accident experiences with law enforcement?

Greetings,

A quick question (at the risk of opening the floodgates :-)--anyone out
there who has been involved in a traffic accident while biking and been
unfairly blamed by law enforcement for the accident? The reason I ask
is, while riding here in rural western North Carolina (USA), vehicles
regularly pass me on narrow country roads while riding through blind
curves (either curving left or right). Often when this happens, the
passing vehicle will pull well into the oncoming lane, sometimes as far
as halfway. I've been wondering what would happen if one of said
vehicles hit another head-on. I can easily see local law enforcement
sticking me with the ticket even though I was riding legally (on the
right-edge of the lane and moving with the flow of traffic).

Or am I being too pessimistic?

Anyone care to comment or share a personal experience?

Thanks for reading,
Matt Hoyle
(remove the Z's to reply)

Matt Hoyle wrote:
Often when this happens, the passing vehicle will pull well into the
oncoming lane, sometimes as far as halfway. I've been wondering what
would happen if one of said vehicles hit another head-on. I can easily
see local law enforcement sticking me with the ticket even though I was
riding legally (on the right-edge of the lane and moving with the flow
of traffic).

I don't imagine that happening.
What I worry about is some fool passing me blind, then wiping me
out when he finds himself looking at a head on crash. Would
you rather go head on with a SUV or sideswipe a bike? Especially
when you can claim that the bike "swerved into you".

Mitch.

Matt Hoyle wrote:
Often when this happens, the passing vehicle will pull well into the
oncoming lane, sometimes as far as halfway. I've been wondering what
would happen if one of said vehicles hit another head-on. I can easily
see local law enforcement sticking me with the ticket even though I was
riding legally (on the right-edge of the lane and moving with the flow
of traffic).

I don't imagine that happening.
What I worry about is some fool passing me blind, then wiping me
out when he finds himself looking at a head on crash. Would
you rather go head on with a SUV or sideswipe a bike? Especially
when you can claim that the bike "swerved into you".

Mitch.

I always ride the white line or to the right of said line
if possible sometimes theres no shoulder so inside the line is all
there is . i've never been in a accident
but a few close calls so i see your point

I always ride the white line or to the right of said line
if possible sometimes theres no shoulder so inside the line is all
there is . i've never been in a accident
but a few close calls so i see your point

Matt Hoyle wrote:
Greetings,

A quick question (at the risk of opening the floodgates :-)--anyone out
there who has been involved in a traffic accident while biking and been
unfairly blamed by law enforcement for the accident? The reason I ask
is, while riding here in rural western North Carolina (USA), vehicles
regularly pass me on narrow country roads while riding through blind
curves (either curving left or right). Often when this happens, the
passing vehicle will pull well into the oncoming lane, sometimes as far
as halfway. I've been wondering what would happen if one of said
vehicles hit another head-on. I can easily see local law enforcement
sticking me with the ticket even though I was riding legally (on the
right-edge of the lane and moving with the flow of traffic).

Or am I being too pessimistic?

Anyone care to comment or share a personal experience?

Thanks for reading,
Matt Hoyle
(remove the Z's to reply)

Witnessed two accidents in same location involving cyclists on a group ride.
Accident 1: Motorist clipped bridge abutment rather than take on
approaching pack of cyclists on narrow bridge. No cites were issued.
I learned later the cyclists were listed as "Primary Collision Factor"
for the accident.
If the lead riders had remained on scene I imagine they could have been
cited for 'riding on wrong side of roadway'. The motorist could just as
easily been cited for unsafe speed for conditions (he could have stopped
if he had been driving at a more prudent speed).

A few weeks later: Same group ride; same narrow bridge. Motorist
approaching cyclists, who rapidly merge into single file, causing one
cyclist to touch wheels and crash (breaking collarbone). Deputy who
responded to scene commented that the road was not safe for large group
rides. No cite issued but primary collision factor was listed as
'Unsafe speed for conditions' and 'Folowing too close'.

Luther