Am I at fault?? *Verdict: NOPE (technically)*

[mav1178]

It's just sheet metal damage, but...

Originally Posted by chas3wba0

I've already submitted the DashCam video to insurance, hopefully it does more good than harm. I feel like an argument could be made that I was trying to "run the yellow light", but I was kind of on the borderline of being able to stop safely and being able to just drive through it. Also, the other car clearly cut me off without signalling or checking his blind spot, aka unsafe lane change.

You're not 100% not at fault. Approaching an intersection with a light changing and STOPPED traffic in the adjacent lane, you should already be slowing down. So what if they clearly moved over without a signal? The car in front of the van was already stopped.

In any case, good luck. But the evidence won't help you much, and may hurt you since vehicle speeds can be clearly determined from the video.

-alex

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Rocket.BRZ

Check the video again the other driver did turn on his left turn signal.

I only see brake lights? All 3 go on at the same time with no blinking?

[spitz]

Sorry to see this. Probably will be other drivers fault... Based on them coming into your lane. As most people have said, probably would've been better not to submit the video.

Accelerating towards a yellow light like that (yellow can be seen at 2:25) is a bit too aggressive in my opinion. You can clearly see that the light turned red about 25 feet before you even reached the intersection. This may have even saved you from a bigger ensuing accident, had you ran the red.

Their fault? Probably, yeah. Could you have avoided it by not driving so aggressive? Yes.

[chas3wba0]

Thanks for the wisdom, all... I was worried that it would somehow get pinned on me for whatever reason, so I sent in the video in haste. In hindsight, it probably was unnecessary, if not detrimental. In any case, I don't mind justice being served, so we'll see. If they put some fault on me after reviewing the footage, then so be it. Better that than just my word vs. his.

[spitz]

Good attitude.

Cross your fingers, I think you'll be fine.

[Majik]

Good luck man!

[nutstae]

without a doubt, it's 100% the other driver's fault.
Don't worry about it.

1.Straight is always right of way
-next time, don't try to dodge it unless you are 100% sure you can, because it would have been your fault if you damaged the other car in the left lane.

2.Lane Changing
-No signal, no wait, no look, no nothing whatsoever from the white car. It is always the fault of driver, who is having any movement other than going straight, unless it was the turning signal.

3.Lane Type
-I can't see what type of lane it is, because the white car is blocking the view, but 99% of the time, there is a solid white line right before the complete stop, which prohibits drivers to change lane at the last moment to prevent accidents like this. (The only lane line you can pass through is the dotted lines, anything solid, you cannot freely pass through.)


I don't think your speed is really relevant in this situation, because even if you drove slowly this would've happened if you were close to that car. I am sure you would have had enough distance and time to brake if you were going slow though.

I also got in an accident before and totaled my car, so I know how it feels..
I was breaking down (man losing his car is more than good enough excuse to cry)
I mean this isn't going to help you in anyway about your damaged car, but don't worry about it. wish you the best man

[chaoskaze]

I think both you and other driver are at fault.... his fault for lane changing without signal, and your fault for accelerating towards a yellow light when the flow of traffic have already basically stopped for nearly half sec. You did nothing wrong if the intersection isn't filled up like that, but you were really just pushing your luck when you try to squeeze through like that.

In city driving, you want to stay a bit faster at a constant speed then other morons to be safe. Just remember to always go with the flow of traffic, most accident occur because they are different from the flow of traffic.

Just my 2cent.

[TJ3000]

Insurance might go 50/50 on this, it just sucks dude that your driving and some stupid young kid has to mess it up for you. No one wants to have body damage, real shit though I would've kicked his ass.

[Shagaliscious]

Here in PA, anytime you change lanes right before, or going through an intersection, that is an illegal lane change. Even if he used a signal, it's still an illegal lane change.

[fistpoint]

I'm sure someone already mentioned it(didn't read all replies), but it is clear that the other driver made a lane change without a blinker.

That's all you should need to say about it, illegal lane change. The question of right of way comes second, the illegal lane change precludes it.
.
.
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I did read the reply right above me, he's right with a third reason that driver is at fault, changing lanes within a certain distance before or after an intersection. It's so people can make right turns at stoplights when the right lane is open without morons taking the open right lane before you can pull out.

Strike 3 for idiot SUV driver.

[dpesce]

Fistpoint said it all. There are 3 strikes on that genius SUV driver. To whomever said you were in the driver's blind spot: there is no way you were unless that was a 5'1 little lady with her mirrors adjusted to watch her kids instead of the road. Properly adjusted mirrors on an SUV have an extremely small blind spot even wrt small cars like ours.

As stated, the only issue with this is. You 100% had time to, and should have, stopped on yellow. It appears the light is red before you even get to the intersection. I am assuming the other driver saw you but also saw the light changing and fully expected you to stop.

My final verdict: You are not at fault (at most partially at fault), however, a little more defensive driving and fender benders like this can be avoided.

[Shady195]

I would say it should be a no fault.

We all know you held out and tried to make the yellow light, we all do it. However had you not tried to do so, and had already started to slow down you could have probably avoided this. Had you not hit the car, you would have clearly run a red light at that point, it was red well before you even hit the car. While that wouldn't matter overall, if I can see it it means the insurance company will see it.

Really the fact that the other driver did not put on his blinker is probably the only thing thats going to keep it from being your fault.

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by TJ3000

Insurance might go 50/50 on this, it just sucks dude that your driving and some stupid young kid has to mess it up for you. No one wants to have body damage, real shit though I would've kicked his ass.

And be jailed for assault and battery over a fender bender? Not worth it.