I'm done with this thread. Real nice skipping the part about me learning from the experience.

You've already made your stance clear and this is an event from literally 16 years ago.

I've been in exactly 2 at fault accidents in those 16 years. This includes driving for 10 hours a day for years working on the road.

Yeah I'm done.

Your defensiveness doesn’t make it feel like you learnt from it. You might have learnt how to avoid that kind of crash (crash, not accident) in the future, which is fantastic, but you haven’t internalised that it was because of your own inattentiveness in operating a dangerous vehicle that the crash occurred, and not because of the perfectly acceptable behaviour from a member of a vulnerable group. A vulnerable group that you victimised.

True, but sometimes people get overwhelmed when looking at the full guide rather than a "how to do x" process. Like looking at a man page vs. an example subsection.

This is a great resource, though, and thank you!

You have a valid stance and I was driving irresponsibly. I've I have been a cyclist for 35 years. Going on trips driving for miles, so I understand.

You're not going to change my feelings over our matter that happened 16 years ago and it's in the past. I literally forgot about it until this thread. I only shared my story as a cautionary tale to other readers.

I only shared my story as a cautionary tale to other readers.

Genuinely, I appreciate that. The importance of looking both ways when approaching an intersection, even if the road is one way, is critical, for the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Your goal in sharing the story was a good one. It's just the tone of how you told the story that seemed rather off.

Seems crazy that you got to a bank and got a lawyer so fast. But it's stuff like this that convinced me to not ride on the sidewalk, even though it's legal where I live. Drivers just don't see you.

When a lady hit my brother doing the same thing (except we saw her not look in our direction) his bike was messed up but she just left and we were kids so we didn't know to do anything different.

These events happened over the course of two weeks. I didn't think I'd be scrutinized this much over sharing my experience.

Crashed into a cyclist while I was going 5 or 10 mph. No idea how fast she was going but I looked right and didn't see anyone. Then left and rolled forward. Then bent her front tire and she dismounted. My car got up to her front axle.

I immediately got out. Apologized. Asked if she was OK. Offered to call ambulance, taxi or friend. She was upset (rightfully so) but we exchanged info and I gave her my insurance. She turned down my offer to call anyone for assistance or give her a ride to her destination.

I opened a claim with my insurance immediately. Gave my statement. Told them idk what she wants to do but I'm covering my bases.

I called her 3 days later. Asked how she was doing. She said she was a little sore but fine. Didn't go to the hospital. I told her I opened a claim and got a PIP if she needs medical attention. She reassured she was physically fine. I offered $200 to repair/replace the bicycle and she accepted. I told her I'd reach out to schedule it later andy insurance was going to call her for a statement. She agreed.

Told my family about the crash. Glad she was OK. Family warned me to be careful she doesn't continue the claim after getting cash. This is maybe a week later. I consulted a lawyer and they said a letter with XYZ would cover me legally. I also happened to run into a cop at a coffee shop and asked him his opinion. He said it was hard to say but from his perspective I wasn't at fault.

I scheduled a meet up a week after the accident. Set the location near her at a bank. Safe public place. Presented her with the money order and waiver of liability. She initially didn't want to sign so I explained my side.

It's just to cover me so she doesn't continue the insurance claim or sue me after the payment. If she's concerned about anything long term she can continue with the insurance claim or take a payment now with a waiver and we go our separate ways. She wasn't happy with signing a waiver but wanted this behind her so she signed (notorized by the bank) and took the payment.

I really didn't want to say all that because it's a wall of text but being downvoted and attacked for sharing my experience is going to remind me to keep my damn mouth shut.

Edit: grammar

I appreciate your comment and understanding. It's really my fault for trying to write a concise summary while I'm in line at the grocer.

Next time I'll make sure I'll just wait until I'm back on my PC or keep my mouth shut.

should

At the end of the day, whether or not you're at fault or not, and whether or not you acknowledge as much, doesn't really matter nearly as much as the fact that you're a safer driver today. That's what actually matters.

Cops around here do it all the time.

There’s a one way at the end of my block, and I see at least 2 cops a week go down it the wrong way with no lights or sirens.

I have done this

I had my license maybe a year, and i had gotten lost downtown at night.

I came to a T intersection, with a one way road, but couldn't figure out which direction to go. I panicked and picked a direction

I only realized when i saw a row of headlights heading my way

I've had this happen 10+ times in my life, so always look both ways.

I always do this because I have gone down too many one way streets and found someone else going the wrong way. It's not uncommon

Rules are meant to be broken

The anecdote my dad always told me was being smart is knowing it's a one way street, being wise is looking both ways anyways

This detail is way more sympathetic than your first account.

Don't be too surprised people didn't like you running into a cyclist and paying them off.

Yeah it's completely valid once I reread my inital comment. I was running errands nonstop and did get why people were so upset.

I live on a one way street. the amount of times people go the wrong way is too high.