I got into a car accident - need to know who's at fault

[technogeeky]

Oh, my bad. I thought that you were already in the lane and he hit you in the back.

 

[Radiohead]

Originally posted by: BOK
Should I contact the Van's owner? I have all of his information. The only thing he has of me is my license plate, and my insurance company & policy #. He wouldn't know how to contact me, which will likely mean that if he wants to claim this, he will go straight to my insurance company, and not try to have this settled out of pocket.

Good idea, not get off the comp and get on the phone

 

[rubenswm]

Originally posted by: BOK
This morning, as I was driving to work, I got into a little fender bender.

I was trying to merge onto a highway. The onramp is simply a lane that ends about 1000 ft later. There is no stop sign, no yield sign. I accelerated to the speed of the current traffic as I looked for an opening. I see an opening in front of this white van (about 2 car lengths between the van and the car in front). As I started turning into traffic, the van accelerates as if he wasn't going to let me in. He did not let up (neither did I). And he ended up hitting the rear quarter, on the backside above my wheelwell (driver's side). He made contact with the corner of his front bumper on the right side. He barely grazed me.

We both pulled over, and he comes over screaming and yelling how I hit his van. I told him to calm down. He showed me the damage, and it was basically a small scrape on his already banged-up bumper. I had a small dent. He is not the owner of the van. The van is owned by the company that he works for. We traded information, and parted ways.

My question is, who's fault is this? Should I call the owner of the company (who the van is registered under)? Should I just call the insurance company and try to deal with it that way?

you'd be surprised how much repairs actualy are. I got in a very minor fender bender, $0 of damage to the buick, $2500 of damage to my Acura Inetgra. Not even bad.

 

[BostonRedSoxx]

Originally posted by: vegetation
Your fault, but you really need a faster car if you can't out accelerate a van (probably a loaded one too, based on your description).

LOL!

 

[narzy]

if he sped up and exceeded the speed limit, he is at fault, if you rear ended him, your at fault, if he rear ended you and you were going the posted speed limit he is at fault, if you pulled out right infront of him and he was going the posted speed limit, your at fault. more details man more details.

however from what it sounds like, you sped up to get infront of him and would have exceeded the speed limit, you didn't make it and he clipped you, which would make it your fault.

 

[notfred]

That wouldn't have happened to me. My car is fast enough to pass most vans.

It was your fault, though. You should have let him pass and merged behind him.

 

[joinT]

Originally posted by: rahvin
Report the guys aggresive driving to the owner of the company.

 

[d0Rk]

Mergers are tricky. Considering you say there was no yeild sign, then the law North of the Boarder is guy behind is always at fault (failure to leave safe stopping distance) ASSUMING YOU SIGNALED!! Law up hear is also that if you can see the guy signalling, you have to let him in (ie slow down). Yankee driving rules are undoubtably different though. Its actually illegal for us to be impolite drivers, to the best of my knowledge.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: d0Rk
Mergers are tricky. Considering you say there was no yeild sign, then the law North of the Boarder is guy behind is always at fault (failure to leave safe stopping distance) ASSUMING YOU SIGNALED!! Law up hear is also that if you can see the guy signalling, you have to let him in (ie slow down). Yankee driving rules are undoubtably different though. Its actually illegal for us to be impolite drivers, to the best of my knowledge.

Man, would someone please tell the drivers in B.C. that? I never have any luck driving up there - and I'm a very courteous driver.

Rob

 

[Ornery]

What kind of car do you drive? Is it REALLY riced out? I'm trying to think of why I might block somebody from merging, but I can't think of any... unless it had a big wing on the back, fricked up lowered suspension with lots of lame graphics!

 

[Vic]

Legally, you are at fault. Merging traffic is required to yield, the van was established in his lane. You should have filed in behind the van.
The van driver, however, acted in a very unsafe and unprofessional manner and you should contact the company he works for, both speaking to the manager on the phone and by letter.