Quote:
169.18 DRIVING RULES. Subd. 8.Following vehicle too closely. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the conditions of the highway.
(b) The driver of any motor vehicle drawing another vehicle, or the driver of any motor truck or bus, when traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residence district, shall not follow within 500 feet of another vehicle. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to prevent overtaking and passing nor shall the same apply upon any lane specially designated for use by motor trucks.
(c) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow within 500 feet of an authorized emergency vehicle that is traveling in response to an emergency.
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500 feet is roughly 1/10 mile. That would be plenty sufficient for a non-speeding cycle to come to a stop or change lanes. Oops- speeding and following too close, not to mention lacking situational awareness (there was a truck and trailer AHEAD of the bike that managed to avoid the car. Are bikes more maneuverable than trucks with trailers? Yes, they are).
Agreed Patrick- neither party is blameless and neither party should get all the blame.
Here's a bit on liability:
http://www.all-about-car-accidents.c...-deciding-fact
http://accident-law.freeadvice.com/a...d_accident.htm
Quote:
The 'Rules of the Road'
If someone hits you from behind, it is virtually always his or her fault, *regardless of the reason you stopped. A basic rule of the road requires that you be able to stop safely if a vehicle stops ahead of you. So, as a tailing driver, if you *cannot stop in time and wind up rear-ending the vehicle in front of you, you are not driving as safely as you need to be under the circumstances.
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Can't speak for CA but I'd imagine their rules are the same or similar:
Quote:
Minnesota’s basic speed law requires you to drive at a speed no faster than is reasonable under existing conditions. These include weather,
traffic and road conditions. Driving faster than the posted speed limit is illegal.
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