ntmatter
Enthusiast
So, about two weeks ago I got the Viper back from the paint shop, having done a complete repaint of my Silver/Blue 1998 GTS. No collision damage or anything, just a ton of rock chips and the ubiquitous issues with Dodge silver paint. So, on my sunny Friday drive in downtown Redmond, WA, a lady in a 20 year old Jaguar makes an oncoming left turn about 30 yards in front of me and I hit her at about 10 miles an hour. Here's the full story:
The route I take from work is a 4 lane road with a shared fifth turn lane in the center, alternating turn zones for the various businesses on each side of the road. Because a bunch of people were waiting to turn left at a busy intersection, I got in the right lane which was clear for about 100 yards up to the next stoplight. Unbenownst to me, the other party was waiting in the turn lane where some sort of SUV made a hole for her to make a left turn. She turns left, goes through the first lane, and without stopping drives straight across mine as she goes to pull into her bank parking lot. I all of a sudden see her about 30 yards up (I paced it out), jump on the brakes, but I just had nowhere to go. The other lane was stopped traffic, and there were lightpoles down the sidewalk. I hit her rear quarter as far to my left as I could manage, and we both pull into a parking lot.
After the accident we are both very polite to one another, being glad that nobody got hurt and commenting that everything could be repaired. Once the police show up, they take her story and mine, then the officer fills out the report. I notice at this point that now in her words I'm "zooming" into her (in her story to the officer). I try to mention to the cop that there was no way I was speeding; he tells me to cool it. The officer gets out with his report, and tells the lady that he can tell by the collision damage that this was not a speed-related accident, and that she was responsible for giving up the right of way to any oncoming traffic. Further, he would be mailing her a ticket for making an illegal turn. At this point, the sweet old lady becomes substantially less accomodating, and I notice that all of a sudden I'm going faster and faster every time she tells the story. The officer says that it doesn't matter, the law is clear on this point; she turned into oncoming traffic so it is her fault. Then, the lady goes for the ace up her sleeve:
"Measure the skid mark he left" (the one in the road, not the one in my pants) "that'll show how fast he was going!". Oh heck, I thought, I really, really hope I wasn't actually speeding and now there's physical evidence. The officer gets out a measuring wheel, measures the skid mark, consults his chart, and says, "he was maybe doing 35, so this is definitely not speed-related". When the lady complains that I was still speeding he points to the "35 MPH" speed limit sign right next to where we're standing. Finally, she says that the lane was clear and I had to be going too fast, since she didn't see me when she checked the traffic. The officer explained that the lane was in fact not clear - it was occupied by the Silver and Blue car that I happened to be leaning on.
So, long story short, I definitely need a new bumper, and I'm going to ask for a new hood (it got a chunk torn off the front). If anyone has any legal advice or experience on demanding new and not repaired body parts I'd appreciate it. Although I'd only had the car back for two weeks before this happened I guess God doesn't really hate me after all - it's just bad luck. 3 MPH slower and I'd have missed her; 3 MPH faster and I'd have T-boned her passenger. Viper Days is in a month and I'm still hoping to go, depending on how quick we can process the claim and get the hood and bumper replaced.
The route I take from work is a 4 lane road with a shared fifth turn lane in the center, alternating turn zones for the various businesses on each side of the road. Because a bunch of people were waiting to turn left at a busy intersection, I got in the right lane which was clear for about 100 yards up to the next stoplight. Unbenownst to me, the other party was waiting in the turn lane where some sort of SUV made a hole for her to make a left turn. She turns left, goes through the first lane, and without stopping drives straight across mine as she goes to pull into her bank parking lot. I all of a sudden see her about 30 yards up (I paced it out), jump on the brakes, but I just had nowhere to go. The other lane was stopped traffic, and there were lightpoles down the sidewalk. I hit her rear quarter as far to my left as I could manage, and we both pull into a parking lot.
After the accident we are both very polite to one another, being glad that nobody got hurt and commenting that everything could be repaired. Once the police show up, they take her story and mine, then the officer fills out the report. I notice at this point that now in her words I'm "zooming" into her (in her story to the officer). I try to mention to the cop that there was no way I was speeding; he tells me to cool it. The officer gets out with his report, and tells the lady that he can tell by the collision damage that this was not a speed-related accident, and that she was responsible for giving up the right of way to any oncoming traffic. Further, he would be mailing her a ticket for making an illegal turn. At this point, the sweet old lady becomes substantially less accomodating, and I notice that all of a sudden I'm going faster and faster every time she tells the story. The officer says that it doesn't matter, the law is clear on this point; she turned into oncoming traffic so it is her fault. Then, the lady goes for the ace up her sleeve:
"Measure the skid mark he left" (the one in the road, not the one in my pants) "that'll show how fast he was going!". Oh heck, I thought, I really, really hope I wasn't actually speeding and now there's physical evidence. The officer gets out a measuring wheel, measures the skid mark, consults his chart, and says, "he was maybe doing 35, so this is definitely not speed-related". When the lady complains that I was still speeding he points to the "35 MPH" speed limit sign right next to where we're standing. Finally, she says that the lane was clear and I had to be going too fast, since she didn't see me when she checked the traffic. The officer explained that the lane was in fact not clear - it was occupied by the Silver and Blue car that I happened to be leaning on.
So, long story short, I definitely need a new bumper, and I'm going to ask for a new hood (it got a chunk torn off the front). If anyone has any legal advice or experience on demanding new and not repaired body parts I'd appreciate it. Although I'd only had the car back for two weeks before this happened I guess God doesn't really hate me after all - it's just bad luck. 3 MPH slower and I'd have missed her; 3 MPH faster and I'd have T-boned her passenger. Viper Days is in a month and I'm still hoping to go, depending on how quick we can process the claim and get the hood and bumper replaced.
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