first traffic accident, ugh

[Sovek]

Ok, need to talk, or something. This week has not been good, and it gets even better. Monday I get terminated from my job after 4 years of constant harassment. The whole thing doesnt help when your personality is listed as INTP and you are in a noisy, stressful environment for 9 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. Eventually I got to the point where emotion overrode logic and I acted out of frustration. Then tuesday my dying battery finally quits, so bad that the car almost shuts off if something is turned on before the alternator. Now, traffic accident, my fault. To make matters worse I probably have a job pending drug screen but until the fender is taken off, no way of driving it with the fender hanging off. Will try and take care of that tomorrow.

I got my DL about 10 years ago, and through two cars, remained mostly accident free. Buick got dinged by idiot woman backing into the left rear door. But that streak has come to an end tonight... and it has me on edge. I bought my 05 Impala almost 1 year ago to the day. Its now got a rear bumper hanging off, motorcycle hit it during a left hand turn. I was waiting after a red light for traffic to clear, thought it did, during the turn I see this motorcycle 25 ft away. I may have misjudged how fast he was going, not sure. I do remember in the seconds before the crash I'm thinking "Oh $%@$, where did come from? was he there an I missed him? please miss, please please." Nope. Tagged the corner with the front of his bike.

After getting out of the car and finally calling 911 I wasnt sure if he was ok. Off the bike, laying on the ground, not moving. I did see him kinda get on all fours after some time but he was taken to the hospital. I might try talking to him to apologize for the accident.

No, right now I'm pissed at myself more than anything after my 10 year record of no accidents is gone. Whats worse its my fault   . Though I think there are extenuating circumstances. Doesn't make me blameless, it was still my fault for not seeing him, but at the same time, I don't think I'm entirely to blame either.

The accident happened on a major road that intersects with a minor road. However this area is poorly lit, and sees a fair number of accidents. At least 4 that I know of within the past 6 months. For an intersection that has at most 10 cars either side in the middle of rush hour, this seems way too high. To drive the point home further, at least one person was killed at the same intersection and many more probably injured. I'm going to look into just how many accidents there have been (can find 5 on google, including mine... heh) and possibly taking my findings to a local news station and see if I can get some coverage of this. Its only a matter of time before someone gets killed there.

Possible contributing factors to the crash I believe are as follows.

• No street lighting, of any kind. Only light came from the gas station across the street, and its not enough.
• Lack of left turn signal for a road with left hand turn lanes. Most of another major highway has a left turn signal for almost every single light, even for parking lots for Lowes and Bi-Low. In contrast, an equally busy road in a major upscale retail sector has very few.
• Motorcylce at night. Black on top of that. I get it, its nice out. But considering how dangerous motorcycles are in the first place, maybe you shouldnt be driving something that is hard to see at night. I know I wouldn't
• Main road curves, obstructing view for drivers, right before the light. This is a big one. If the lack of any kind of street lighting wasnt bad enough, the road curves. It doesn't help when everyone is doing 55-65 MPH in a 45 MPH zone. The inside lane is worst, cause you have seconds to react to something if there is something at that intersection.

The car runs, and it looks like a new bumper and its good as new, almost. It looks like about $300 might fix the whole thing. Dunno pricing yet. Foam needs replacing, as well as the cover, and the reinforcement bar is completely torn apart, so that needs to be replaced. 

 

Yeah, just thought I'd vent. This sucks. And was actually working on saving up some money to upgrade my computer and make some fixes to my car (other than the body, ABS sensor doesnt work, needs a new hub)

[Guest Philosophy]

Never admit fault. Never apologize, it shows fault. Act chill. Explain what happen to the police. 

[Sovek]

Never admit fault. Never apologize, it shows fault. Act chill. Explain what happen to the police. 

thats what I did. I as actually pretty calm considering what happened. Ever since I got away from that God aweful place my mood has seriously improved. If this had happened while still at that place I probably would have been arrested.

 

Also, did you not read my post. Already got a ticket stating it was my fault. there is no further harm to be done than saying "Yeah, I screwed up, and I'm sorry". I don't like hurting people, especially inoccent people that were just trying to enjoy a nice night out.

[AlwaysFSX]

*pats* There there.. Think about the good things, you're okay and that guy looks like he'll be okay too. Just go get a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows!) and watch a movie.

[Bubblez]

Yep, this is evidence right here.... If you get sued, even if it was deemed not totally your fault... a good lawyer will be all like "yea but here your accepting full responsibility for the accident. So Clearly you knew you where in the wrong"

 

I would remove this post asap. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but i've been involved in a few legal matters myself, and those lawyers always find a way to get you.

[Bubblez]

Also, did you not read my post. Already got a ticket stating it was my fault.

 

Oh, I some how missed this in your OP too. Maybe I miss understood your post, it wasn't very clear to me. Did you run a red light and then hit the dude?

 

 

*EDIT* I just re-read your OP, and I swear it doesn't say in there anywhere that you already got a ticket stating it was your fault... unless I'm SUPER blind, I think you left that part out of your OP

[Sovek]

Oh, I some how missed this in your OP too. Maybe I miss understood your post, it wasn't very clear to me. Did you run a red light and then hit the dude?

No, light was green, ticket is for "Failure to yield to right of way" The guy hit me, I was just in the intersection when I shouldn't have been. But again, contributing factors, and I think he was obscured by another car, fairly certain he was in the middle lane, I saw him swerve at the last minute. But it also looked to me as if he didnt even slow down. And its not like he didn't know I was there, I have friggin HIDs in my car.

[Ruostunut kokis]

Never admit fault. Never apologize, it shows fault. Act chill. Explain what happen to the police. 

I have a little different view on the subject. Wouldn't it be a little easier to just admit what you have done in case it's pretty obvious that you have done something, than to completely deny it (basically twisting the truth to suit one's own needs)? Sometimes it's just better to fully admit, and you might get a little less harsh penalty or even walk away scot-free.

 

Maybe not so much in this case, though. Who knows what kind of story will the other party (motorcyclist) say... But still, I don't quite get why one should never admit their own mistakes. I know it's against you in the court (if the motorcyclist takes it that far), but why only blame others for everything, and never oneself?

 

 

This is just my opinion, though.

[Guest Philosophy]

I have a little different view on the subject. Wouldn't it be a little easier to just admit what you have done in case it's pretty obvious that you have done something, than to completely deny it (basically twisting the truth to suit one's own needs)? Sometimes it's just better to fully admit, and you might get a little less harsh penalty or even walk away scot-free.

 

Maybe not so much in this case, though. Who knows what kind of story will the other party (motorcyclist) say... But still, I don't quite get why one should never admit their own mistakes. I know it's against you in the court (if the motorcyclist takes it that far), but why only blame others for everything, and never oneself?

 

 

This is just my opinion, though.

In america at-least, if you admit fault you automatically get crimes committed charged against you and your insurance company will then be a royal pain in the butt. If you don't admit fault as long as you were not drunk there are almost never chargers and your insurance will not go up in price as dramatically. 

[Guest Philosophy]

there is no further harm to be done than saying "Yeah, I screwed up, and I'm sorry". I don't like hurting people, especially inoccent people that were just trying to enjoy a nice night out.

Your insurance company might think otherwise.. 

[vXhanz]

I would recommend consulting a lawyer with what you described. It's hard to say what the other person will do since they were sent to the hospital. Hospital fee's start to add up quickly and the other guy may not have insurance. Once those bills start to come in he/she will most likely NOT want to get shouldered with the burden of them. 

 

Ambulance ride

Lab work

CT Scan (Head, Neck, possibly Abdomen/Pelvis) due to nature of accident being MVA

Plain film x-ray's of extremities of any injuries

 

They all add up very very quickly and depending on the trauma protocol of the hospital can determine what tests are going to be ordered. 

[soup]

, than to completely deny it (basically twisting the truth to suit one's own needs)?

World of difference between not saying your at fault  and lying.

[Ruostunut kokis]

World of difference between not saying your at fault fault and lying.

Denials may contain small lies (that is, if the subject is at fault), but not necessarily. And if one is not at fault, then there's even less likely to be lies.

 

I do understand your point, though.

[WillFromGA]

First off, don't blame the motorcycle rider for anything. You pulled out in front of him. Your fault, you're to blame. Second thing, motorcycles aren't really dangerous. The riders make them dangerous by speeding, popping wheelies, etc. But most riders pay attention, go the speed limit and all that good stuff. Riders have to prevent accidents and something he could have done is have a strobe like light in the front and rear of his bike giving him visibility to other drivers especially if he's gonna drive in the night. But again, you should have seem his head lights more closely and made sure that he is far enough away to enter the intersection.

[soup]

Denials may contain small lies (that is, if the subject is at fault), but not necessarily. And if one is not at fault, then there's even less likely to be lies.

 

 

True, but saying nothing is not lying (unless you count lying by omission)  "We had a collision" is a statement, saying "I caused us to crash into each other" is admiting fault, Use  the fifth where you can, say NOTHING.

[Technic77]

Many drivers cut off motorcyclists because they seem farther away then they really are. Happens all the time. Motorcyles are small and narrow so it makes it a lot harder to judge how far away they are and the speed they're going. Also, don't admit anything and do not apologize, you'll get screwed by insurance as others have already said.

[Sovek]

Well, here we are almost 24 hours later. Good news is that I have a job, so there is that. That takes SOME pressure off of me.

 

however, certain things have come to light, namely the damage done to my car. I only noticed this while on the phone with the insurance company and them taking my statement on the whole situation. I don't think this guy was going slow, at all. Another thing, 0 reflective clothing, and wearing all black leather. I have HID headlights and I can see reflections almost a half mile away. Its like a sign with lights, heh.

 

The damage done to my bumper shows that this was a minor hit, at all. First off, welds ripped off. Granted just tack welds, I'd dismiss it (and I did) as being overly weak. no, this guy was going going fast.

 

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/D7CnIPgBlNdUIRnPnvqsUFeWC5l79pRok1PDFZuPkGY=w1312-h984-no

 

All 9 welds that hold the bar on to the connector, ripped clean off. However the next image is worse. I can dismiss tack welds, cause they are just that, tack welds. THIS however, says something

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1cyriEUnfajYsX9aZbMxNweZUrmJW1aFr-sZ0Ra9HzM=w1312-h984-no

 

The nut that the bolt goes through was actually pulled clean out of 1mm thick steel, made to withstand rear end collisions. Umm... ok. I suspect that if there was a second bolt up top, the reinforcement bar would have been pulled off via the tack welds. But it gets worse...

 

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMUqLjuUEAQSEg-dH81wJAsjy8KWo7zlqIoEEDl

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOohfbhdiMO4SAeBnfgk1_vamdu2-FqVBnw3Gkx

 

Seriously, how fast do you have to go to put a 8 1/2" gash through 1mm thick steel? I would understand if this was aluminium, but its not, its steel.

[AlwaysFSX]

Seriously, how fast do you have to go to put a 8 1/2" gash through 1mm thick steel? I would understand if this was aluminium, but its not, its steel.

Fun fact: Metal is pliable. Really, really pliable.

[Mug]

Gah! That sucks for you my friend

I am so fortunate to have decent and cheap public transport where I live. Like I can go out and come back at 4 and there's still a bus. Good luck though with the paperwork etc and good luck for the future

[Murdoch]

Wait, in the States you don't even admit fault when you blatantly pull out in front of somebody? and it's your fault? haha.

 

That's kinda awesome, but on the other hand, perhaps the most dickish thing I've heard in a while. 

 

Edit: not talking about the OP here, just a hypothetical, nobody got hurt minor collision sort of deal.

[Cynical Plum]

watch linus videos to cheer yourself up

[soup]

I am so fortunate to have decent and cheap public transport where I live. Like I can go out and come back at 4 (am) and there's still a bus.

 

It's like that here too (Balerno, Edinburgh) buses sort of 5am to 1am are 10~20  mins apart, then the night buses are hourly ; clean, modern, fast (in town; own lanes , cars have to yield etc) and realativly cheap (£1.50 for a journey right across Edinburgh, say Balerno to Wallyford[20 miles])

 

 

[Sovek]

Wait, in the States you don't even admit fault when you blatantly pull out in front of somebody? and it's your fault? haha.

 

That's kinda awesome, but on the other hand, perhaps the most dickish thing I've heard in a while. 

 

Edit: not talking about the OP here, just a hypothetical, nobody got hurt minor collision sort of deal.

I really dont know, but the other driver was taken to the hospital, kind of understandable, he's probably very sore and some road rash. I don't know the extent of his injuries.

 

The insurance company though was very interested in several factors of that intersection. As far as contributing to the accident, thats the Highway Patrols assesment. The insurance companies probably dont think I'm 100% to blame considering the questions they asked, like how well the lit the intersection was, how fast he was probably going, what the speed limit is (45MPH around a blind curve, but most do at least 50, I've seen some going as fast 60)