So, I’m walking my bicycle through a marked crosswalk with the lights blinking. I get out to the second lane and this American lawyer in a rental car speeds through without even touching the brake. He smashes my bicycle out of my hands nearly killing me, then tries to drive away. I flag down a passerby who was nice enough to call 911. Now that I’m calling the police he decides to stick around. The cops give him a ticket for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, but won’t give me his insurance information because he didn’t directly hit me. So this guy can break the law (speeding, failure to yield, lying to police) and can damage my property (smash my bicycle out of my hands), but gets off without paying for my bicycle on a technicality?! The cops say that because he hit my bicycle and not me directly it wasn’t an accident and they won’t give me his insurance information. It would only be an accident if I was on the bike at the time. But then they would have given me a $600 fine for riding through a crosswalk. I can’t afford a lawyer because that would cost more than the bicycle. What gives? So if a car hits me while in a crosswalk and I have pants on then its not his fault because the car touched my pants and not me!? Isn’t the bicycle a part of my person if I’m holding it and it gets hit? BS! —Bikeless and Lawyerless in Halifax
This article appears in Aug 16-22, 2012.
Yeah, that’s fuckery at its finest right there! Who is to say that you didn’t sustain a wrist injury when you had your bike ripped out of your hands? This guy should, at least, have to pay for the bike…unbelievable.
crazy town, even if he’d killed you the ticket would probably be the same
Small claims court, then they have to give you his info.
Your wrist and elbow are starting to hurt today, aren’t they. Soft tissue injury.
Responsible bike rider, American lawyer, unhelpful police, legal technicalities which favour the wealthy? This isn’t a bitch – it’s CBC miniseries.
You don’t need a lawyer; you need an agent.
I sincerely hope you got the badge number of the officer…
destruction of personal property is a crime.
under his logic, you throwing your newly re-crafted lump of metal onto his cruiser isn’t a crime either… which is obviously false.
Would have been nice to test it though.
Two sinister minds think alike, Hugo…I would be all over that like a wet blanket, just because the guy was such an inconsiderate douche!
american mouth piece 1 average citizen 0
If it makes you feel any better, a crazy guy who rides his bike through the north end smashed the window of my car when he was driving by me (I didnt run him off the road or anything like that) and they couldnt do anything either, because he didnt hit ME. I chased him down some streets though and promised to run him over next time I see him. That made me feel better.
don’tcha just fucking hate the lawyers toda? they know all the loopholes, and can get away with fucking near murder. and in some cases, probly that too.
just makes a person wanna reach out and strangle them right on the spot. but o.p., if there is a next time, make sure you go spinning in the street, that way, you can say he hit you and the bike.
if they wanna lie, then so can you. hang them all.
do one of the local tv stations have a people’s advocate? this sounds like something they would like to help you out with.
I think that is ridiculous.
If a bike is not a bike when pushed, then it is either a cart ( like a baby stoller) or an other device( like a wheelchair).
Hugo’s right — plus you don’t need a lawyer for small claims.
Did you get the contact info for the witness? IF you did that’s all you need.
I think it’s $150 or something to file in small claims court and your bike’s gotta be worth more than that.
Good luck, bud!
This is actually complete BS! In my opinion it’s the US Lawyer’s fault for hitting your bike, he should be forced to replace it! I really hope that your bike left a decent amount of damage to his rental car so that he is forced to pay the rental company even more than market value to fix it!
better yet, if the bike was not in the posession of a pedestrian, then the car was not being driven by the lawyer, get the insurance company info and sue the insurance company.
And THIS is precisely why lawyers wear neckties….to keep the foreskin from crawling up their chin.
My faith in police is dwindling.. I think they have certain policies and procedures but are allowed to consider them “guidelines” because whatcha gonna do? COMPLAIN? Harhar.
You know, when you hit someone’s car while operating a motor vehicle, the vehicle owner who’s car was damaged can sue your insurance company for damages… if bicycles are considered vehicles, why doesn’t this concept apply as well?
Is it because bicycles don’t require insurance to operate? This is total BS and one of the most valid bitches ever.
PS: where’s the rental car from? If you can get the plates, you can just sue them.
” I think they have certain policies and procedures but are allowed to consider them “guidelines””
That’s why when you are driving 10 over the speed limit they don’t pull you over and slap you with a ticket. It’s also the reason why you can stumble out of a bar drunk as fuck and not get a fine for public intoxication. Don’t shit on cops for applying discretion when the majority of the time its a positive thing.
Two options: residential insurance claim or small claims court. A lot of residential insurance policies include coverage for accidental damage. You can most likely claim this through your residential insurance, just as you would claim a bicycle theft that occurred off of your residential property. Unfortunately the deductible is probably too high to be worth the trouble, but something to look into. Small claims is probably more time consuming, but more cost effective.
the person with the rental is probably gone, i don’t think there are any options. except for bitching and that’s what this site is for
Dummy! It’s a civil matter…
I can’t see that lawyer flying back to Halifax to attend small claims court.OB I feel badly for you, but you still have your life.
I don’t care if it was a doghouse. If the driver ran his vehicle into it, it was a motor vehicle accident. The police office was a fucking idiot.
Take the police dept to small claims court for obstructing your right to pursue damages.
Yeah, you probably should have asked for a supervisor on scene, and gotten the police officers name a badge number. That is total bullshit!!!
I hereby declare this bitch busted. OB, you are a liar.
http://nslegislature.ca/legc/statutes/moto…
“(4) When an accident results in damage to an unattended vehicle OR TO PROPERTY upon or adjacent to a highway, the driver of every vehicle involved in the accident shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the OWNER OF, or a person who has control over, the unattended vehicle, or THE PROPERTY, of the circumstances of the accident, and GIVE HIM THE NAME and ADDRESS of the DRIVER, and THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE NUMBER OF the DRIVERS LICENSE.”
The more I think about it, OB made this story up, NO POLICE OFFICER could be so stupid. And, even if they were, they would get on the radio and ask for someone to check the motor vehicle act.
Enough said.
Try Dal legal aid + in the meantime get as much documentation as you can. Make notes (you’ve already got a good start) but add details like time date location direction of travel by both parties. Call police for whatever they will provide (copy of incident report or at least an incident #. Get name of who you’re talking to and an email address to follow up. They are busy so be the squeaky wheel. Call your hrm councillor for help.
GV
“NO POLICE OFFICER could be so stupid. And, even if they were, they would get on the radio and ask for someone to check the motor vehicle act.”
OB wasn’t Bitchin about just any police officer but a HRP officer. Halifax seems to have an overabundance of lazy, idiotic cops.
nope, I’m not buy into this. Not even a HRP would pass on the oportunity to work over a lawyer from the USA. Besides, I’ll bet the section that I quoted is actually on an exam.
What the hell is Reckless Endangerment if not this?
Well, if it’s a rental, make a claim against the rental company. I wouldn’t bother with the driver (lives in another country), the rantal company will go after his insurance company. Remember, it is the responsiblility of the insured vehicle, not the driver. If speaking to the company doesn’t result in anything, then take it to Small Claims (lawyer not required). The cost to file is dependent on the amount you are suing for.
When too many of “the usual suspects” appear in the same bitch, the spidey sense starts tingling. I think GV got it right.
Assuming you have insurance yourself, all you need is a photo of the crime scene including the impact damage of the bike and car and a licence plate number. Your insurance carrier will do all the leg work. that’s what you pay them for. probably too late now though but worth a shot. The police will have filed a report and that may suffice for your insurance. Good Luck stickin it to the yank.
GV
Your probably bangon,it could be on an exam.But knowing better and doing better are two different things.One doesn’t know what other stresses this cop has in his life..divorce,children,sick parent or all of the above.
Good luck.
This is Cst. Brian Palmeter of Halifax Regional Police. I want to let The Coast readers know that I’ve left a message for the owner of the bike, providing the driver’s insurance information.
At the time of the incident, both parties exchanged contact information and indicated they were going to settle the matter privately. Though the owner of the bike requested the driver’s insurance information, the responding officer wanted to confirm the appropriate action with his Sergeant before doing so. The officer advised the bike owner that he was going on vacation and would contact him when he returned.
wow, welcome to the vortex officer and thanks for the info
Thanks Brian. The downside is you’ve just given us 6 months of Tim Arse-Biscuit whingetorials about the dangerous precedent set when “The Police” start keeping tabs on anonymous Websites. >; )
… and policy prevails.
interesting how most of that info was left out of the original bitch.
tsk tsk…
I was the one that sent it to the police to see if it was true
I smell more BS.
A Cst. left this kind of information on someone’s voice mail?
op here.
update!! police have contacted me and I have the insurance info!!
THANKS LTWWBers and Cst. Palmeter!!!!! MUCH LOVE!
for fire ragez:
“both parties exchanged contact information and indicated they were going to settle the matter privately”
I did not recieve the drivers info, only his name. He said he was going to call me and pay for the bike, then I never heard from him again. When I called police for his info, they said sorry, we cant help you.
for Great value:
my girlfriend was home taking the call!
you guys rock!!! look for a LTWWL coming your way.
oh well, if I’m in for a penny I might as well be in for a pound…..sorry guys, I still smell more BS.
I don’t see how a girlfriend would be any better than a voice mail.
In fact, it could be worse because anyone can claim to be a girlfriend, but a voice mail message can only be programmed by someone with apropriate access to the phone account.
well, who’s to say brian doesn’t read the coast himself? last i heard, cops are pretty much like the rest of us, paying mortgages, shopping, getting car repaired, playing WII (altho maybe with real bullets) cutting the lawn. except that one cop, who was standing at barrington just off the bridge back in 2008, summer. he wasn’t human. i have NEVER seen such a gorgeous man in my life. didn’t look human he was so good looking. poor schmuck.
I get nervous when the cops get involved in the coast…
it didn’t turn out so well for some people last time.
The last thing we need is swat storming a summit and scooping us all up in one shot.
I can see it now:
http://www.american-buddha.com/ateamameric…
While the rest of the diners rat us out. “THEY’RE IN THE ATTIC!”
Sorry, wrong play >: (
The one and only Fat Apollo had decided to grace LTWWB with his presence? Truly we are not worthy of such an honor. *bows down a la Wayne’s World*
“The last thing we need is swat storming a summit and scooping us all up in one shot.”
That’s going to happen when someone makes the mistake of giving me summit location, date, and time. I will go for the ultimate IRL troll and report you all for suspicion of drug dealing, prostitution, and/or bestiality.
Don’t forget the rampant glue sniffing……
Didn’t I read somewhere recently that the HRP hired a social media person?
I contacted the Chief of Police to look into this.
He got back to me that Cst Palmer would be taking charge of this.
My good deed of the day.
someone should contact the cst. in question and make him aware of this thread. If this was a legit post, then no harm done. But if it was someone posting with his name but not his permission, then I am sure that he will want to know about it.
a quick google search will find his email.
Hey Great Value,
Did you read my post?
“The last thing we need is swat storming a summit and scooping us all up in one shot.”
That’s why we keep details OFF the board 😉
And we have a “2 tooth minimum”, right Kitty?
Wp
Watch it Constable Brian, you can’t name names here, not even your own.
Michael McCluskey: “Hey Great Value, Did you read my post?”
Perhaps the point is if the post attributed to Cst. Palmeter wasn’t actually written by Cst. Palmeter, your post could just as easily be bogus. You know the old saying: there’s nothing wrong with being paranoid if someone’s out to get you.
Why did the bitcher leave out key info in the original bitch? You looking for a job in journalism?
“That’s why we keep details OFF the board ;)”
It would be shockingly easy to obtain that information if I wanted to. You people are sometimes too friendly for your own good.
“I contacted the Chief of Police to look into this.
He got back to me that Cst Palmer would be taking charge of this.
My good deed of the day.”
I went one step further and contacted the prime minster. He also confirms that information. He also asked how I got his personal phone number. I then asked him what he was wearing and he hung up on me. He isn’t getting my vote in the next election.
Dear Mr. Police Officer: I suspect Jimmy Hoffa is vacationing in an OB’s funky navel
Wow.
zZZ …I thought that was the fire dept that got a court order for IP numbers !
Or that’s what my forgetful old brain seems to remember … but I can’t be sure, memory loss is a bitch too.