you out - but I don't block out bikes, just idiots in cars.

[Sturdee]

G'day,


I'm gonna stir the hornet nest here and it's something I find stupid and unique to Vic - slip lanes.

Slip lanes at intersections are for the specific purpose of turning traffic so they don't hold up through traffic. Using them to get in front of cars is illegal.

However slip lanes for entering main roads require that drivers in the left lane give way alternatively, so that one car from the slip lane then one car from left lane etc enter the main road. Hence the reluctance of Melbourne drivers to drive in the left lane on main roads.

This procedure also applies to the extra lanes added just before main intersections and cease shortly afterwards. These lanes are not to get ahead of other drivers but to allow more cars through the intersection whilst the light is green and failure to allow them into the main stream is illegal and a rather expensive fine if caught.


Peter.

[Waldo]

G'day Peter,

Where they indicate to come in is fair enough, but just to get ahead of a car o two and push in - that's another story in my book. There's about 3 slip lanes in my local area, and come peak hour most drivers are happy to use the two normal lanes, it's the impatient that go staright for the slip lane that are the annoyance because all they are really doing is causing a bottle neck for the lane adjacent to them.

[R.B.]

if it were me... and it well could have been.

I'd count my lucky stars and wait my turn the next time.

[Gingermick]

Well I think there ought to be different laws for motorcycles. I pass traffic on the left every day. I take up little room and accelerate very quickly to give nearby cars as much space as they want.

[Honorary Bloke]

As far as I know, slip-laning whilst vehicles are stationary isn't illegal at all.

Well, come and try it in the States, mate. If the first bloke you pass doesn't knock you cock a block, then the second one surely will. And if a copper sees you, you're in for a hefty fine.

[rrich]

Generally speaking, one must pass another vehicle using the "Traveled portion of the road or highway". If this were not true, we could not pass another vehicle. (In California and probably most other states, this is a perfectly legal manuver. As is "Splitting Lanes" on a two wheeler.)

I'm not sure what the term "slip lane" means however if it is the normally traveled portion of the highway I don't see a problem.

As I see it, the evil lady should be cited for failure to have her vehicle under control. (She did hit you.)

My advice is to avoid dealing with these yahoos. Go to your insurance company and have them fight for you. That is their job and is what you pay premiums for. And no, not being your fault, it will not affect your rates or driving record.

[namtrak]

Sooo, let me get this straight.

You came up behind a vehicle which was waiting to enter traffic.

You were impatient and passed the vehicle on the inside.

You pulled up in front of the said vehicle, across a pedestrian crossing, and waited for an opening in the traffic flow.

The vehicle behind you saw an opening in the traffic and accelerated into you, pushing you off your bike.

You say the vehicle should have been aware of you even though you didn't pass her on the right - the direction she is looking.

You don't want to make a report to the police.

You don't want/have a lawyer.

You don't have insurance. (I assume you mean comprehensive not 3rd party)

Your not injured.

mmmmmmmmmmm good luck.