I passed in a No-Pass and was ran off the road by a crooked vigilante!

[JeffMayone]

I Live in Connecticut, and I would appreciate any advice or comments on the following situation:

Last Monday morning, at 6 AM I attempted to pass a Chevy Yukon in my Acura Integra about 300 ft before a passing lane (I jumped early after a crest of hill). As I was passing, the Chevy Yukon violently swerved in my lane (still no pass) and struck my car, pushing me off the road!!! The damage is front to rear on passenger side and minor scratches on driver rear. We both waited for the cops.

I explained to the officer that I screwed up by passing in a no pass but the driver of the Yukon is some sort of vigilante taking the law in his own hands, but breaking it himself. The officer had to get his supervisor to further assess the situation, both were real nice.

They explained they are going to be issuing him a ticket for endangerment or reckless driving as well pass in no pass and the officer said he had to give me a ticket for pass in no pass.

My question: Did I give up all my rights passing illegally or is he responsible for my damage because a.)he also passed in no pass but struck my car and b.)he was issued reckless driving/endangerment? I received a form from his insurance company inquiring damage and requesting I get an adjuster to assess my car. Nothing conclusive.

[ecmst12]

Report the accident to your insurance company and see what they say. I *think* that his reckless driving cite trumps your pass in no pass...he hit you ON PURPOSE....so I think he'd be found majorly at fault. But your insurance company will advocate for you so I think it's good to go through them. If you're not found at fault, your rates shouldn't go up (well not much, you still got the ticket).

[efflandt]

What do you mean by passing lane? Was it all a 2-lane road where you crossed a solid yellow right line of center and the Yukon crossed into the oncoming traffic lane to bump you off the road. Or was the road going to split into 3 lanes (with an extra lane in your direction where slower traffic was supposed to keep right, and didn't?

You were certainly impatient, probably tailgating, and initiating a pass in a no passing zone. Were there any vehicles in front of the Yukon that it might have been attempting to pass without seeing you?

[JeffMayone]

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT ECMST and EFFLANDT!

What do you mean by passing lane? Excuse me, we were both traveling on the correct side of a single line divided road ( 2 way) I crossed the solid yellow line to pass him and he crossed it to smash my car.

Was the road going to split into 3 lanes (with an extra lane in your direction where slower traffic was supposed to keep right, and didn't? No, the dotted lines allowing us to both legally cross the line (which none of us did) were to be found 300 ft after collision.

You were certainly impatient, probably tailgating, and initiating a pass in a no passing zone. Were there any vehicles in front of the Yukon that it might have been attempting to pass without seeing you? Yes I was impatient! You live and learn! I wasnt tailgating him, I hate tailgaters but I would get on him for a second If I were passing, I didnt just fly up behind him and around either. There were no drivers in front of the Yukon.