My SMART caused an accident today!!!

[unicycle]

I was pulling onto Main Street when I noticed a car slow down across the way. There was a car right behind hers, and I remember thinking, "There is about to be an accident." They weren't traveling too fast, happily, so there were no injuries, but the impact was bad enough to knock off the license plate of the rear car.

I'm a fire fighter, so I parked and went over to ask if they needed any assistance (no). Then I overheard the driver of the first car explain that she'd been distracted by my car.

I wonder how many similar accidents have happened over the years.

Coincidentally, my brother caused an accident while unicycling many years ago (similar circs). I figured it was bound to happen one of these days, but I haven't even had the car a month (and I've been unicycling for 28 years).

[SuperGeek]

Sad to hear that your smart was the attention-getter in this situation. Mine was probably in a similar situation a couple weeks ago. I was coming out of a McD's parking lot, waiting to turn into rush hour 5pm traffic. It had just rained, a car full of a family of four slowed down for the light, stalled just after passing me. A van behind them slowed down, and a van behind that one didn't until the last second. Somebody was distracted somewhere, and my car was visible for 500 feet upstream. Fortunately no injuries that I know of... minor bump, no visible damage, everybody walked around afterwards. I was in no position to help (tired, hungry, sick) so I didn't stick around, and feel guilty for it... but none of the other 50 people stayed either.

Kinda shook me up to think I was involved as a contributing factor, but on the legal side, this situation just came up in my business law class - you didn't directly cause the accident. You weren't waving your arms to distract them; they chose to stare at something. If you drove a pimped-out Civic with spinners (fairly common in some towns) they'd be just as distracted and it's still not your fault legally. That doesn't change the bad feeling, but don't tell yourself that your smart "caused" an accident.

[bigcritter]

As I mentioned somewhere else on the forum, I ALMOST got T-Boned at a 4-way stop. I'd stopped and started to take off when my wife screamed "LOOK OUT!!!" A full-size van that was certainly distracted by something (ME???) didn't even slow down until she realized that she'd just ran a STOP sign and almost NAILED me!! Thanks GOD for good brakes & NO FRONT END on the smart!!!! She stopped and threw up her hands, knowing that she was totally wrong. I trust the safety of my smart, but I'm really glad that I didn't have to put it to a test that day! She was doing probably 30-40 mph. THAT WOULD HAVE HURT!!! MY SIDE TOO!! Of course, I'd rather it have been MY SIDE than MY WIFE'S!!!

[HAL9000]

Last week an SUV pulled out to make a turn in front of me and I'm sure she was distracted by my car. She didn't apparently see the bright Yellow Cab and they almost collided.

BTW we did a road trip to the Catskills and on to Rochester from No Va. and we caused quite a stir. People leaning out of car windows taking pictures with their cell phones, waving, smil;ing, giving the thumbs-up. Toward the end of our three day journey we were in Millersburg PA and looking for an address and my wife says "Don't slow down, sombody will want to talk to us".

Instant Rock Star Status

Henry

[unicycle]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

... Kinda shook me up to think I was involved as a contributing factor, but on the legal side, this situation just came up in my business law class - you didn't directly cause the accident. ... That doesn't change the bad feeling, but don't tell yourself that your smart "caused" an accident.

True, and I realized that, but I didn't think it sounded as interesting for me to name this thread: "My Smart was possibly a contributing factor in an accident!" That's a bit lengthy and doesn't quite trip off the tongue, but you are right.

But what if you weren't? In an alternate universe I'd be getting a ticket for 'driving while Smart'!