if someone cuts you off, whats the best thing to do?

DarkManX

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
3,796
2
76
I just read a thread about someone getting cut off and then rear ending him, I have a friend who said someone swerved into his lane and to avoid him he swerved away and hit about 3 parked cars. A few months ago someone cut off my mom and she hit the curb to avoid a collision and messed up the rim and tire on the car. Now my question is what?s the best thing to do? Swerving out of the way to hit the curb will cause harm to your car and the other person gets away with it, swerving and hitting parked cars will probly also get you in trouble and look like its your fault, but if you let them hit what could happen regarding your insurance? I?ve only had my license for about 6 months and i have not yet been in this situation so im just wondering what the best way to handle it is.
 

Amorphus

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2003
5,561
1
0
It's their fault if they cut you off, both from a legal and practical standpoint. If theres nothing else, just brake and see how you fare. Get out of the way if you can, though.
 

sandmanwake

Golden Member
Feb 29, 2000
1,494
0
0
Unfortunately in some states, if you rear end them, you'll get charge with driving too fast for conditions and you'll be the one at fault in the eyes of the law.

I prefer to follow them for a bit and if I see them stop, get out the paintball gun and shoot up their car after they leave.
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
if someone cuts you off, whats the best thing to do?

2 alternative scenarios I can think of for that question...

1)Dump the bitch

2)Go to a different bar
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Depends on situation. I'd rather ram somebody than hit a curb, but if it came down to a major accident I"d rather hit the curb.
 

Ranger X

Lifer
Mar 18, 2000
11,218
1
0
Originally posted by: Amorphus
It's their fault if they cut you off, both from a legal and practical standpoint. If theres nothing else, just brake and see how you fare. Get out of the way if you can, though.
I would also agree that braking straight ahead would be the best bet, unless you can swerve knowing your surroundings. I have to disagree as from a legal standpoint, it is almost always the one who rear-ends the person in front that gets the blame for the accident -- assuming there were no witnesses. The driver could easily argue that he was trying to merge in but you rear-ended him because you were going too fast.
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Originally posted by: Ranger X
Originally posted by: Amorphus
It's their fault if they cut you off, both from a legal and practical standpoint. If theres nothing else, just brake and see how you fare. Get out of the way if you can, though.
I would also agree that braking straight ahead would be the best bet, unless you can swerve knowing your surroundings. I have to disagree as from a legal standpoint, it is almost always the one who rear-ends the person in front that gets the blame for the accident -- assuming there were no witnesses. The driver could easily argue that he was trying to merge in but you rear-ended him because you were going too fast.

Counter-argument: Merger improperly judged distance and speed.

- M4H
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
throw a taco at their car

those ppl suck... once a jacked up ford bronco swerved into (not just cut off) my sister while she was on the left lane...she steered over towards the left shoulder and immediately hit a huge pothole/sinkhole and blew the tire. ppl r jackasses
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire


Counter-argument: Merger improperly judged distance and speed.

- M4H

almost never holds as much weight... unless ofcourse you had a bunch of witnesses you'll usually lose
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
AFAIK, in most states, when someone cuts you off to the point where you can't avoid hitting them, then the accident is their fault even if you rear-end them. This happened to someone I know a couple of years ago, where a lady cut suddenly in front of him in crowded freeway traffic and then slammed the brakes. Despite the fact that he rear-ended her car, she was found at fault both by the officer at the scene and the judge when it went to court.
Many states take more into account than just who hit who when determining fault -- they also look at who actually caused the accident and who was the last driver who could have avoided the accident. Remember that the next time someone pulls out in front of you making a left turn and you gun it to play that famous game of chicken -- not only are you endangering lives, but the lack of skidmarks may cause you to be found at fault.
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
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Originally posted by: LS20
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire


Counter-argument: Merger improperly judged distance and speed.

- M4H

almost never holds as much weight... unless ofcourse you had a bunch of witnesses you'll usually lose

Which is why my initial suggestion was "Open fire". Gotta love how the legal system sides with the dumbass/soccermom 9 times out of 10.

- M4H
 

EmperorIQ

Platinum Member
Sep 30, 2003
2,003
0
0
when people cut me off i just move to another lane, i['m a kind of paranoid person, so i check my mirror and stuff every 30 secs so i always know when i'm open and such. Once i move out of the way, i keep on honking for a good 30 seconds, or however long it takes me to cut them off too. i know i'm a dumba$$, my gf hates it when i do that.:eek:
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: LS20
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire


Counter-argument: Merger improperly judged distance and speed.

- M4H

almost never holds as much weight... unless ofcourse you had a bunch of witnesses you'll usually lose

Get your money's worth then..Floor it(Only if there are no kids in the car)
 

Indolent

Platinum Member
Mar 7, 2003
2,128
2
0
Originally posted by: redly1
if someone cuts you off, whats the best thing to do?

2 alternative scenarios I can think of for that question...

1)Dump the bitch

2)Go to a different bar



Hah! Those where my first two thoughts when I read the title. :)
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
Drive defensively. Always expect it to happen. Do NOT leave enough room for someone to squeeze in. That's an open invitation for someone to cut you off. Your only other choice is to lay way back, which is next to impossible most of the time. Be alert. Stay off your GD cell phone, and don't screw around with the radio all the time.
 

sandmanwake

Golden Member
Feb 29, 2000
1,494
0
0
Originally posted by: Ornery
Drive defensively. Always expect it to happen. Do NOT leave enough room for someone to squeeze in. That's an open invitation for someone to cut you off.

Except aren't you supposed to leave a car's distance between you and the person ahead of you--two if you're going above a certain speed?
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Originally posted by: Ornery
Drive defensively. Always expect it to happen. Do NOT leave enough room for someone to squeeze in. That's an open invitation for someone to cut you off.

Except aren't you supposed to leave a car's distance between you and the person ahead of you--two if you're going above a certain speed?

I was taught one car's length per 10 mph of speed. It isn't practical most of the time especially here in SoCal because a gap that big will get filled with 3 SUVs before you can blink.
 

v3rrv3

Golden Member
May 26, 2002
1,826
0
0
Originally posted by: illusion88
I would suggest using your breaks... but thats just me.

Brakes might work too ;) I actually think I accidently cut someone off today :x Some beaver was blocking the entrance to the parking lot waiting for a spot(for like 3 minutes) so I got back in the right lane and I saw some car behind me :x Didn't hear any honking or anything so I hope she pulled out behind me as she was impatient too.

- Kevin