Ok, I got into a car accident yesterday while picking up my girlfriend. Here's what happened.

I was the third car in the lane for making a left turn and I had my signal on. The light turns green and the first car makes a left, the second car goes straight and than I go up to make a left. I stop, look to see if any cars are coming and I don't see any. So I take my time making a left since there are pot holes everywhere and then all of a sudden, I hear an engine screaming so I look up to see an old Cadillac speeding at me. I slam on my brakes and I'm thinking that this person will serve out of the way but "SHE" doesn't and runs right into my car. I get out of the car and start snapping at her. She tells me that she's so sorry and that she tried to stop. The cops come and I give the cops my license and registration as well as the lady. 30 minutes later, he gives me a ticket for "Failing to yield at a light."

WTF is this b/s? She must've been going at least 50-60 because she said that she "TRIED" to stop but obviously she couldn't. The damage report on my car isn't too bad. I just need a new front bumber and two new headlights. *sigh*~The shop said that it's going to take aobut 3-4 weeks to fix.

Do you guys think that it was my fault cause' I seriously think she should've gotten a ticket and should've been blamed for the whole accident. I know that she had right of way but the cop was being a **** too me because I'm a 17 yr. kid driving a TL and that the old lady had more experience as a driver.. He was even asking me on how I bought the car and sh!t. He was probably thinking I was some big-time coke dealer or something.

 

Sorry to hear what happened....

Two things.

First, since the lady admitted she was at fault, see if you kind have a little sit-down with her to go over 'insurance details'. Ask her to sign something that admits she was at fault, because peoples' stories change over time.

Second, Even though failure to yield is a moving violation, Im pretty sure it carries no points. I got one a few years back and believe this to be true. Again, it was several years ago and in NJ.......Id make sure, but almost positive it is just a fine.

Good luck

 

sorry to say it, but, yes, you are at fault for failure to yield. I can understand the potholes, but when I saw the lunatic flying at me, VTEC would be my immediate friend. I was in a rear end where the person was making a right turn, started going, and slammed on the brakes again- I tapped her. Little did I know she filled a claim and my ins$ went up. She seemed to be in it for the money. The lady propbably did see your nice Acura and floored it, knowing it would be your fault, unfortunately, white trash wins, be aware of these 'opportunities' for $$$. Good luck.


(points or no points, classes to clear up points, etc. Insurance will go up regardless if a claim is filed and you are at fault)

 

yet... sorry to hear about that...

reminds me that I was backing out in a parking lot, it was a very small and tightly spaced one... there's a guy who's waiting to park at my spot, I even gave the hand single. and FACK... he jam on the gas... and I back right into him... the thing is that I just released the brake....didn't even touch the gas... bam... his brand new 2001 Civic's whole door and even front fender are like hell...

WTF, I knew they had an accident already and they wanted to set me up... FACKERs where in a rental car....

I just turn 20, the insurance is on my name and it's gonna sky rocket... I know how you feel... I totally do man... and I know it sucks...

Nontheless, get a ticket fight/laywer for traffic offence.... Ask their opinion and maybe they can work something out...

I had a speeding ticket before, the officer kept on asking and doubting my ability of owning the car, too damn.. I hired a ticket fight, and some how they dismissed the ticket for me... I was going 160km @70 zone which is like 100mile @ 45

 

Sorry about you accident. I would have stompped on the accelerator if I saw her coming. You never want to stop in the process of making a turn.

I think your insurance company will see that you were at fault, especially since your were given a ticket. this one's gonna be hard to fight.

 

I was in a similar accident 3 years ago while making a left turn, I check to see if the road was clear..and it was..and when I started to make the left, a van that was parked on coming traffic side and into me and totaled my car!!!!(am i clear?) It was '89 Legend LS (a moment of silence please) anyway the cops came and skipped my totaled car in the middle of the intersection and went to the guy in the van with only a busted headlight to find out what happened. The cops came to me I told them my story and I was lucky to have 3 wittiness to the accident. So the cops talks to them and leaves. So I think im in the clear...Nope on the police report it says no witnesses....and I didnt have their names or numbers....and that was stupid...but I was 17, it was my first accident, and I was shaken up pretty bad, I have pictures if you wanna see. To make a long story short I got blamed.

-amit

 

hhmmmmm, see this:

http://www.nolo.com/lawcenter/ency/a...351429C56DCFFD

 

Sorry to hear about that, in your original post you didn't mention whether you had a dedicated left turn green arrow, if you did then it's her ass on the line. If it was a regular green with no arrow then you may need to look for a good traffic attorney, good luck either way.

 

This is from the link that my99tl posted...

Left-Turn Accident
A car making a left turn is almost always liable for a collision with a car coming straight in the other direction. Exceptions to this near-automatic rule are rare and difficult to prove, but they can occur if:
The car going straight was going well over the speed limit.
The car going straight went through a red light.
The left-turning car began its turn when it was safe, but something unexpected made it slow down or stop. This is an extremely difficult excuse to use because a basic rule of the road says the car making the left turn must wait until it can safely complete the turn before moving in front of oncoming traffic.
Also, as with a rear-end collision, the location of the damage on the cars sometimes makes it difficult for the driver to argue that the accident happened in some way other than during a left turn.

Doesn't look good for you my friend...

 

Uh... WTF is that about?

 

Uh-oh, I see something's going on here. :p

 

Definitely let your insurance company fight for you. If they can call that woman and get a recording of her admitting any fault, then it will be a huge advantage to you. Last time I checked, Illinois is a state where they can claim that a driver is a certain percentage at fault, so maybe the insurance company can work it so you're not 100% at fault.
Also, GO TO COURT for the ticket. As a matter of fact, go to court for any moving violation in Chicago. I can count about 5 or 6 times that I had a speeding ticket or other violation which was dismissed or reduced down to court supervision when I showed up to court. If you can go to traffic court and explained what happened, they may get you court supervision on the ticket or throw it out completely. If the cop that wrote the ticket doesn't show up, you can plead not guilty and have it immediately thrown out. Be careful, because if you plead not guilty and the cop IS there, you're in for a much bigger fine than the original. Does it sound like I've done this a lot before?
I had a very similar thing happen to me in Chicago when I lived there. I was turning south (left) on to Clark from Congress but had to wait for the 5 lanes of oncoming traffic to stop before going. I had to wait until it was red before making the turn, but some woman came speeding in the other direction and clipped me in the right rear corner of my car and sent me spinning. Fortunately, a traffic cop was standing right there and saw the whole thing happen. If it weren't for him, I'm sure I would've had a lot more trouble.
A tip for everyone: If you're in an accident, check that everyone in your car is ok, and immediately start looking for witnesses. Licenses plates, car models, whatever it takes to back up your story will always help you out in the end.

Casey

 

Nate,

I was referring to white collar vs white trash, money hungry, nothiing-to-do better-thantolookforanopportunity-foraslipnfall P.O.S., just a figure of speech. It couldve been umpteen other analogies

 

Its cool, its cool.

 

Sorry it took so long for a reply but thanks for all your input! I've been talking w/my lawyer because I really can't be going to court *again* for driving. I got a ticket in January for speeding. Nothing much, I was going about 90 in a 40 but the cop caught me going 53 in a 40 and he knew I was speeding. Guess it was a nice thing too do, but I got 6 month supervision for driving so...yeah*~I guess going to my court case w/o a lawyer is dumb. I know for a fact that the lady was speeding b/c I heard her flooring her car from quite a distance. I think the cop only gave me a ticket just because I'm Asian. Now, I'm not racist but where I live (Arlington Heights, IL a.k.a Caucasian Suburbs), it's unusual for Asians to be living in this area. Please to those who're Caucasian, take no offense. Telling this now so that I don't get b*tched at.

 

Watch what you say in court...

"If you heard her flooring it from a distance, why did you initiate the turn, then stop. CASE DISMISSED!"

 

ah. good point

 

Let your lawyer do the talking...after all, that is what you are paying him for