Was going straight through a yellow that he didnt have time to stop for, and in the opposite direction was a lady that was making a left, legal on green with yield to oncoming traffic. She obviously didnt yield. But the cop ruled it as my buddys' fault? Help me out here bigdaddy. I've never been in this situation before, please give me some pointers. The police report will be ready on Friday.
Buddy Recked my car today...
- Thread starter jszar
- Start date
A very unfortunate situation. I'm sorry your car got damaged, but it looks like nobody was hurt.
He entered the intersection on yellow? Did the light turn red while he was in the interesection? It sounds like it since you said the other driver turned legally on green. How fast was your car driving?
I was always under the impression that the yellow light means that you are supposed to clear the intersection, so maybe they frowned upon your buddy's trying to blow through the yellow light? I'd like to hear a cop's opinion of your situation too.
Does your buddy have insurance (my insurance covers me when I am driving another car)? If so, he should cover any damages to your car. He should have been more careful driving your car. Just an opinion.
[driving2]
He entered the intersection on yellow? Did the light turn red while he was in the interesection? It sounds like it since you said the other driver turned legally on green. How fast was your car driving?
I was always under the impression that the yellow light means that you are supposed to clear the intersection, so maybe they frowned upon your buddy's trying to blow through the yellow light? I'd like to hear a cop's opinion of your situation too.
Does your buddy have insurance (my insurance covers me when I am driving another car)? If so, he should cover any damages to your car. He should have been more careful driving your car. Just an opinion.
[driving2]
I know some states the code reads that if you enter the intersection on yellow you are legally in the intersection (note that they also state that you cannot accelerate to get in the intersection). I would suspect that the lady seeing the light changing completed her turn, not expecting a late car through the intersection. It is most likely a he said she said. Get a copy of the police report it will contain witness information. Some others at the light may have made witnesses statements to the police.
How could she have a green light when your buddy's light was still yellow? That does not compute in my book. There is no traffic light I am aware of that will allow a turn signal to go green while the other (oncoming) traffic light has not fully gone red. Maybe I am missing something here...
You sure she wasn't turning on red?....
If she was turning on a yielded light you would think SHE would have to make sure the intersection was clear therefore, SHE would be in wrong.
??hmm??....
You sure she wasn't turning on red?....
If she was turning on a yielded light you would think SHE would have to make sure the intersection was clear therefore, SHE would be in wrong.
??hmm??....
Ahh, I see she was directly across going the opposite direction making a turn. This still should be her fault in my book.
She was turning into your buddy's path. Just because it was yellow does not mean she does not have to continue to yield and make sure the path is clear. As long as your buddy did not accelerate to make the light she should be in the wrong. If he did I can see where the officer cited him and not her....
She was turning into your buddy's path. Just because it was yellow does not mean she does not have to continue to yield and make sure the path is clear. As long as your buddy did not accelerate to make the light she should be in the wrong. If he did I can see where the officer cited him and not her....
I'd say realistically, it was her fault (left turn in front of anyone in any circumstance is bad), but legally, it's probably going to be a split fault or the bmw driver's fault. I know when I'm sitting at a light to turn left, and have to wait till it turns yellow, I ALWAYS make sure the oncoming traffic actually comes to a stop, I don't think this lady did.
yeah, i'm getting into contact with the cop tomorrow. there were a lot of mistakes made on my friends part with not getting info, plus i had a camera in my car for that specific reason, and he didnt use it.
he didnt accelerate into the light, i know how this kid drives, hes a ***** driver to be honest, not bad, but really cautious and careful....that i've seen anyway. he didnt have time to stop at the proper speed limit, continued through and the lady tried to make it through before it changed red.
btw, i have NO tools, NO facilities, and no time to work on my car, otherwise i would have done the last 3000 dollars worth of work thats been done this last year i've had it. what really sucks is i just had it aligned at a BMW shop for 130 bucks yesterday, and now its f-d up again.
he didnt accelerate into the light, i know how this kid drives, hes a ***** driver to be honest, not bad, but really cautious and careful....that i've seen anyway. he didnt have time to stop at the proper speed limit, continued through and the lady tried to make it through before it changed red.
btw, i have NO tools, NO facilities, and no time to work on my car, otherwise i would have done the last 3000 dollars worth of work thats been done this last year i've had it. what really sucks is i just had it aligned at a BMW shop for 130 bucks yesterday, and now its f-d up again.
Maybe they'll realign it. Honestly the best place to get alignments is somewhere like NTB as long as the workers aren't ghetto. I know a guy who works at the local ntb and I think for $80 they'll do an alignment, and give you unlimited 'free' alignments for 6 months for something like what happened to your car. Sucks dude
MyHarley said:
each time I have gotten a ticket going through a yellow light, it is the same answer......if any part of your car is in the intersection when it turns red you are running a yellow light...I always laugh because my car is not that long.... ![[chair]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_chairshot.gif "Chair Shot [chair]")
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]"){kind=icon}
epj3 said:
I guess they think it's better to slam on your brakes so you get rear ended
Hey Scott maybe he let you off because the way I read the code if you enter on a yellow signal you are legally within the intersection. RCW 46.61.055 states; " (a) Vehicle operators facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal are thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection. Vehicle operators shall stop for pedestrians who are lawfully within the intersection control area as required by RCW" Notice it only mentions "when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection" after the red light is exhibited. Idaho's code is similar. Just some thoughts.
Probably, but there would have been no way I could have stopped. I would have skidded into the middle of the intersection if I had tried (the posted speed limit was 45 MPH). The light turned yellow just as I entered so I continued on. I am sure it was the officer’s judgment and not the law that let me off.... 