Accident

[mjterry87]

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, I got into my first accident! Here is what happened. I was on my way home from school on Wednesday, it was the start of a 4 day weekend, and traffic was a nightmare. The right lane was blocked for atleast a quarter mile, and I needed gas, so I started to merge into the left land to make a turn at the intersection to go and get gas when this guy on a motorcycle tries to go around me and once he gets around me he straighentens his bike out and the tires skid and he falls on the ground. I run out of my car after about 10 seconds of trying to realize what just happened, and he is lying on the ground in a ball moaning and bleeding from the head! I call 911 and my parents and eventually get a ticket for $96.00 for an improper land change. You see, when I was merging into the next lane I looked behing me and there was this huge truck, and I thought the lane was clear, but I guess it wasn't. The guy on the motorcycle was not even wearing a helmet, which is so stupid. But he is going to be ok, after about 5 minutes after he fell of the bike he wanted to sit up, but the paramedics took him to the hosiptal and he is going to be ok, it was just a little bump on the head. Anyways the whole thing was so horriable. My car is fine, not a scratch, but his bike got SOME damage. This thing is though, my car did not even hit him, he tried to swerve around me, but fell off when straightning his bike out. I guess the worst thing I did was cut him off, but I honestly did not see him! Oh well, what's dond is done, the guy is going to be ok, and I now double check before I change lanes.

What do you guys think? Is this my fault, I didn't even hit him? He tried to sereve around me instead of stopping. I didn't see him, am I at fault? Should I try to contact him to say sorry, should I be sorry for anything?

[koilias]

It's good to seek out forgiveness from anyone even if you are not in the wrong in order to prosper goodwill with your fellow man (if you are not sure that you should apologize, chances are you should). Let me quote you some words I admire:

"Judge your neighbor turning the scale to the side of merit, and do not turn for him the scale to the side of guilt. Rejoice about your portion and enjoy the little you have, and do not hate him who rebukes you. Be small in your own eyes. Let your share be blessed for ever, a benevolent eye and a humble spirit. Accustom you tongue to say: 'I do not know', lest you be led to tell a falsehood and be apprehended." Derekh Eretz Zuta

...Words to live by.

Shalom,

Eric

p.s. "Derekh Eretz" is what we are studying over there in the "Didache" thread;) ...It is called there the Derekh Hayim (Way of Life).

[Sephania]

From what you said, you were careless ( you didn't see him) and you cut him off, he tried to avoid hitting you and got hurt doing so. Now I will give you some advise of which I am qualified to do as my husband was recently in an accident ( see the Deli or Kotel) and he had the same thing on his mind. My husbands car was totaled ( we just heard from the insurance company yesterday). He has been in mild to severe pain for weeks and is seeing doctors for extended pain in his knees. The other driver hit him. My husband went to the hospital, the other driver did not. My husbands concern was for the other driver though, even though he was not at fault and was not ticketed. However when he spoke to our insurance company and expressed his concern over the other fellow they told him to not contact him to see if he were OK. This could be construde as harassment. Also I don't know about Flo. law but if you do go to court this could be used against you.

Hopefully you apologized at the scene and did all you could getting help for him and such, the rest you should bring to the L-RD and leave it there. But you must truely be repentant or its no good, and from the tone I read ( and I could be wrong but I see it there) is that you don't believe you were totally at fault, that should be worked on first.

PS, I am glad that you are unhurt physically in this Michael, Baruch Hashem for looking out for you! :clap:

[visionary]

Terrifying thoughts of what could have happen, praise God that it was not so.

Never assume that everything is fine because the person wants to get up right after an accident. Many are like that because of the adrenalin rush, they can be seriously hurt and not realize it. That is how deer hit can go way into the forest after being hit and then fall over dead. That is why the ambulance people still insist that he go to the hospital where they can check to make sure that he is ok.

Hard facts but you need to know. Hope that it is just as you say it is and that the fellow is ok.