The LLCs that match the speed of adjacent-lane vehicles are called "speed magnets" by me. The bigger the vehicle near them, the more likely they will magnetize onto that vehicle's speed. It's a lemming thing, they can't help it, they are just lousy drivers. Us superlative drivers ought not be angry with these LLC doofi, instead we should make reasonable/responsible allowance for their speed-magnet behavior. thank you!
I almost witnessed darwinism at it's finest last Saturday on a local Interstate (or it's worst if this person would have killed an innocent motorist). A woman in a minivan must have realized to late that she was about to pass the exit for her shopping destination. She was in the left lane, slams on the brakes to about 15mph, waiting for traffic to the right to pass her so she can swerve over to the far right to the off ramp. How she didn't get cause an accident is beyond me, when surrounding traffic was moving nearly 80mph. What's really ignorant is she could have gone another 1/2 mile to the next exit which still offers access to the shopping centers. Nice!
I'm stuck at home right now, big icy snow squall moved through this morning. There's a Mazda 4x4 truck stuck on my hill, blocking the driveway to my building. Amusing.
Around here 95% of people run the same tires year round. There's a lot of stuck cars this morning. I'm a chicken, and I have a relatively powerful RWD car with low profile tires...probably best to stay in.
We're stuck over here too, Finny... but it took (officially) 12 inches of snow to do it. More here in the valley, and hasn't let up much overnight. Thigh-high in the yard (found that out when I went to get the paper that wasn't in the box :surprise:
Once I get the snow away from the gates & un-bury the cars, I can probably get out. Schools closed all over. Supposed to have gone to a funeral in Colville today, but I think it would be inconsiderate to even try!
I was going to try to make it into work, now the city of Bellevue is telling people not to drive...so I think I might take them up on that. I don't think my employer will want to pay my deductible if I am coerced into going to work and get banged up.
Mazda truck guy finally got his rig out of the way, with 4 others helping him,and about 40 mins of spinning out.
Now there's a bus stuck at the bottom of my hill...also, there's no street parking, so that truck should give a clue that it's no fun out there. We've only maybe got 3-4", but the roads are icy - 7 and 8 mile backups on 405.
wow - and I think the storm that hit you is headed (or is right on top) my way, although there is only a about an inch outside right now. But the passes are a mess. I am going to try and make it to Ashland today, but may not make it once I get to town since it is a little higher than where I live and where I have to go is where i tried to go a couple days ago.
We have city transit buses getting stuck on the flat main street of downtown!
The list of school closures is nearly unanimous, and businesses are closed as well. We're having a late breakfast then gonna break out the shovel & snowblower. The Suburban has snow that drifted in to the driveway up to its door handles.
Your pictures are great. That's as long as it's not us here in W. Ohio. We haven't been hit yet and usually don't get it before Christmas. Maybe one out of eight years do we have a good, debilitating snow.
Your picture looks like that's the heavy, wet type of snow which can be really slick compared to 20 degree temps where it gets crunchy and gives some traction.
You're off-topic, plus one tenet of global warming is that it causes weather extremes, and causes them more frequently.
For those not in the loop, we bat GW around frequently over in Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?. (or maybe I should say climate change so no one thinks GW stands for Pres. Bush ).
Hey Paul, went sliding yesterday. We sure could use some more; the stuff at Bogus is ghost snow with zero moisture content. Only one slide-off, and he was considerate and slid a good ten feet off the road so as not to block traffic.
Glad someone likes em. This isn't a huge snow by your standards, maybe 5-6" in my area, but here that's enough to be a real mess as few have chains, few use snow tires, and the local authorities have little in the way of means to improve the roads.
The snow is actually pretty fluffy, compact and hard on the roads, but still very slick.
I was thinking of trying to show up at work this afternoon, but probably not. I'll have to go in tomorrow though, as I'll only be in for a few hours next week. Should be a fun drive, I am going to leave very early.
My car is sleeping in its nice dry garage, and I think it is happy about that.
3-5 inch is our average with lots of snows below and a few over. But often over is 8-15 inches. Fifth miles northwest we would get a lot more days of snow and a few that we deeper.
I loved sitting at home watching the snow when I didn't have to get out in it.
Is the car angled off to the right by the blue trash dumpster a slideoff? That's a steep hill from what I can tell. We're relatively flat compared to that slope. Most streets are level.
I am a saver by nature, so I have nearly a couple months of personal time I can use for days just like this.
The car angled off, by a pole and blue garbage can, a grey Mazda 3, is an abandoned stuck car...it's still there, I can see it from here, now covered with a layer of snow.
A very inconsiderate move locals make in bad weather - just leaving their car in the lane of traffic (this street has no on-street parking), making it difficult for other drivers and sanding trucks, should one actually come here.
The best visual I have seen lately was a BMW parked in a RED Zone (fire hydrant) Well the fire department had a REAL fire and they smashed the windows on the BMW to run their hoses through the cabin of the BMW. (and yes the hoses leak) :shades:
Heh, I think I saw something like that in a movie once. I am sure the cars that are abandoned and eventually towed aren't in mint condition once their owner retrieves them either.
I just saw an Impreza drive by with chains on all 4 wheels....odd.
Back in 1978 my brother got caught in a four foot blizzard up by Boston. Was stuck on route 128 for a few days, fortunately hanging in the cab of the truck behind him with a driver who had thought to fill because he might get stuck for days.
While they're chatting it comes up that this guy ahd clean up duty from huge storms previously. Told of operating a front end loader whose job was basically to fill big dump trucks full of snow so it could be gotten out of the city to go melt. In one dig he picks up not only a lot of snow but an entire Datsun. It ended up out wherever they dumped the snow.
Amazingly, my brother's car turned up safe and sound a week later on some impound lot where they towed everybody and was no worse for the wear.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
Yes the global warming alarmists have positioned themselves in such a way that they can blame anything on global warming. If the planet suddenly freezes over with mile deep glaciers at the equator global warming would be blamed.
Anyway back on topic, we will be getting a pretty bad storm this evening in a few hours, supposed to last to tomorrow afternoon. I will be heading into work regardless. The terrain is very flat with no real hills and I have a route that is relatively untraveled that I can take. If I take it slow and easy I should be ok.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Steve: The snow finaly quit here this afternoon. 20 inches minimum on the ground. 24 inches of new champagne pow in the last 30 hours on the hill.
Slide offs galore here in town today. Abandoned cars in the middle of off-ramps, buses stuck on the flats, etc. Got the Suburban un-buried (drifts up to the door handles) & out of the driveway... Subies would still get high-centered. Maybe thaw them out & get 'em rolling tomorrow.
Here in Central CT the supermarkets tend to be mega-size, and when the forecast calls for a Nor'easter the parking lots fill up with, it seems, outpatients.
Yesterday I pulled into the local Megafood parking lot and stopped behind a fellow who seemed to be ceding the ROW to people in the crosswalk. But he stayed put in his Audi after they crossed, and it turned out he was waiting for a woman who was verrrry slloowly making her way out of the store, across the car lanes and into the waiting Audi. Okay, fine.
She got into the car and dithered a bit, and the car stayed put, now with half a dozen more lining up behind me. So we'd arrived at a point where both people were in the Audi, neither was moving and neither was the car -- So I beeped (once. short.) The driver looked in the mirror and seemed startled to see cars lined up behind him. Like whooda thunk?!?
So he pulled out into the driving lane, crossed the dividing line ... and STOPPED!! looking at me in the mirror and shrugging his shoulders.
He didn't notice that he had pulled sufficiently forward to allow me room to simply turn right, zip up a crossing lane and whip into a spot a bit down the lot near a door. When I did this, I noticed him taking off. Didn't think anything of it until after parking my car, I noticed the Audi turning around, then racing back and parking in in the fire lane in front of the door I was planning to enter.
This should be interesting, I thought. If this buffoon looks like he's getting out of his car with confrontational intent, I'm slamming his door on his head. Maybe more than once.
As I approached, he glowered, I glowered back, and he took off.
My daughter and I are convinced that there is a nuthouse nearby whose residents have drivers licenses and come out to randomly clog up the roadways just prior to storms.
They don't have to come from a "nut house" to be lousy drivers and discourteous drivers as fintail was talking about. Here is Ca, er, Disneyland, we have all of the above and loads of more drivers who do not have a clue about safety and/or courtesy.
I remember driving in snow up near Tahoe, when two drivers locked up in snow, and did about three 360 degree turns before hitting a snow bank. My wife and I just stopped along the road until they stopped their acrobatics and then as they stay stuck, we slowly drove by with our chains on, and got home safely.
I hope all of our friends in the snowy areas of the mid west and it seems every place except in Bay Area, please be careful of the others.i.e. "those drivers".....
Good luck to all and I hope all have a peaceful and safe Christmas season.
A few observations on snow driving in the northwest:
Municipalities are very inexperienced at maintaining roads and do a half-baked job. However, tonight my fair city is doing a lot more than they did when we got the Tuursday dumping. I saw barely sand or plowing of some major roads until today.
Local drivers are idiots. They either go 2mph or 50mph when the flow is 25mph. They brake for icy hills, brake for ice patches, brake in turns, brake all the time.
An E55 is not the best snow car....but I had no issues until idiots would stop in front of me, or I would have to slow and then tackle a hill. Now it's staying in the garage for at least the next three days.
A lot of the problem is folks forget how to drive in winter conditions between winters!
In our 170-mile round trip to the ski hill yesterday, saw 2 items of note: 1 slideoff occurred before our very eyes, fortunately in the opposite direction - CRV went sideways before backing into the snow in the median. Then a semi went haulin' a&& past us on the way home on compact snow & ice - long as he got far enought ahead of me before he lost it, well, OK then
We're going to have to dig out of yet another dump today & tomorrow... bad timing for the snowblower to break!
Or they never knew how to drive in the winter at all
Yesterday I saw a late model A4 in a ditch - window down, which seemed odd as it was snowing. We got a few inches of snow and about a quarter inch of freezing rain last night, now it is snowing again. The plow has been on my hill a couple times today, and I think they de-iced it too...I can see a little pavement.
Returning from XMAS Dinner, we passed a local municipalities' patrol car (light array working) who had pulled over a car and seemingly, doing some writing. He was dressed in his (normal) uniform with a HUGE flowing red/white Santa Stocking Cap !!! HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS !! Every one :shades:
Went downstate yesterday to visit a friend. Overnight we had freezing rain but had warmed up by the time I left and while the roads were not great they weren't terrible. Saw about 10-12 cars in the ditch, all but one was 4WD/AWD.
At one point a van came up behind me, moved over to the left to pass then just sat there for a minute before moving back into the right lane and kept pace with me (my speed remained constant). As he was following me I happened to come up on someone and moved to pass, but since there was traffic coming up behind me and I was barely going faster than the car I was passing I speed up to make a faster pass and left the van well behind. Well the van did the same thing, came up behind me, moved over as if to pass, matched my speed then moved over to the right lane and paced me. :confuse:
As I was approaching my exit the road not only was now just wet it was actually starting to dry out. But eyeing the exit/entrance ramps I noticed that they were still pretty crappy. So as I approached my exit which had a pretty nice turn on it as it exited and the crossed over the interstate I slowed down long before the exit because I suspected it was slippery. Well it was slippery and as I was slowly approaching the exit a Porsche SUV shot pass me got on the exit ramp took that turn and slid right off the road and down an embankment. I stopped to check on the guy, he was ok, and called the state police and went on my way.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
My compliments to you for your assistance to that Porsche driver. Not many people would have stopped and check the driver to make sure that driver was ok and then calling the authorities.
Its nice to read good stories of people that care enough to help others. I did not see it much but I always made it a point to compliment the person(s) that helps us at t/c scenes.
Just be glad you are not in CA ! The CA Supreme Court has green lighted (set precedence for) increased lawsuits against so called "Good Samaritan Acts".
Fortunately or unfortunately for automotive related issues: as goes CA so goes the other 49 states.
The rest of the story that I heard is that they were out late partying and the drunk friend freaked and drug the driver out of the car instead of waiting for the paramedic. Paraplegia was the result.
And it wasn't like the car was on fire or anything.
The issue is NOT the individual merits of the case. THAT could have easily been solved/resolved at the court/case level. The issue is PRECEDENCE and wider spread applications there OF.
CHILLING comes to mind.
ANYBODY contemplating such actions should really check with their CAR insurance companies and other liability policies; as they are the usual suspects, if you are sued for automotive "Good Sam" actions. Good Sam might turn out to be the likes of New Yorkers in apartment houses hearing seeing and witnessing someone getting slaughtered and doing the three monkeys imitations: hear see speak (no evil) NADA.
Bottom line is you can NOT get sued for doing NADA. As those New Yorkers can tell you. :lemon: :shades:
"there are "triable issues whether Torti rendered, or actually and reasonably believed she was rendering, 'emergency care at the scene of an emergency.'
The case goes back to the trial court for further proceedings.
"If it's not an emergency that requires quick thinking to avoid serious injury," Perrochet said, "then one should apply the regular rule that if you offer aid you'd better be doing it non-negligently."
So ambulance chasing is a good source of revenue!? :P I truly chose the wrong profession !!
The way I read the legal blog is that unless one is a professional ( ER doctor going to work @ the time one come up on incident, paramedic, etc) and have legal advice and financial liability coverage and updated training for that particular proceedure, proper tools and equipment, logistical back up.... and, and, and...... one direly risks financial health and welfare ! Forewarned is truly fore armed. One's insurance company MIGHT not take too kindly paying for one's "good deeds".
Actually your post backs up EXACTLY (the principle) what I said in the post prior !!! I just put a graphic to it! ? They use the word/s "rescuer". That to me IS the (trained as rescuer) actual doctor, paramedic, fireman, law enforcement, etc. "Joe/Jill Sixpack" is specifically NOT addressed, even as Joe/Jill Six pack can be under a mistaken notion their aid is covered. . So for example if one happens to be: i.e., your off duty RN/ski buddy, paramedic,doctor, fireman, law enforcement, again forewarned is forearmed.
Not many people would have stopped and check the driver to make sure that driver was ok and then calling the authorities.
Stop to check, but keep an alert and watchful eye that some other Bozo doesn't take the turn to fast, slide off the road and run you over. I've seen it happen before... on t.v.
I even think "non essential" i.e., speeding ticket stops should be taken off a major highway for the completion of the paperwork. The stopped and the stopper are at substantial and elevated risk, even as the situation may dictate the chances are REMOTE.
I think your RN friend would also say, its wise to cover your backside if you assist due to the ambiguity/uncertainity this case presents since it is still not decided in the lower trial court.
What may be interesting is will the judge charge the jury as to what is "recklessness" within the scope of the samartian's duty of due care as a "reasonable and prudent" helper at accident scenes? This may start the maze of appeals and SC of Cal future decisions. As my British friend used to say, " a sticky wicket".
I remember an insane man ran across the IS 80 freeway and got his leg knocked off at about midnight. He said later he was trying to commit suicide.
I observed a RN, in full white uniform (and hat) who was going to work at a hospital in Oakland, who stopped to aid him. Indeed she kept him alive.
She stopped the bleeding and was holding him with her body and arms, while they both sat in the center divider of IS 80. I stopped and assisted. When the ambulance arrived we loaded him into the ambulance and I picked up his severed leg, placed it in the ambulance, and at the hospital they put it back on and he walked again.
Had this decision been in effect years ago, the question might be, was the RN reckless in rendering assistance, or was she a reasonable and prudent off duty pofessional in saving his life? I don't know. My guess is probably not,
But this case may now rewrite the law ala by the jury in the lower court. What will happen the "good samertain" who stops but now decided not to assist out of fear of law suits? what a can of worms?
At least to me, the Host's friend the RN makes a lot of sense to me. Especially if your are not acting in a profesional situation but as a private citizen. And that is JMO, a very sad thing to see.
Please forgive my spelling as I was too busy to run a check.
Good luck to all and may the new year be peaceful for you and your loved ones.
My RN ski buddy would evaluate but wait for 911 to arrive, absent some impending doom scenario.
My sister, a medical doctor, won't even look towards the patient for fear of a lawsuit. Just the very act of evaluating a patient could expose you to a lawsuit if you are a medical professional.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Does not your sister fear a lawsuit for "failure to assist" when happening at the scene of a medical emergency?
How would they know? Unless my sister announces herself as a doctor they wouldn't know.
Does her medical mal practice insurance cover her "errors and ommissions" ?
Not sure what her insurance covers but I know the cost is in the 6 figures. I know that some parts of this country it is almost impossible to get malpractice insurance in certain fields.
Is there any liability for her picking and choosing?
Can't say, but it is something that is necessary in a world where people will sue at a drop of a hat, and plenty hats drop these days.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It would never occur to me to drive past an accident or someone lying in the road, if there was no one else already offering assistance - even if holidaying in the US, where I know that you can get sued for nothing... I think there have been similar threats over here in Britain but in practical terms unless you recklessly endanger someone (ie your quoted case of the drunk pulling someone out of a car and thereby seriously injuring him) then you shouldn't face litigation. I suppose it is different where the cost of medical care has to be taken into account - here, you phone for an ambulance and they turn up and cart the victim off to hospital, gratis. In fact I think it is probably illegal to leave someone to die at the roadside without trying to assist them, although I am not sure if that applies to passers-by as opposed to the protagonists in a crash. I know that if you are a qualified doctor or nurse then it is reckoned they have a liability if they do something wrong, even when off duty, though most medico's here are employed by the national health service so I would imagine basically they are covered by the insurance arrangements for that. When I was run over in the street years ago, a passing old lady, who turned out to have been a St.John's Ambulance Volunteer in WW2, stopped to help until the ambulance showed up - I wasn't critically injured, but she was brilliant and certainly helped me....Mind you, I suppose I would feel differently if she had broken my neck or something !
Saw one of those car carriers (like you see delivering cars to a dealership) filled up with several different makes and models. The one thing they all had in common was that bright orange tow sticker plastered onto the drivers side window.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Comments
It's a lemming thing, they can't help it, they are just lousy drivers. Us superlative drivers ought not be angry with these LLC doofi, instead we should make reasonable/responsible allowance for their speed-magnet behavior. thank you!
Once I get the snow away from the gates & un-bury the cars, I can probably get out. Schools closed all over. Supposed to have gone to a funeral in Colville today, but I think it would be inconsiderate to even try!
Cheers!
Paul
Mazda truck guy finally got his rig out of the way, with 4 others helping him,and about 40 mins of spinning out.
Now there's a bus stuck at the bottom of my hill...also, there's no street parking, so that truck should give a clue that it's no fun out there. We've only maybe got 3-4", but the roads are icy - 7 and 8 mile backups on 405.
I'm not going out in my car until they at least do some sanding and/or plowing. Neither has happened yet.
Probably 8-10 cars stuck on my hill now, the newness has worn off. Traffic volumes are probably 10-20% of normal on my street, which is a good sign.
The list of school closures is nearly unanimous, and businesses are closed as well. We're having a late breakfast then gonna break out the shovel & snowblower. The Suburban has snow that drifted in to the driveway up to its door handles.
Cheers!
Paul
Your picture looks like that's the heavy, wet type of snow which can be really slick compared to 20 degree temps where it gets crunchy and gives some traction.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
For those not in the loop, we bat GW around frequently over in Are automobiles a major cause of global warming?. (or maybe I should say climate change so no one thinks GW stands for Pres. Bush
Hey Paul, went sliding yesterday. We sure could use some more; the stuff at Bogus is ghost snow with zero moisture content. Only one slide-off, and he was considerate and slid a good ten feet off the road so as not to block traffic.
The snow is actually pretty fluffy, compact and hard on the roads, but still very slick.
Here's looking down my hill just a couple minutes ago. All of these cars are stuck - none moving when I took the pic
My car is sleeping in its nice dry garage, and I think it is happy about that.
I loved sitting at home watching the snow when I didn't have to get out in it.
Is the car angled off to the right by the blue trash dumpster a slideoff? That's a steep hill from what I can tell. We're relatively flat compared to that slope. Most streets are level.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The car angled off, by a pole and blue garbage can, a grey Mazda 3, is an abandoned stuck car...it's still there, I can see it from here, now covered with a layer of snow.
A very inconsiderate move locals make in bad weather - just leaving their car in the lane of traffic (this street has no on-street parking), making it difficult for other drivers and sanding trucks, should one actually come here.
The best visual I have seen lately was a BMW parked in a RED Zone (fire hydrant) Well the fire department had a REAL fire and they smashed the windows on the BMW to run their hoses through the cabin of the BMW. (and yes the hoses leak) :shades:
I just saw an Impreza drive by with chains on all 4 wheels....odd.
While they're chatting it comes up that this guy ahd clean up duty from huge storms previously. Told of operating a front end loader whose job was basically to fill big dump trucks full of snow so it could be gotten out of the city to go melt. In one dig he picks up not only a lot of snow but an entire Datsun. It ended up out wherever they dumped the snow.
Amazingly, my brother's car turned up safe and sound a week later on some impound lot where they towed everybody and was no worse for the wear.
Anyway back on topic, we will be getting a pretty bad storm this evening in a few hours, supposed to last to tomorrow afternoon. I will be heading into work regardless. The terrain is very flat with no real hills and I have a route that is relatively untraveled that I can take. If I take it slow and easy I should be ok.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Slide offs galore here in town today. Abandoned cars in the middle of off-ramps, buses stuck on the flats, etc. Got the Suburban un-buried (drifts up to the door handles) & out of the driveway... Subies would still get high-centered. Maybe thaw them out & get 'em rolling tomorrow.
Cheers!
Paul
Yesterday I pulled into the local Megafood parking lot and stopped behind a fellow who seemed to be ceding the ROW to people in the crosswalk. But he stayed put in his Audi after they crossed, and it turned out he was waiting for a woman who was verrrry slloowly making her way out of the store, across the car lanes and into the waiting Audi. Okay, fine.
She got into the car and dithered a bit, and the car stayed put, now with half a dozen more lining up behind me. So we'd arrived at a point where both people were in the Audi, neither was moving and neither was the car -- So I beeped (once. short.) The driver looked in the mirror and seemed startled to see cars lined up behind him. Like whooda thunk?!?
So he pulled out into the driving lane, crossed the dividing line ... and STOPPED!! looking at me in the mirror and shrugging his shoulders.
He didn't notice that he had pulled sufficiently forward to allow me room to simply turn right, zip up a crossing lane and whip into a spot a bit down the lot near a door. When I did this, I noticed him taking off. Didn't think anything of it until after parking my car, I noticed the Audi turning around, then racing back and parking in in the fire lane in front of the door I was planning to enter.
This should be interesting, I thought. If this buffoon looks like he's getting out of his car with confrontational intent, I'm slamming his door on his head. Maybe more than once.
As I approached, he glowered, I glowered back, and he took off.
My daughter and I are convinced that there is a nuthouse nearby whose residents have drivers licenses and come out to randomly clog up the roadways just prior to storms.
They don't have to come from a "nut house" to be lousy drivers and discourteous drivers as fintail was talking about. Here is Ca, er, Disneyland, we have all of the above and loads of more drivers who do not have a clue about safety and/or courtesy.
I remember driving in snow up near Tahoe, when two drivers locked up in snow, and did about three 360 degree turns before hitting a snow bank. My wife and I just stopped along the road until they stopped their acrobatics and then as they stay stuck, we slowly drove by with our chains on, and got home safely.
I hope all of our friends in the snowy areas of the mid west and it seems every place except in Bay Area, please be careful of the others.i.e. "those drivers".....
Good luck to all and I hope all have a peaceful and safe Christmas season.
jensad
Municipalities are very inexperienced at maintaining roads and do a half-baked job. However, tonight my fair city is doing a lot more than they did when we got the Tuursday dumping. I saw barely sand or plowing of some major roads until today.
Local drivers are idiots. They either go 2mph or 50mph when the flow is 25mph. They brake for icy hills, brake for ice patches, brake in turns, brake all the time.
An E55 is not the best snow car....but I had no issues until idiots would stop in front of me, or I would have to slow and then tackle a hill. Now it's staying in the garage for at least the next three days.
In our 170-mile round trip to the ski hill yesterday, saw 2 items of note: 1 slideoff occurred before our very eyes, fortunately in the opposite direction - CRV went sideways before backing into the snow in the median. Then a semi went haulin' a&& past us on the way home on compact snow & ice - long as he got far enought ahead of me before he lost it, well, OK then
We're going to have to dig out of yet another dump today & tomorrow... bad timing for the snowblower to break!
Cheers!
Paul
Yesterday I saw a late model A4 in a ditch - window down, which seemed odd as it was snowing. We got a few inches of snow and about a quarter inch of freezing rain last night, now it is snowing again. The plow has been on my hill a couple times today, and I think they de-iced it too...I can see a little pavement.
View from my office window yesterday...something inconsiderate must have happened here...road at the top is I-90
jensad
At one point a van came up behind me, moved over to the left to pass then just sat there for a minute before moving back into the right lane and kept pace with me (my speed remained constant). As he was following me I happened to come up on someone and moved to pass, but since there was traffic coming up behind me and I was barely going faster than the car I was passing I speed up to make a faster pass and left the van well behind. Well the van did the same thing, came up behind me, moved over as if to pass, matched my speed then moved over to the right lane and paced me. :confuse:
As I was approaching my exit the road not only was now just wet it was actually starting to dry out. But eyeing the exit/entrance ramps I noticed that they were still pretty crappy. So as I approached my exit which had a pretty nice turn on it as it exited and the crossed over the interstate I slowed down long before the exit because I suspected it was slippery. Well it was slippery and as I was slowly approaching the exit a Porsche SUV shot pass me got on the exit ramp took that turn and slid right off the road and down an embankment. I stopped to check on the guy, he was ok, and called the state police and went on my way.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
My compliments to you for your assistance to that Porsche driver. Not many people would have stopped and check the driver to make sure that driver was ok and then calling the authorities.
Its nice to read good stories of people that care enough to help others. I did not see it much but I always made it a point to compliment the person(s) that helps us at t/c scenes.
Good luck to all and stay safe.
jensad 0 0
*
v
Just be glad you are not in CA ! The CA Supreme Court has green lighted (set precedence for) increased lawsuits against so called "Good Samaritan Acts".
Fortunately or unfortunately for automotive related issues: as goes CA so goes the other 49 states.
link title
link title
And it wasn't like the car was on fire or anything.
CHILLING comes to mind.
ANYBODY contemplating such actions should really check with their CAR insurance companies and other liability policies; as they are the usual suspects, if you are sued for automotive "Good Sam" actions. Good Sam might turn out to be the likes of New Yorkers in apartment houses hearing seeing and witnessing someone getting slaughtered and doing the three monkeys imitations: hear see speak (no evil) NADA.
Bottom line is you can NOT get sued for doing NADA. As those New Yorkers can tell you.
The case goes back to the trial court for further proceedings.
"If it's not an emergency that requires quick thinking to avoid serious injury," Perrochet said, "then one should apply the regular rule that if you offer aid you'd better be doing it non-negligently."
law.com
I think this case is going to get bent out of shape about as bad as the McDonald's coffee one did.
The way I read the legal blog is that unless one is a professional ( ER doctor going to work @ the time one come up on incident, paramedic, etc) and have legal advice and financial liability coverage and updated training for that particular proceedure, proper tools and equipment, logistical back up.... and, and, and...... one direly risks financial health and welfare ! Forewarned is truly fore armed. One's insurance company MIGHT not take too kindly paying for one's "good deeds".
Good blurb at Wiki Answers. In the California case, I think the reckless part is the issue.
Stop to check, but keep an alert and watchful eye that some other Bozo doesn't take the turn to fast, slide off the road and run you over. I've seen it happen before... on t.v.
What may be interesting is will the judge charge the jury as to what is "recklessness" within the scope of the samartian's duty of due care as a "reasonable and prudent" helper at accident scenes? This may start the maze of appeals and SC of Cal future decisions. As my British friend used to say, " a sticky wicket".
I remember an insane man ran across the IS 80 freeway and got his leg knocked off at about midnight. He said later he was trying to commit suicide.
I observed a RN, in full white uniform (and hat) who was going to work at a hospital in Oakland, who stopped to aid him. Indeed she kept him alive.
She stopped the bleeding and was holding him with her body and arms, while they both sat in the center divider of IS 80. I stopped and assisted. When the ambulance arrived we loaded him into the ambulance and I picked up his severed leg, placed it in the ambulance, and at the hospital they put it back on and he walked again.
Had this decision been in effect years ago, the question might be, was the RN reckless in rendering assistance, or was she a reasonable and prudent off duty pofessional in saving his life? I don't know. My guess is probably not,
But this case may now rewrite the law ala by the jury in the lower court. What will happen the "good samertain" who stops but now decided not to assist out of fear of law suits? what a can of worms?
At least to me, the Host's friend the RN makes a lot of sense to me. Especially if your are not acting in a profesional situation but as a private citizen. And that is JMO, a very sad thing to see.
Please forgive my spelling as I was too busy to run a check.
Good luck to all and may the new year be peaceful for you and your loved ones.
jensad
My sister, a medical doctor, won't even look towards the patient for fear of a lawsuit. Just the very act of evaluating a patient could expose you to a lawsuit if you are a medical professional.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Does her medical mal practice insurance cover her "errors and ommissions" ?
Is there any liability for her picking and choosing?
How would they know? Unless my sister announces herself as a doctor they wouldn't know.
Does her medical mal practice insurance cover her "errors and ommissions" ?
Not sure what her insurance covers but I know the cost is in the 6 figures. I know that some parts of this country it is almost impossible to get malpractice insurance in certain fields.
Is there any liability for her picking and choosing?
Can't say, but it is something that is necessary in a world where people will sue at a drop of a hat, and plenty hats drop these days.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I know that if you are a qualified doctor or nurse then it is reckoned they have a liability if they do something wrong, even when off duty, though most medico's here are employed by the national health service so I would imagine basically they are covered by the insurance arrangements for that.
When I was run over in the street years ago, a passing old lady, who turned out to have been a St.John's Ambulance Volunteer in WW2, stopped to help until the ambulance showed up - I wasn't critically injured, but she was brilliant and certainly helped me....Mind you, I suppose I would feel differently if she had broken my neck or something !
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D