Last thursday, I got into an accident when returning home from work.
I was in the middle of the intersection waiting for an unprotected left turn. Steady stream of cars zooming by along two lanes of traffic coming from the opposite side. Lights turn yellow. I waited for about another two seconds and surveyed to see traffic slowing down. On the far lane (oncoming traffic), the front car is already at a complete stop. On the lane nearest me (oncoming traffic), a white Dodge Neon was going less than speed limit (35 limit) and still have about 3 or 4 car lengths before coming up to the white line.
I'd figure I was safe to turn as seeing no car rushing to beat the light. In the process of my turn, however, out of the corner of my eye, this white Neon was beaming down the lane and T-boned me. This caught me completely by surprise.
What had happened is that this girl decided to try to beat the light at the last moment, the same moment I was already in my turn. So she hit me in acceleration mode. Luckily there was no one sitting on my passenger side.
No one was hurt. This girl had one passenger with her who was also a teenager.
A motorcycle cop came by to assess the situation and write a report. He wrote us both a ticket. This teenager had an expired permit, did not have an adult with 5 yrs driving exp with her, and also had no insurance.
I was surprised to get a ticket as well, for failure to yield. According to the cop, he believed I should have just waited for a red light before making my turn. I admitted to him that I saw yellow before making the turn. He explained to me that the person in the middle of the intersection has to be "extra" careful because the oncoming traffic can either choose to stop or drive on through. And there's not any proof that she went well above the speed limit. He indicated that I should go through a mitigation hearing to get the ticket reduced in light of the situation, but that he has to write the ticket in accordance to the letter of the law. 🙁
The girl, almost in tears, came up to me and repeatedly apologize. I just looked away and didn't even want to talk to her. Her mother, who was called to the scene, pulled her away telling her not to talk to me.
Her '95 Neon is drivable with damage only to the front bumper. My '04 Accord front passenger door is crumpled. The front suspensions are screwed up so it's not drivable.
I have full coverage on my car, but I just hope my insurance doesn't go up after this.
I was in the middle of the intersection waiting for an unprotected left turn. Steady stream of cars zooming by along two lanes of traffic coming from the opposite side. Lights turn yellow. I waited for about another two seconds and surveyed to see traffic slowing down. On the far lane (oncoming traffic), the front car is already at a complete stop. On the lane nearest me (oncoming traffic), a white Dodge Neon was going less than speed limit (35 limit) and still have about 3 or 4 car lengths before coming up to the white line.
I'd figure I was safe to turn as seeing no car rushing to beat the light. In the process of my turn, however, out of the corner of my eye, this white Neon was beaming down the lane and T-boned me. This caught me completely by surprise.
What had happened is that this girl decided to try to beat the light at the last moment, the same moment I was already in my turn. So she hit me in acceleration mode. Luckily there was no one sitting on my passenger side.
No one was hurt. This girl had one passenger with her who was also a teenager.
A motorcycle cop came by to assess the situation and write a report. He wrote us both a ticket. This teenager had an expired permit, did not have an adult with 5 yrs driving exp with her, and also had no insurance.
I was surprised to get a ticket as well, for failure to yield. According to the cop, he believed I should have just waited for a red light before making my turn. I admitted to him that I saw yellow before making the turn. He explained to me that the person in the middle of the intersection has to be "extra" careful because the oncoming traffic can either choose to stop or drive on through. And there's not any proof that she went well above the speed limit. He indicated that I should go through a mitigation hearing to get the ticket reduced in light of the situation, but that he has to write the ticket in accordance to the letter of the law. 🙁
The girl, almost in tears, came up to me and repeatedly apologize. I just looked away and didn't even want to talk to her. Her mother, who was called to the scene, pulled her away telling her not to talk to me.
Her '95 Neon is drivable with damage only to the front bumper. My '04 Accord front passenger door is crumpled. The front suspensions are screwed up so it's not drivable.
I have full coverage on my car, but I just hope my insurance doesn't go up after this.
