My first accident

V8Cobrakid · 03-07-2006, 04:46 AM

Well.. it happened. I was pulling up to a red light. I was in lane 3. A suburban was in lane 2. there were actually 5 lanes including both turn... in that case i was in lane 5, and the suburban was lane 4.

anyways... a girl trying to make a left hand turn on a yellow pulled out in front of me and the suburban. I was not able to see her past the suburban or my C pillar. When i saw her in front of me it was too late. Damage was mostly just the bumper piece. The frame of my car hit her rear wheel. Her wheel is now turned inwards. My bumper piece is pushed in and torn a bit on the right hand side. My light is scratched and pushed back a tiny bit.

When we got out of the car, she said her light was still kinda yellow... i repeat.. kinda yellow... on a left hand turn, you don't change a late yellow light. that's just stupid... no if and or buts about it. it's just dumb. It takes about 4 seconds to clear that intersection. If that light turns red (when she entered), you have about 1 second till opposite traffic gets their green and starts going. never enough time.. *sigh*..

Thomas Brock · 03-07-2006, 08:03 AM

Sorry about your Prius and the stupid lady...There's good news, though...

You were able to log in and complain to us!

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-07-2006, 08:51 AM

Sorry to hear, V8.
"Left turn only with a window of opportunity."

Keep us posted as police, insurance and perhaps lawyers get involved.

**Danny** · 03-07-2006, 09:04 AM

That sucks - bad timing for you, I know. I hope liability is placed accordingly and this doesn't hurt you financially.

Please keep us updated!

V8Cobrakid · 03-07-2006, 12:26 PM

Thanks guys. I contacted my current insurance agency. The lady laughed when i told her the girl i hit said " i thought it was still yellow"i chuckled too.... My thing is... in california if you're not through the light by when it turns red, it's illegal.

If that damn huge SUV wasn't beside me i would have seen her.

As for insuranc, police, laywers, etc... a police officer did stop by us. She said we are ok and all we need to do is swap information.

The girl mentions that her shoulder hurts a little.. and i guess head. Too much hot air might be what's making her head hurt.

I'll take pics before the repair. If i can i would rather install the new bumper myself (cheaper)... but i'm hoping the light isn't damaged.. there is a huge paint stripe going across the light. I won't clean it, just so i can claim it as damaged. In my opinion, it is. I haven't tested to see if the auto balancing on the light still works or not. .. hmm..

jbarnhart · 03-07-2006, 01:34 PM

Sorry to hear about your ride, cobra. Such a pretty car, too! Hope it's feeling all better soon.

cooljw · 03-07-2006, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by V8Cobrakid@Mar 7 2006, 09:26 AM
in california if you're not through the light by when it turns red, it's illegal.

Sorry to hear about your accident.

FYI: Your statement is not true. If any part of your car does not enter the intersection by the time the light turns red, it's illegal and considered running a red light. Having gotten a ticket for running a red light in CA, I should know. Refer to 21453(a) CVC and 21453© CVC for the exact wording of the law.

I have also been in an accident in CA, and as long as there are no injuries, the cops will just have you swap info - like yours did. Unfortunately, that leaves it up to the insurance companies, lawyers, and courts to fight it out and assign liability - what a pain!

In your case, the other gal's insurance company will probably have her say that the light was still yellow, in which case the accident would be your fault. Unless there are witnesses, this will likely either get settled by you and the insurance companies, or settled in court.

Let us know what happens!

jeneric · 03-07-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cooljw@Mar 7 2006, 04:36 PM
...If any part of your car does not enter the intersection by the time the light turns red, it's illegal and considered running a red light. Having gotten a ticket for running a red light in CA, I should know. Refer to 21453(a) CVC and 21453© CVC for the exact wording of the law...

You don't mean 'exit' the intersection instead of 'enter'? So I can go hang out in the middle of the intersection?

V8Cobrakid · 03-07-2006, 08:55 PM

yeah.. i question that statement too. a few years ago, they passed it (eg: photo poles to make sure youa re clear of the intersection when it changes to read) and it was written that if you are not comlpetely clear of the intersection, it is running a red light. I also recieved a warning notice of this about 6 month ago... it sounded like " if you are not aware, you were seen by photo running a red light. You failed to completely exit the intersection by the time your light turned red".... you might want to check your data again.

hobbit · 03-07-2006, 10:54 PM

Is sitting in the *middle* of the intersection waiting to turn
left illegal or not in CA? It's done all the time here in MA, and
of course you have to wait for the 2 or 3 extras that run the
just-turned-red from the other direction before you can finally
turn and clear it... massholes, they call 'em...
.
_H*

03-07-2006, 04:46 AM	#1
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,427 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Well.. it happened. I was pulling up to a red light. I was in lane 3. A suburban was in lane 2. there were actually 5 lanes including both turn... in that case i was in lane 5, and the suburban was lane 4. anyways... a girl trying to make a left hand turn on a yellow pulled out in front of me and the suburban. I was not able to see her past the suburban or my C pillar. When i saw her in front of me it was too late. Damage was mostly just the bumper piece. The frame of my car hit her rear wheel. Her wheel is now turned inwards. My bumper piece is pushed in and torn a bit on the right hand side. My light is scratched and pushed back a tiny bit. When we got out of the car, she said her light was still kinda yellow... i repeat.. kinda yellow... on a left hand turn, you don't change a late yellow light. that's just stupid... no if and or buts about it. it's just dumb. It takes about 4 seconds to clear that intersection. If that light turns red (when she entered), you have about 1 second till opposite traffic gets their green and starts going. never enough time.. sigh.. __________________ Silver 9 as of June 12th '04 (over 101k Miles now) Decals, Mud Flaps, BT Tech Rear Brace, coastaletech 2" receiver hitch, and 215/45/17 tires.

03-07-2006, 09:04 AM	#4
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 4,432 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 26 Times in 8 Posts TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 23	That sucks - bad timing for you, I know. I hope liability is placed accordingly and this doesn't hurt you financially. Please keep us updated! __________________ PriusChat Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $990 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875 : HeatShield SunShades : BT Tech Stiffening Plate : All other Prius Accessories

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03-07-2006, 08:03 AM	#2
Thomas Brock Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 87 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sorry about your Prius and the stupid lady...There's good news, though... You were able to log in and complain to us!

03-07-2006, 08:51 AM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 7,618 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 13	Sorry to hear, V8. "Left turn only with a window of opportunity." Keep us posted as police, insurance and perhaps lawyers get involved.

03-07-2006, 12:26 PM	#5
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,427 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	Thanks guys. I contacted my current insurance agency. The lady laughed when i told her the girl i hit said " i thought it was still yellow"i chuckled too.... My thing is... in california if you're not through the light by when it turns red, it's illegal. If that damn huge SUV wasn't beside me i would have seen her. As for insuranc, police, laywers, etc... a police officer did stop by us. She said we are ok and all we need to do is swap information. The girl mentions that her shoulder hurts a little.. and i guess head. Too much hot air might be what's making her head hurt. I'll take pics before the repair. If i can i would rather install the new bumper myself (cheaper)... but i'm hoping the light isn't damaged.. there is a huge paint stripe going across the light. I won't clean it, just so i can claim it as damaged. In my opinion, it is. I haven't tested to see if the auto balancing on the light still works or not. .. hmm..

03-07-2006, 01:34 PM	#6
jbarnhart Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 628 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Sorry to hear about your ride, cobra. Such a pretty car, too! Hope it's feeling all better soon.

03-07-2006, 08:55 PM	#9
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,427 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	yeah.. i question that statement too. a few years ago, they passed it (eg: photo poles to make sure youa re clear of the intersection when it changes to read) and it was written that if you are not comlpetely clear of the intersection, it is running a red light. I also recieved a warning notice of this about 6 month ago... it sounded like " if you are not aware, you were seen by photo running a red light. You failed to completely exit the intersection by the time your light turned red".... you might want to check your data again.

03-07-2006, 10:54 PM	#10
hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,812 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Is sitting in the middle of the intersection waiting to turn left illegal or not in CA? It's done all the time here in MA, and of course you have to wait for the 2 or 3 extras that run the just-turned-red from the other direction before you can finally turn and clear it... massholes, they call 'em... . _H*