Hello, I haven't been on this site for a while as I haven't lived in Kanto for many years now, but a recent event found me asking a fellow cyclist friend who suggested I post here to ask if anyone has been in a similar position and could possibly offer any advice.
Last Sunday, on the way to work, the latest in a long, and continuous line of idiots pulled some reckless driving on me; namely, as I was overtaking a bus, he thought it'd be acceptable driving to overtake me too, but passed way too close.
I'm ashamed to say, as it spooked the bejeezus out of me, the adrenaline shot up, and I lost it a bit, and ended up getting a bit kicky and punchy on his car. For me, that was the end of it - He'd done me wrong, I reciprocated, a cosmic balance restored; but he wasn't having that, and began chasing me - Through 2 sets of red lights and the wrong way down a one-way street, so that in the end I stopped just so he wouldn't end up injuring/killing someone else.
Police arrive - There was no evidence of his dangerous driving both before and after my outburst, but there was physical evidence that I'd hit his car, so it was me who got hauled away.
He filed a "higaitodoke" (damages claim) against me, which I'm told everything now hinges on.
If he's calmed down, and can be persuaded to settle out of court with me (Me paying his repairs, and probably a few other things to push up the price), I may get out of this OK, but if he decides he wants an example being made of me, then I'm up the proverbial creek.
I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and could perhaps offer some advice.
Much obliged.
Last Sunday, on the way to work, the latest in a long, and continuous line of idiots pulled some reckless driving on me; namely, as I was overtaking a bus, he thought it'd be acceptable driving to overtake me too, but passed way too close.
I'm ashamed to say, as it spooked the bejeezus out of me, the adrenaline shot up, and I lost it a bit, and ended up getting a bit kicky and punchy on his car. For me, that was the end of it - He'd done me wrong, I reciprocated, a cosmic balance restored; but he wasn't having that, and began chasing me - Through 2 sets of red lights and the wrong way down a one-way street, so that in the end I stopped just so he wouldn't end up injuring/killing someone else.
Police arrive - There was no evidence of his dangerous driving both before and after my outburst, but there was physical evidence that I'd hit his car, so it was me who got hauled away.
He filed a "higaitodoke" (damages claim) against me, which I'm told everything now hinges on.
If he's calmed down, and can be persuaded to settle out of court with me (Me paying his repairs, and probably a few other things to push up the price), I may get out of this OK, but if he decides he wants an example being made of me, then I'm up the proverbial creek.
I'm just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and could perhaps offer some advice.
Much obliged.
Last edited: