Who’s at fault in this accident?

[OddBeMe]

Car

Bike

A total of 10 votes were cast: 3 girls and 7 guys. See detailed results

[dustybiker2]

Car.

You are responsible for the vehicle you are driving.

As others said some places it's legal to split lanes other places it is not. I'm going to guess it's legal here.

Statistically speaking splitting lanes is far safer for the motorcycle then stopping behind a vehicle, as it's more likely to get rear ended by those not paying attention, and it is far safer planted at the beginning of the lanes between two cars.

The motorcycle is not going at any excessive speed here. The car was not paying attention before moving. And it happened too late for the rider to react.

[dustybiker2]

On personal note I have been saved by 8 teslas to date from this happening to me personally. Two I had to take defensive actions and was lucky.

[OddBeMe]

Sorry bullshit. Only because they break the speed limit and aren’t pursued by cops.

So because they’re breaking the law, it’s safer for them to break multiple laws?

[dustybiker2]

It comes down to one person is exposed. The other is in a steel framed 2-3 ton vehicle.

In my area it's double the traffic fines agains motorcycles. Pay attention when driving.

[Irritatedyet]

Where I live, lane splitting is illegal, so I feel the motorcycle is at fault. However, there is the possibility that both vehicles could be cited.

[OddBeMe]

If the motorcycle was a car, who would be at fault? The car would be cutting into a lane, whilst the second car was merging legally

[Irritatedyet]

Fair point. I feel like the motorcycle was at fault.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

In this case the car is going to get faulted because it switched lanes & when it did it hit the motorcycle. However the motorcycle was riding in between cars which depending on where you live it could be illegal or legal to do that & if it is illegal the motorcycle would be at fault. Car didn’t use a turn signal either & if it did maybe the motorcycle would have slowed down & things would different.

[Sevenpointfive]

the guy on the motorcycle knew he was in the wrong. have you seen how fast they go in between cars? it makes me want to open a door or stretch my arms out the window. if you want to drive you have to play by the rules. you can get away with breaking some usually, but you can't really complain when you get caught.

[goaded]

The car, 100%. Would this even be a question if they'd pulled out into another car?

No indication. The bike was moving slowly, it was not far off walking speed. The car driver failed to see it.

Some countries allow filtering between stopped cars, some don't. (e. g. the UK and Germany respectively). Either way, the bike could have stopped before reaching the queue of traffic.

[OddBeMe]

Wrong.

Yes if the motorcycle was a car…then the car would be illegally riding the shoulders to cut in line whilst a legal merging car comes in.

[goaded]

What are you talking about "the shoulders"? There's a lane of traffic there, the one the car the video was taken from is in.

[Anonymous]

There's not enough information in that video to give an informed answer.

I will say though that the motorcycle was running up the far right side of the lane, making him extremely difficult for the driver of the car to see. My uninformed answer (given the lack of adequate evidence in the video) is that I don't think it's fair to hold the car driver accountable.

[OddBeMe]

Motorcycles are supposed to act as regular cars, no? So riding the edges of lanes to pass traffic is illegal?

[Opinion Owner]

Not true. Lane splitting is legal in many states.
www.motorbiscuit.com/.../

[dustybiker2]

@OddBeMe In my state Motorcycles are actually allowed to go anywhere to save their life. Even on the sidewalk in emergencies. Obviously they're supposed to take great pain to avoid any objects on the sidewalk. But again we are talking about 2-3 ton vehicles and an exposed rider on a two-wheeled 400-900 lb machine.

If you are driving a car you need to pay attention.

If the bike came in at great speed and split lanes in a place it is not allowed it might result in a wrist slap from a judge, but unlikely.

This could just as easily be someone drunk walking through traffic.

If you move your car you better make sure nothing is in your path.

[OddBeMe]

@dustybiker2 maybe but I’m sure the video shows him riding the shoulder.

[Opinion Owner]

Riding the shoulder? No, it's called lane splitting. As I said, it's legal in many states, and the way that biker was riding suggests it is legal there. If so, the car driver was at fault. You don't have to like it.

[dustybiker2]

@OddBeMe My point was either or to save life.

[ilistengood]

Well its not really clear but it looks like the carpeted out without signaling its intent. If id been the rider id have been traveling slower and closer to the centerline of the road.

[OddBeMe]

Well a motorcycle is supposed to act like a law abiding car yes? Not allowed to break speed limits or lane split?

[ilistengood]

True

[lightbulb27]

Id say the guy whose not following traffic laws. maybe somewhat the person merging without looking.

depends on state laws.