MR WIKI: Traffic Incident Checklist
Thread started by
Roadblock at 10.2.10 - 10:28 pm
Let's list everything that people should do when they are in a crash or witness a crash with a cyclist. I'm going to make this the first page of the new MR wiki.
If you are with a friend who gets hit, take over and calmly do what you can to collect info from witnesses and ID the driver.
DO NOT make the driver feel threatened, do not scream at the driver.. You do not want to scare anyone into running. This person stopped and deserves respect for being a responsible person
Car and cyclist collide and driver stops:
IF injured call 911
if your crash was severe be careful not to get up or aggravate a spinal injury. people that move you can aggravate an injury that can become a permant disability. You should only be moved by trained professionals.
Get the Drivers INFO
immediately record the plate number make and model of the car. Text it to yourself post it to facebook so it doesn't get lost. Look at the drivers face and write a note of what the person looks like.ETFet the driver's insurance info and drivers license number. They must physically show you their ID. If they resist in any way immediately call 911 and request a police officer to the scene. Give the plate number and describe the driver stating that they are resisting your request to identify themselves.
Remember, you NEED to be able to identify this person and the LAW is that they must provide identity and insurance to you. Hold their CA DRivers license in your hand and copy it to a piece of paper. Get the DL number address and exp date. For their insurance do the same, write the exp date the name on the insurance and write the policy number down.
Witnesses: beg them to stop
if you are not seriously injured get one or preferraby more witnesses to stay and give you their contact info. I'm not saying beg but I am saying beg. Make a strong appeal for people to stop and help you as witnesses. If they can't stay then ask for their contact info phone number and email. They might even consider capturing a statement via video if you have a camera handy.
If cyclist and car collide and driver runs:
don't panic just ID as much as you can
Focus on the plate number and yell it over and over until you can text it to yourself. Yell "hit and run!!" at the top of your lungs. People will look and perhaps see somethig vital or remember a plate of even give chase.
Call 911 immediately. A police car should be dispatched.
Our CA and DA are such pussies, that you need everything you can to get the driver prosecuted. Get witness statements and contact info and write down everything you can about the facial features of the driver and passengers. Call your voicemail and describe everything in a message and don't ever erase the message until it is downloaded to a computer.
Thankfully, even in though there is a high likelyhood that justice will not be served by our government to the perpetrator of hit and run crime, the civil side of the law requires less to pursue justice monetarily if the driver is caught.
California law states that a person who flees the scene of an accident is automatically Considered guilty.
Car Insurance: uninsured motorist coverage
if you do drive, consider spending the extra bit of money to add uninsured motorist coverage to your plan. You should be covered for hit and run injuries. Your bike won't be covered but you will have a certain amount of coverage for injury.
More later.... Anyone want to add in with questions or pieces of advice let's discuss it. I would love to see comments from sgt krumer here as well. Thanks.
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Learn how to read and memorize license plates.
Read this, about license plate patterns.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=142232
"As for California, I'm not sure if every combination is used but for cars at least the current format is #XXX###, and the plates are issued in order, so that if you see 4AQZ155 and 3XGE674 side by side, the "4" car was issued its license later. We rolled over from 3X to 4X in late 1997."
also;
"Like many (most?) states, California uses different patterns for different types of vehicles. Like fiddlesticks said, cars get 1AAA111 format, while trucks get 1A11111. My pickup's license plate, issued late in 1997, starts with 5P*****. I think they're already in the 6's by now.
I could be remembering incorrectly, but I think trailers here get license numbers of the form 1AA1111."
remember; #XXX### is the pattern for most passenger vehicles, but not all.
TheDude10.2.10 - 10:58 pm
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_license_plate_designs_and_serial_formats
TheDude10.2.10 - 10:59 pm
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In the event of a hit and run, file a police report, especially if you are seriously injured.
Aside from the statistical value, which can influence enforcement priorities,
The state of California has a
Victim Assistance Program:
The VCP may reimburse the following expenses if they are necessary due to a crime and if there are no other sources of reimbursement available such as health insurance, worker's compensation or other benefits. Caps or limits may apply.
• Medical and medical-related expenses for the victim, including dental expenses.
• Outpatient mental health treatment or counseling.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Wage or income loss up to five years following the date of the crime. If the victim is permanently disabled, wage or income loss may be extended.
• Support loss for legal dependents of a deceased or injured victim.
• Up to 30 days wage loss for the parent or legal guardian of a minor victim who is hospitalized or dies as a direct result of a crime.
• Job retraining.
• Medically necessary renovation or retrofitting of a home or vehicle for a person permanently disabled as a result of the crime.
• In-patient psychiatric hospitalization costs under dire or exceptional circumstances.
•Relocation expenses up to $2,000 per household. (to Amsterdam?)
• Crime scene cleanup up to $1,000 if a victim dies as a result of a crime in a residence.
trickmilla
10.3.10 - 4:21 am
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I've heard about this. Awesome.
A spoke card with all of this stuff condensed would be great.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by trickmilla
10.3.10 - 9:13 am
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So it seems one of the most important things to carry on a ride is a pen and paper.
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Roadblock
10.3.10 - 9:34 am
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Roadblock, can't you make this a stickie or something
Gav10.3.10 - 10:20 am
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The most important thing to carry on a ride is your wits. But A smartphone would work for writing info down unless of course that phone is smashed in the crash.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
10.3.10 - 11:10 am
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I'm gonna incorporate this into the MR wiki which will be a library of shared knowledge regarding this type of stuff. Coming soon!
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Gav
10.3.10 - 11:11 am
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Question.
I was involved in a collision.
(Collision)Vehicle was making a left hand turn. Into plaza, there were vehicles in the plaza that prevented him from coming in.
Remained stopped in the RIGHT hand lane and a bit of the left.
All "MOTOR" vehicles were stopped.
I am in between Stopped Vehicles & Parked Cars. Northbound
Parked Car opens door I evade & look back if person acknowledges that they made a mistake.
Look in front, car no less than 8ft,few seconds pass, collision.
Top Tube & Downtube snapped.
I ask for ID & Insurance.
A "witness" goes up to us & tells his passenger, "He hit! You! If you need anything call my card" , walks away.
I give Driver info as well.
We conclude
1. I don't have bike insurance. What do I do?
2.Am I at fault?
3.His blue "stickers" for his license were 09. Can I use this as evidence towards the case?
3.My knee hurts,can I do anything else from icing & laying off it, it's not that bad, I'm hoping its just a bad contusion.
Email. Aamaya@ gee-male.com
If you could first please post on this thread, so if anyone else later in the future needs help pertaining this, they can quickly refer to the MR search engine.
Thank You.
& Ride Safe.
Alfredo responding to a
comment by Roadblock
10.3.10 - 4:22 pm
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Hello Alfredo,
If I am understanding you correctly...you ran into a stopped (perhaps inappropriately stopped) vehicle.
Your bike is totalled and you sustained an injury.
Assuming that the above is correct you would most likely be found at fault though I would consult with an attorney for a more definitive answer.
While you mnetioned you do not have "bike" insurance," if you have auto insurance or homeowners insurance it may be covered. Even if you do have auto or home insurance and it is covered, your deductable would most likely require you to cover the bulk of the costs anyway.
I am not sure what relevance the guys blue sticker is in a determination of fault. His possible failure to pay his vehicle registration on time will have no bearing.
I will let the cyclists on this forum advise you on how best to tend to your knee but if you have medical insurance I would go see a doctor...if you do not than it is unfortunatly a long wait at the free clinics.
Hopefully the cost to repair the guys car will not set you back too far.
Good luck!
Sgt. David Krumer responding to a
comment by Alfredo
10.3.10 - 4:57 pm
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Sarge...........i hit a pothole last thursday before the lake balboa ride.......anyhow, i hit a deep pothole (at about 25-30mph)...which caused me to lose control, hit a curb and crash HARD...leaving me with a sprained ankle, 3 inch gash above my eye and numerous bruises. ( yes, i still led the 11 mile ride).......can i get some $$$ for my pain and suffering. I didnt goto the hospital......
shotgun_mike10.3.10 - 5:15 pm
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People make claims against the City for damage to their vehicles as a result of potholes all the time. Same thing with pedestrians who sue the city for defects in the sidewalk that cause them to fall.
While I am not familier with the process, I know that there is one. I would contact the Bureau of Street Services or LADOT and see what they say.
The LAPD completes "Injury Reports" for situations like you describe.
Sgt. David Krumer responding to a
comment by shotgun_mike
10.3.10 - 5:56 pm
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Ah! Thank You for clarifying this situation.
Question: Why is it? My understanding of the law is, that if you are obstructing an intersection & or street, you (driver) is at fault.
Is it because I was destracted at the point, because of an open door?
I'm just trying to better grasp the motor vehicle laws that are in place. Thank You.
Alfredo responding to a
comment by Sgt. David Krumer
10.3.10 - 6:27 pm
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Hi Alfredo,
Because you were the one in motion...while the other party did vilate the vehicle code and the violation is a contributing factor, your violation was the primary collision factor. At the time of the collision, you were in the best position to have prevented it. The driver should not have been there but his actions were prior to the actual collision and there was no action he could have done at the time to have avoided it.
Consult with an attorney as I am not qulified to make a legal determination...only give you the law enforcement perspective.
Sgt. David Krumer responding to a
comment by Alfredo
10.3.10 - 9:40 pm
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Thank You very much Sgt.Krumer.
Not just for informing me, but also for being on these forums, even though you get all the flaq you get for being on here. && You probably have other stuff you'd like to do other than check these forums.
Thanks!
Alfredo responding to a
comment by Sgt. David Krumer
10.3.10 - 11:01 pm
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