Front-end Collision, Conflicting Accounts of Accident

"This intersection is one of the busiest in my neighborhood and I'm always alert while driving through it."

Do you guys have red light cameras at this intersection?

 

Sorry, I know this kind of thing sux big time. Based on stories I've heard, you'll probably each be responsible to damage for your own cars.

 

"I'm in law school right now"

I'm not, but Dad was a cop. I think a request is in order by yourself, a Lawyer or the Insurance Company to the authorities. This should "prove" who is telling the truth. Don't wait for a ticket. Move on this now before she does. Just my opinion though...

 

My advice is to never discuss the accident with other parties to it. Inquire whether they are OK, move to a safe location, get your papers, wait for the police. Give your story to the police. Don't provide an audience for them to rehearse their story. Let the insurance companies determine fault. Don't get mad.

 

I had a similar situation happen. The other party didn't make a stink at the time and knew he was at fault. Later he went ballistic and threaten me and my insurance co. Fortunately, his side of the story didn't add up as I managed to get some witnesses to confirm at least part of my side of the story... nothing on his side of the story added up.

Hope all works out. Try to relax... I know how much stress is involved.

 

At minimum, amend your report to the insurance co. that there are cameras there and you are not at fault. Documentation is everything and keep copies. You may be able to get the records from the police dept. yourself, but official channals such as a Lawyer or the Insuance Co work better. Good luck.

 

Hi All,

This almost happened to me in my 2006. But, I stopped in time. Lucky, as the person making the illegal left turn had to come to dead stop perfectly centered in front of me, as they could not see the car in the right lane, making the legal right turn with the light. They would have T-boned that car. So they stopped.

The bad thing, was a casual observer would think I was running the red, as the light turned from green to yellow to red in the time I was full on brakes, and came to a stop in the intersection with the light red. Rather than going to full brakes, and stopping in time for the illegal left turning (left turn on arrow only intersection). I am sure I was so reported, as there was a cop watching the next day, and I got a note from the Illinois DOT asking if my insurance was up to date a few weeks later....

 

That is tough.

I bought my Prius because the car I was driving was t-boned. There is no dispute as to who was at fault. The direction I was going was not marked with a stop sign. The guy who hit me had a stop sign. He received a ticket on the spot.

The accident did not cost me a dime, but I was sore for several days.

Good luck!

 

If you have collision coverage, let your insurance co handle your damages. You'll be on the road much faster. The insurance companies will sort this out based upon the laws and guidelines of the state in which the accident occurred.

 

Generally speaking, if that intersection doesn't have a full-time protected left turn (i.e., it has two green lights, one protected arrow, and unprotected regular green), then you will probably not get the blame.

Because the person turning left has to yield, and the person going straight has the right of way. The only thing the cop can assume is she made an unsafe left turn if the light doesn't give her a protected left-turn 100% of the time. How can the cop assume you ran a red light over her misjudging an unprotected left turn unless there is bias?

 

Spinfuel has it correct. Facts are pretty simple, unless she has a witness to prove you ran the red light, I am pretty sure she is at fault. She made the turn, you went straight, end of story. When there is no witness, the rule of the road is used and the person going straight has the right of way. Call your insurance company immediately, be calm and give them the facts.

 

Sorry to hear about your accident.
Like someone suggested, let the insurance handle this. They are on your side as to assigning whose at fault. The police is not going to spend time on your case given this is a minor incident.

Going to your pics, I notice the hood is popped open. Did the hood latch open ?

 

Sorry to hear about the accident. This sucks big time.

But, you are safe, the other driver is safe. Stuff can be fixed. Unless you are going to sell the car in the near future, the maximum damage is your deductible. I like your red light ticket idea. Is there a place you can call and inquire about this before you potentially get a ticket? Try to concentrate on your exams. In 5 years, your results will matter to you more than the accident (your car will look as good as new at that point too!). All the best on your exams.

It's just a car. It will be fixed. No one was harmed.

 

Ouch. We all can remember the FIRST one. Be glad all are OK.
This is a great place for an insurance agent to be useful. If you have one call and discuss the camera situation. They'll want to know of their existence. Be sure the company endorsed repair facility stands behind their work. Period, and in writing.. The body will probably need frame straightening and perhaps enough costs to require "totalling" the car.
While that sounds bad it may be a preferred solution since your car will suffer damage depreciation even if it is repaired well.
You don't have time to waste on negative reflections.
It's over.
Learn some lessons and pass those exams! Perhaps this incident was fate to inspire a specialization in this area.
Good luck.:rockon:

 

Yes, you have a powerful argument (in my mind), with the red light traffic camera ticket argument.

Unfortunately for you, the best case scenario is if they total your car. What is all the fluid splattered on the passenger seat?

If your own insurance doesn't want to total the car, and the other party accepts full responsibility, you may want to go through the other insurance's adjuster to see if they will total the car, since it will be their responsibility.

 

BodyLanguage
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