First of all, this occured on private property, in a plaza (which, according to the police, means they can’t decide who’s at fault b/c it’s not on a public roadway). I had just made a right turn onto a two-way road and as I was going down this road, I suddenly saw this woman who was trying to make a left turn onto my lane (she was coming from a road which bisected my road at 90 degrees on the left). She had moved just far enough that her car had completely blocked the opposite traffic to the road i was traveling on, and by the time she saw my car coming (I was only a few feet away!), she stops but does so in a fashion that her bumper was basically in my lane! I screech to a stop but not before my left bumper (driver’s side) hits her right bumper. The damage is quite minor, some paint exchange and a 4-inch dent on her bumper. Is it a no-brainer that this lady was clearly at fault here since she essentially failed to yield properly?
I am aware that some insurance companies come to a no-fault resolution and ask each driver to fix their own car but is this really the likely end-game for this scenario? I mean, the woman was CLEARLY at fault. You don’t turn onto a two-way road, fail to give the other driver enough time or distance to stop, and then blame them for causing the accident or say it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
Paul: The woman did not give me enough time to even stop for her! My front left bumper hit her front right bumper…think about it! If she started her turn when I was at a stopping distance I wouldn’t be hitting her front right bumper with my front left bumper! She was just coming onto my lane when I hit her. If she started that turn when I was within stopping distance I would’ve stopped in time not to hit her. I did not see her until she pulled infront of me, after which i slammed on the breaks, I skid for like a second, and I still couldn’t stop in time! common man! No fault? What BS! Besides, I have the right of the freaking road!
If you weren’t speeding or didn’t go through a stop sign nor have a sign to yield to the other traffic, then she was completely at fault. These can get sticky since it was on private property. The most important thing is to share all the information with the other driver including driver’s license # and insurance Company etc. If your damage is more than your deductible you should ask the other party to pay for your damage. If she refuses, then talk to your agent and ask him/her to Proceed with a nicely worded letter of intent to sue for your damages. You may be asked to draw out a diagram of the road and traffic flow, showing the position of each vehicle when contact occurred. Most drivers who don’t have anything to hide will cooperate in coming to a solution without a court appearance. I went through one of these similar scenarios where the other person was at fault in a major store’s parking lot and didn’t want to admit fault. However, without much persuasion the other party admitted fault and her insurance company paid the full bill on my car. Good Luck!
Sounds like you are correct, but agreeing with you won’t change it. Police and the insurance companies have already weighed in. I’ll just say life isn’t fair.
I know you won’t like this but here goes.
You are Both at Fault, You saw her and should have slowed or even stopped if it looked like she was in your lane, She should have Turned Wider and Completed her turn, “No Fault” {The Police have no authority in a Private Parking/Property area.