Car accident

[KillerCharlie]

I never had an accident that wasn't beyond my control in my 10 years of driving... until 3 weeks after I bought my first brand new car.

I was turning right into the right lane while he was in the left lane. I honestly don't know who was at fault - either he drifted into my lane or I turned wide into his.

I drive so carefully with a new vehicle, too.

The body around my wheel well was a little dented and scratched (doesn't look bad but repairs are so expensive now days) and his entire right side was scraped.

At least I had a low deductible... I guess.

 

[DVad3r]

Ouch that sucks. You would be at fault in that situation I think, although the fucker should of signalled if he was planning on coming in onto the right lane. Got any pics? And what kind of car was it?

 

[KillerCharlie]

It will be impossible to determine who was actually at fault so I'm sure they'll put it on me (which I understand completely). It's only $500... hopefully my rates won't get jacked up.

It's a 2009 Subaru Forester. Aside from the fact that the seat and seating position is incredibly uncomfortable for me (didn't affect me until after driving it a week), it's an amazing vehicle for the price.

 

[DVad3r]

Yea that is a nice car. At least you weren't injured.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Come to think of it I think he hit me after I had completed the turn, meaning he was changing lanes. A little late now, though.

 

[postmortemIA]

you were supposed to yield him either way - there's stop sign or red light.
you can't just turn into street in front of somebody or even worse at the same time.

 

[KillerCharlie]

He was in the left lane, I turned into the right lane.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
He was in the left lane, I turned into the right lane.

Yea I know what you mean. I do it all the time, but I think technically by law you're not supposed to turn in when there is someone coming, even if he is in a different lane. Not sure on this though, anyone have any insight?

 

[maddogchen]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

It's a 2009 Subaru Forester. Aside from the fact that the seat and seating position is incredibly uncomfortable for me (didn't affect me until after driving it a week), it's an amazing vehicle for the price.

I rented a subaru forester for a long distance trip and both my back and the other driver's was hurting!

 

[LTC8K6]

You were turning right into the right hand lane, and he was across the interesection from you, turning left into the left hand lane and ending up next to you traveling in the same direction?

If so, in my state he has to wait for you, or stay in his lane. He cannot turn left into the right hand lane unless it's clear. He must turn into the left hand lane and then change.

You also cannot turn right into the left hand lane unless it's clear.

Assuming you both had the green.

It sounds like he changed lanes mid-turn, which would make it entirely his fault.

 

[postmortemIA]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
You were turning right into the right hand lane, and he was across the interesection from you, turning left into the left hand lane and ending up next to you traveling in the same direction?

If so, in my state he has to wait for you, or stay in his lane. He cannot turn left into the right hand lane unless it's clear. He must turn into the left hand lane and then change.

You also cannot turn right into the left hand lane unless it's clear.

Assuming you both had the green.

It sounds like he changed lanes mid-turn, which would make it entirely his fault.

OP never said other driver was turning left, from description it appears that other driver was going straight in left lane, and did not have to stop or yield.

 

[LTC8K6]

That would be why I wrote "If so".

In that case, the guy still changed lanes in or near the intersection, which you can't do.

 

[g8wayrebel]

It is illegal in most US states to change lanes within 100 feet of an intersection for this very reason. If he was in the left lane and changed to the right in the intersection , He'd be at fault in Missouri for sure. I had a similar accident in a government vehicle and the cab I hit was cited for that very thing.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: g8wayrebel
It is illegal in most US states to change lanes within 100 feet of an intersection for this very reason. If he was in the left lane and changed to the right in the intersection , He'd be at fault in Missouri for sure. I had a similar accident in a government vehicle and the cab I hit was cited for that very thing.

but it sound like he does not know if he went wide, or if it was the guy coming into his lane.