The way I see it is that motorcycles are considered motor vehicles just like cars so the same laws and consequences still apply.
But that's just the thing, they're not. They don't meet the same safety standards or anything. They don't pass crash tests, they don't do anything. If bikes were held to the same standard as cars, they would be banned. No bike would pass the crash tests requirements required by law, whether it be US federal regs or the EU.
If I crash because of my own mistake (which I already have) I gladly accept the consequences. But I don't like the idea of holding responsibility because of someone else's mistake.
And I agree with that. My only problem is the extreme lack of safety with bikes. It would be no different if I poured gasoline all over the inside of my car and lit a few candles and then sued the shit out of someone who bumped into me and cause a candle to fall into the gas and burn me nearly to death.
You're putting yourself in harms way. It's 100 times worse then driving a car without a seatbelt. It's every bit as bad as car surfing. But no one will say that riding a bike is idiotic and irresponsible. Well, some people might.
Nothing personal on this one (it's nice having a real debate instead of the usual arguments here) but it seems the danger factor always comes up at the mere mention of motorcycles. If motorcycles really were as dangerous as a lot of people make them out to be then they'd be outlawed. The last time I checked it was perfectly legal to ride. I'd rather die doing what I love than wishing I had done more and regretting missed opportunities.
And I agree with that as well. I still want a bike. But I also accept the fact that my chances of getting in a collision are nearly guaranteed. You're more likely to get into a wreck on a bike then in a car, for obvious reasons. And even the most minor of wrecks can be potentially life threatening. I also accept that fact.
The wreck could be someone else's fault, while your injuries can be yours. If you put your small infant child in the front seat, right in front of the airbag, without a car seat or anything, who's fault will it be if that child is killed in an accident?
The problem I see with your scenario is that the other driver should have looked to make sure no one was there, saw that someone was, and not moved over. It's one thing if the rider was in the wrong, but when another driver can't be bothered to pay attention and they injure kill a person, regardless of that persons chosen vehicle, should have to pay the damages.
I think they should pay the damages too. And they should get a citation if they failed to yield or ran a red light, DUI, or whatever.
But accidents do occur. And you're putting your life in danger by riding a motorcycle on the streets. You ever hear the expression, "Go play in traffic"? That's a sarcastic way of telling someone to go get themselves killed. The streets are not safe. Period. You take a risk every time you go out there. Wearing your seatbelt, checking your brakes, buying a car because it scored well in IIHS tests and has 6 airbags etc, are all things you can do to protect yourself. But when you chose to ride a bike, you're throwing your personal safety out of the window. A nice helmet and full leathers only go so far.
And people who drive old cars with no seatbelts, or airbags? Bicycles?
Riding a motorbike is legal, if someone else breaks the law and hits me why should I be punished by having to pay?
To be honest, I'm surprised bikes are still legal. You'd think with all the "protect you from yourself" laws going into place all the time, motorcycles would be dead in the water. They certainly couldn't possibly pass any crash tests that cars are held to, like I mentioned earlier.
And the same goes for old cars. You want to drive around without a seatbelt? That's fine, but it's your own damn fault when some poor city worker is scraping your brains off your shattered windshield following an accident. You can only gamble with your life so much.
But just to clarify, I'm not trying to say that they should make laws about what I'm saying. I would be openly against that too. I'm just talking about your personal choice and how much personal responsibility you would take for your life. We live in a sue happy world where everyone is looking for easy money, no matter how stupid the lawsuit is. I think people should be allowed to do what they want, so long as they take the blame for what ends up happening to them as a result. Everyone will get in a car accident sooner or later, but choosing to drive an old beater car, not wearing your seatbelt, or riding a motorcycle are choices you have to make and you have to live with. You can't always blame someone else when you knew something like that could and will probably happen.