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Got hit by an uninsured teenager.

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Your title should read, "I got hit by a teenager when I ran a red light"

stupid post, it was your fault and you admitted to entering the intersection without a signal of protection, i.e a green light.
 
You're at fault for jumping the light too. Even though it was turning, it doesn't matter. You should have been more cautious.
 
I hate left turn yield lanes. Sometimes the traffic is so bad (3rd or Western and Fairfax in downtown LA for example) you can only turn on red and block the intersection. Very dangerous for all. You just cant read the other persons mind that they will stop on the red. Worse, there is this intersection in Orange, CA with a left turn green yield, but many times, you cannot see the cars, as the opposing traffic is coming around a curve. Smooth whoever planned that one out.

I prefer protected lane so that some cars can get by guaranteed with the option for a yield when light is green, for low traffic times so that traffic can keep moving.

In your situation, you can't win. You have to yield no matter what. I know many times I been honked and cussed at for camping in the middle of an intersection with a red light because people were running the red.
 
Originally posted by: Cinna696
Your title should read, "I got hit by a teenager when I ran a red light"

stupid post, it was your fault and you admitted to entering the intersection without a signal of protection, i.e a green light.
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READ AGAIN. You obviously didn't understand the situation.

This will go over your head: had I waited til the light turned red, then made my turn I would have the legal right of way.
 
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: IGBT

..I think it's worth a try. Many insurance co.do also. It would also save fuel by phasing out pointless cruising and superfluous driving.
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Yeah, too bad the economy would tank when every fast food joint and movie theater in the country, along with countless other businesses, lose their labor force.

Driving age at 18 I can understand, maybe, but 21 is just stupid. A brand-new driver at 21 won't be any different than a brand-new driver at 18.

A MUCH better idea would be to restrict people on the weight and power of their car until they have been driving for at least two years. And even that has its faults.
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There are other possibilities, i.e. a provisional license that lets kids drive ONLY back and forth to work and/or school. I believe that is used in some form already in some state (I think in conjunction with a "Cinderella" license - i.e. the person can't drive after midnight UNLESS they are returning home from work).

Clearly lack of experience is a major contributing factor to the lack of driving ability that many teenagers have. But immaturity is an equal factor I believe. Too many kids think they're the greatest drivers in the world and take risks that they really shouldn't and do stupid things because they're blinded by their immaturity. Not allowing them to have other kids in the car helps with that, because their stupidity/immaturity seems to be compounded when they're in groups.

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Three words. Soft tissue damage. Take her house.
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That's exactly the sort of bogus lawsuit that is driving this country straight down the sewer. Anyone filing such a fradulent suit should be brutally beaten and barred from ever using the court system again.:|
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Ayup.
 
Originally posted by: compnovice
Originally posted by: IGBT
..raise the driving age to 21 and so much of this crap will go away.
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Yup so on their 21st birthday, people get drunk and then begin to drive...
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Which is a great reason to lower the drinking age to 18!
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: IGBT

..I think it's worth a try. Many insurance co.do also. It would also save fuel by phasing out pointless cruising and superfluous driving.
Click to expand...

Yeah, too bad the economy would tank when every fast food joint and movie theater in the country, along with countless other businesses, lose their labor force.

Driving age at 18 I can understand, maybe, but 21 is just stupid. A brand-new driver at 21 won't be any different than a brand-new driver at 18.

A MUCH better idea would be to restrict people on the weight and power of their car until they have been driving for at least two years. And even that has its faults.
Click to expand...

There are other possibilities, i.e. a provisional license that lets kids drive ONLY back and forth to work and/or school. I believe that is used in some form already in some state (I think in conjunction with a "Cinderella" license - i.e. the person can't drive after midnight UNLESS they are returning home from work).

Clearly lack of experience is a major contributing factor to the lack of driving ability that many teenagers have. But immaturity is an equal factor I believe. Too many kids think they're the greatest drivers in the world and take risks that they really shouldn't and do stupid things because they're blinded by their immaturity. Not allowing them to have other kids in the car helps with that, because their stupidity/immaturity seems to be compounded when they're in groups.
Click to expand...
That's true, and those provisional licenses might help...but honestly, I think that 21 is just taking it too far. 18, sure. How about provisional licenses until 18, so that the few high schoolers who need to drive to work can, and full licenses starting at 18?

No matter where you set the line, the young, inexperienced drivers will be a risk...but IMHO the maturity difference between 16 and 18 is worse than 18 and 21.

 
Originally posted by: Baked
Learn2Drive.
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I've been driving for 12 years. I gone through so many unprotected left turns during that time. I've driven in Seattle, Los Angeles, and even New York.

The fact of the matter is I can't read people's mind. When you're on the road you communicate with your vehicle. That means use signals. Don't make to many erratic moves.

Had this girl gone at her original speed and the light was green for her, I would have been able to complete the turn without getting hit. The fact that she speed up at a very crucial point, and a delayed decision at that, she put herself and others in danger. Even if traffic rules are in her favor, she is driving dangerously.

BTW, the intent of traffic law for going through yellow light is to go through at your normal speed (speed limit). It is up to the driver to judge whether his moving speed is sufficient to make the light. 9/10 I see people accelerating well pass the speed limit to make the light. That's fine and dandy for me if that person made his/her intention obvious for others to read. But if you dilly dally and delay your decision that can put other people at risk.


 
Originally posted by: jagec
That's true, and those provisional licenses might help...but honestly, I think that 21 is just taking it too far. 18, sure. How about provisional licenses until 18, so that the few high schoolers who need to drive to work can, and full licenses starting at 18?

No matter where you set the line, the young, inexperienced drivers will be a risk...but IMHO the maturity difference between 16 and 18 is worse than 18 and 21.
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Yeah, I'd agree with that.
 
Originally posted by: ricochet

The fact of the matter is I can't read people's mind. When you're on the road you communicate with your vehicle. That means use signals. Don't make to many erratic moves.
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Seems to me the problem is you tried to. 😉
 
States need to come down way harder on uninsured drivers. They talk the big talk about how "IT'S THE LAW!!!" in the best Terminator voice they can muster, but when insured drivers are actually caught on the road, they usually don't even get a slap on the wrist.
 
Originally posted by: ricochet
Originally posted by: Baked
Learn2Drive.
Click to expand...

I've been driving for 12 years. I gone through so many unprotected left turns during that time. I've driven in Seattle, Los Angeles, and even New York.

The fact of the matter is I can't read people's mind. When you're on the road you communicate with your vehicle. That means use signals. Don't make to many erratic moves.

Had this girl gone at her original speed and the light was green for her, I would have been able to complete the turn without getting hit. The fact that she speed up at a very crucial point, and a delayed decision at that, she put herself and others in danger. Even if traffic rules are in her favor, she is driving dangerously.

BTW, the intent of traffic law for going through yellow light is to go through at your normal speed (speed limit). It is up to the driver to judge whether his moving speed is sufficient to make the light. 9/10 I see people accelerating well pass the speed limit to make the light. That's fine and dandy for me if that person made his/her intention obvious for others to read. But if you dilly dally and delay your decision that can put other people at risk.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, you're not even supposed to enter the intersection (for a left turn or otherwise) unless you're can immediately clear it.

I know we all do it, but let's be honest with ourselves...
 
Expired permit. No adult in the car. No insurance.

That teenager is an idiot.

I've had my license for fourteen months now. I haven't hit a thing. Nobody has hit me (although, California drivers and all, many have tried)
*knock on wood*
 
Originally posted by: jbourne77

For what it's worth, you're not even supposed to enter the intersection (for a left turn or otherwise) unless you're can immediately clear it.

I know we all do it, but let's be honest with ourselves...
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IIRC it depends on the state, but I KNOW it's legal in most states. From NY driver's manual:
If drivers approaching from opposite directions reach an intersection at about the same time, a driver turning left must yield to approaching traffic going straight or turning right.

Example: You want to turn left at an intersection ahead. A vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, going straight ahead. You must wait for approaching traffic to go through before you turn. You may enter the intersection, however, to prepare for your left turn if the light is green and no other vehicle ahead of you is preparing for a left turn (see "Turns" later in this chapter). When you enter the intersection, stay to the right of the center line. Keep your wheels straight to avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic should a rear-end collision occur. When approaching traffic clears or stops for a red light, complete your turn.
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Originally posted by: BoomerD
"Oh my neck!"
I don't see anything about how old she is, other than "teenager", but in MOST states, if she's under 18, her parents are responsible for the damages...Since you also got a ticket, you insurance will probably assess you at 50% at fault, and yes, your insurance may indeed go up a bit. You MAY need to hire an attorney to recover your damages.
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damn straight! thats what i would have done.
 
Originally posted by: jbourne77
Originally posted by: ricochet
Originally posted by: Baked
Learn2Drive.
Click to expand...

I've been driving for 12 years. I gone through so many unprotected left turns during that time. I've driven in Seattle, Los Angeles, and even New York.

The fact of the matter is I can't read people's mind. When you're on the road you communicate with your vehicle. That means use signals. Don't make to many erratic moves.

Had this girl gone at her original speed and the light was green for her, I would have been able to complete the turn without getting hit. The fact that she speed up at a very crucial point, and a delayed decision at that, she put herself and others in danger. Even if traffic rules are in her favor, she is driving dangerously.

BTW, the intent of traffic law for going through yellow light is to go through at your normal speed (speed limit). It is up to the driver to judge whether his moving speed is sufficient to make the light. 9/10 I see people accelerating well pass the speed limit to make the light. That's fine and dandy for me if that person made his/her intention obvious for others to read. But if you dilly dally and delay your decision that can put other people at risk.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, you're not even supposed to enter the intersection (for a left turn or otherwise) unless you're can immediately clear it.

I know we all do it, but let's be honest with ourselves...
Click to expand...

That's exactly what we were taught to do in WA state traffic safety. Enter the intersection, yield to all traffic, even wait til red light if required. If you don't do this and miss your chance for a turn, you're holding up traffic for no good reason. My guess it's the same in most states (correct me if I'm wrong).
 
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: BoomerD
"Oh my neck!"
I don't see anything about how old she is, other than "teenager", but in MOST states, if she's under 18, her parents are responsible for the damages...Since you also got a ticket, you insurance will probably assess you at 50% at fault, and yes, your insurance may indeed go up a bit. You MAY need to hire an attorney to recover your damages.
Click to expand...

damn straight! thats what i would have done.
Click to expand...

I'm not like that. I wasn't hurt and I'm not going to be dishonest about it. I'm not going to sue anybody. By the letter of the law I'm at the very least partially at fault regardless of the other person's driving decisions. It's hard to prove that she was speeding anyway.

I'm letting my insurance handle this. I just want my car back to normal and my life back to normal.

 
Don't think you can do much. Indeed it is your fault for not yielding. If she ran a red light, that'd be a different story, but I don't think there'd be any proof of that.
 
Originally posted by: ricochet
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: BoomerD
"Oh my neck!"
I don't see anything about how old she is, other than "teenager", but in MOST states, if she's under 18, her parents are responsible for the damages...Since you also got a ticket, you insurance will probably assess you at 50% at fault, and yes, your insurance may indeed go up a bit. You MAY need to hire an attorney to recover your damages.
Click to expand...

damn straight! thats what i would have done.
Click to expand...

I'm not like that. I wasn't hurt and I'm not going to be dishonest about it. I'm not going to sue anybody. By the letter of the law I'm at the very least partially at fault regardless of the other person's driving decisions. It's hard to prove that she was speeding anyway.

I'm letting my insurance handle this. I just want my car back to normal and my life back to normal.
Click to expand...
Good for you. More people should be like that :thumbsup:
 
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