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

[Ubersuber]

Originally Posted by Ouhei

Nothing I said was intent. His driving was also unsafe, had the car not moved over he would have either blown through that red light or had to slam on the brakes to not do so (judging by where he ended up and how he broke to avoid the accident, it could go either way). Intent has nothing to do with it, at that point it's all physics.

It just happens that the other driver did something actual (changing lanes without signal too close to the intersection) while he can argue that had the other car not changed lanes he still could have stopped in time for the light.

I don't mean to dog the OP by the way, he has taken note of what he was doing wrong. There just seems to be a decent amount of people in here that want to vilify and place 100% of the blame on the SUV driver (and a fair amount of projected anger too). The other driver will more than likely eventually be found at fault, but everyone needs to keep in mind it's also your responsibility as a driver to drive safely and be aware of your surroundings. Had the OP been paying attention he could have easily avoided this accident.

The OP almost stopped before he hit the SUV let alone reached the intersection.

That SUV driver should be charged with careless driving in my universe.

No way I should need to be prepared for an idiot like that. Sure you need to drive defensively but come on, the SUV driver pulled out just before the OP got there. He or she (or maybe the family dog) is 100% at fault.

[Stewie]

Former claims adjuster here. I would put the SUV at fault for this one. You had the right of way. It looked as though the SUV was following the car in front of it too closely and changed lanes without looking to avoid rear ending the car that stopped for the light. Had he not changed lanes the accident wouldn't have happened regardless of your speed.

I'm not sure about the laws in your state, but you aren't even supposed to change lanes within 100 feet of an intersection here in florida. It's not strictly enforced but that's why the dotted lines usually transition to solid lane dividers right before the intersection.

The other parties insurance company may still try to apportion a bit of the blame on you if they're a substandard company though...

Let us know how it turns out.


Don't forget to make a diminished value claim as the accident was not your fault and the resulting black mark on your vehicles car fax will lower its value.

[RussianNinja]

What I see from the video.
1. Even if you did try to speed up a bit before the lane change, no way were you actually going much faster than a speed limit.
2. The white SUV decided to turn into your lane about 20 ft from you, that's not enough time to brake.
3. Even though the black SUV was braking earlier, your lane was completely empty, which makes sense to be going a faster speed.
4. I did not see a single flick on the turning signal, so I'm pretty sure he did not use it.
5. Even if he has used a turn signal, he has not stopped to check his blind spot. Even if you were driving the same speed and you were driving in his blind spot, he is supposed to check it, show turn signal, then make a lane change. It's not turn signal, turn, check blind spot.
You are in the clear. Take the company to court if you can if they do not go your way.
The soccer mom driver was obviously an uneducated and some kind don't care teenager.

[Burrcold]

Agreed^^. The biggest point here, is that the person obviously did not check their mirror before making the lane change. Pretty simple IMO who made the mistake.

[kalamitykode]

Off topic.. Just thought I'd ask. What kind of dashcam do you have?

[chas3wba0]

Originally Posted by kalamitykode

Off topic.. Just thought I'd ask. What kind of dashcam do you have?

http://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

Got it a few months ago; it's given me no problems besides a bit of annoying play in the mount.

[RussianNinja]

Well I asked my friend and my dad, I guess I don't know much about these things. Personally never been in an accident.
According to them, in this video it was your fault because you were going too fast and it didn't look like you were slowing down, as well, it was you who crashed into an SUV not the other way around. So really they do have a good point, even though I personally think it really wasn't your fault even if you were going faster than should have been done.
They do have more experience on the road than I do, so I think they actually have this one right. It sucks, but I guess you are at fault.
It sucks to see a fellow gt86 get hurt like that.
Good luck man.

[Calidrifter]

not your fault as he was merging into your lane. Even if you had rear ended him, which would typically put you at fault, it would not been your fault as he was coming into your lane.

[Stang70Fastback]

Randomly happened across this thread and had to make two comments:

1. The other driver sucks at situational awareness.

2. I'd say that regardless of who is "legally" at fault, it was your attempt at running a red light that caused the accident. And the fact that you attempted to run that light makes you a complete idiot in my book. That light wasn't even CLOSE to still being yellow. In fact, it was yellow for so long that the other driver probably assumed you wouldn't be a complete idiot about running that light to begin with.

You say you drive on that road every day. That means you know that oncoming traffic gets a green arrow the instant that light turns red. Which means you're one of those idiots who thinks it's okay to risk a head-on collision and scare other drivers just to save a few seconds (people like you have pulled these stunts on me on several occasions).

If I were you, I wouldn't have even posted this video because I'd be afraid of the flaming I would get. I'm actually surprised that most of the people who replied did NOT mention your poor lack of judgement. There are many aspects to proper defensive driving. Not running red lights is one of them (that falls under just plain old proper driving, though.) Another aspect would be honking the horn and expecting the other driver to correct their actions without any other sort of reaction from you. So not only were you trying to blow a red light, but when the other car moved abruptly into your lane, your initial reaction was to honk the horn and expect to still get through? Just, ugh.

Bummer about your car, but if you drive like an idiot, it's only a matter of time before something like this happens.

[Xti]

The guy did pulled into your lane, and I don't think you were driving in the blind spot either. But you drove too fast at that light. Seems like you sped up for that yellow light where the black cadillac behind that white suv did stop just fine. 95% of people in your case would just slow down to a stop.

Both of you are going to get a ticket

You for Aggressive driving, reckless.

The SUV for unsafe lane change without signal.

[Xti]

Originally Posted by Stang70Fastback

Randomly happened across this thread and had to make two comments:

1. The other driver sucks at situational awareness.

2. I'd say that regardless of who is "legally" at fault, it was your attempt at running a red light that caused the accident. And the fact that you attempted to run that light makes you a complete idiot in my book. That light wasn't even CLOSE to still being yellow. In fact, it was yellow for so long that the other driver probably assumed you wouldn't be a complete idiot about running that light to begin with.

You say you drive on that road every day. That means you know that oncoming traffic gets a green arrow the instant that light turns red. Which means you're one of those idiots who thinks it's okay to risk a head-on collision and scare other drivers just to save a few seconds (people like you have pulled these stunts on me on several occasions).

If I were you, I wouldn't have even posted this video because I'd be afraid of the flaming I would get. I'm actually surprised that most of the people who replied did NOT mention your poor lack of judgement. There are many aspects to proper defensive driving. Not running red lights is one of them (that falls under just plain old proper driving, though.)

Bummer about your car, but if you drive like an idiot, it's only a matter of time before something like this happens.

I am totally agreed with you. In fact, I hate people who would risk an accident to Honk at others, or to scare others...it is just too stupid

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Pete156

California VC 21654. Look it up. It's the law, even on that road that you drive all the time. Doesn't matter what "people here" consider correct.

" any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic"

Did YOU read that. That law (AND the ones in MY state) are for on the HIGHWAY. NOT city streets?

WHY because on a city street, there are numerous cases where you must stop in the left lane to execute a left turn. Therefore the "Fast lane" rule does not apply on city streets.

[chaoskaze]

People just don't know how to drive defensively in lots places in US, I blame fail driving edu.

[Cope52]

Yeah she pulled out without warning but it looks like you were a little too eager to be the first one in line in that open lane at the light. You woulda stopped in time had you not gunned it prior. And that gangsta rap playing certainly wouldn't help your case. Be glad its just a fender.