Single Lane Road: Who is Guilty in this Viral Video?
The viral video shows a motorcycle driving on a single-lane road. The motorcyclist stops to turn. An SUV attempts to go around them to avoid slowing down and waiting for the turn. However, the SUV driver is unsuccessful and hits the motorcyclist.
We hear the woman accuse the motorcyclist of cutting in front of her, but it’s clear he was there the entire time. Who is guilty of this single-lane road accident?
Is it Legal to Pass a Vehicle on a Single Lane Road?
Passing a vehicle on a single-lane road is legal if it is wide enough to do so safely and you don’t need to use the shoulder. This law implies that you are passing on the right. However, the driver in this video attempted to pass on the left.
She did not have enough room to pass the motorcyclists safely, going the right of way. Her only option was to veer into opposing traffic, which is illegal— even if there is no oncoming traffic. It’s unclear whether she passed the lane divider, but she did not have enough room to pass.
She is at fault for this single-lane road accident.
Was this a Rear End Accident?
Here’s another point to consider in this single-lane road accident. The SUV hit the motorcycle from the rear. The driver in the back is almost always responsible for a rear-end accident.
People usually presume that rear drivers are at fault in a rear-end accident. However, this presumption can be challenged. For example, the front driver may be at fault if they pull in too quickly, leaving the rear driver without enough time to react.
The woman in this video begins to build her defense when she exits the car. “Dude, why’d you cut in front of me?” she asks. However, if you look at the video, you will see the motorcyclist did not cut in front of her. He was there the entire time.
The court would quickly reject any defense claiming he cut in front of her.
Did The Motorcyclist Use a Turn Signal in This Single-Lane Road Accident?
It’s possible the motorcyclist did not use a turn signal when making his right-hand turn. If he did not, the woman may be slightly “less at fault” for the accident. She would not have known the motorcyclist was slowing down to make a turn.
However, it would not mean she is not guilty. Even if the motorcycle was going straight, the SUV driver was still trying to get around him on a single-lane road and did not have the clearance to do so.
Furthermore, the POV camera does not show whether he had his turn signal on. Unless there was additional evidence, it could be her word against his.
Could Partial Fault Be Applied?
If the motorcyclist didn’t signal and the accident occurred in a partial-fault state, the SUV driver could receive partial compensation. The judge may find the motorcyclist partially responsible for the accident, assign a percentage of the blame, and compensate the woman accordingly.
For example, if total damages were $10,000 and the motorcyclist was found 10% guilty, she could receive compensation of $1000. However, many states won’t allow compensation for a partial fault accident unless the other party is at least 50% guilty.
Based on the video, the woman seemed to be mainly responsible for the single-lane road accident. Likely she will be liable for the full damage amount.