notguilty101
Junior Member
CT
Here's the scene:
I got in an accident a few days ago. It was a grey, drizzly day - the roads were slick - and I was at a stop sign. I was making a left turn and saw a guy in the distance. I judged that I had enough time to safely get through the intersection onto the proper lane on the next street. I truly believe I stopped (0 mph), and I proceed to cross. The guy appears to be going faster, swerves over the double line into my lane, and crashes his car.
EVIDENCE
His airbag goes off, mine doesn't; his car is wrecked, I only have a dent on the front of my car; the speed limit is 25, the obstacle has gone at least 4 feet or more through the front of his car. I gather that the airbag goes off at around 15 mph or so in a frontal collision.
Thankfully - and most importantly - neither I nor the other guy gets injured in the least.
I get a ticket (I think it's a violation because of the $100+ value) for "not obeying the stop sign". There is a witness, but the witness was driving behind the other guy and it is not likely he could've seen whether I stopped or not. The cop interviews the witness and the other guy, but not me. He states on the accident memorandum that the weather is "clear". Because I was technically at fault, I stand to have my rates shoot through the roof, and that will be judged by my plea on the ticket.
I haven't decided if I will pay the ticket or not. I need some advice whether or not I have a leg to stand on in traffic court to fight the ticket.
For instance, my speedometer said 0, but if the roads were slick I could've slid - could that help my situation out at all?
The other guy (I'm 17, he's either 17 or 18) apparently tried to get around me, not break straight or follow the road I was coming from. The angle of the intersection (between the road I stopped on and the road I was getting on, is about 160 degrees)
He crossed the double line and hit the obstruction before I hit him. I am convinced he was speeding and there are various skidmarks on the road. Not sure if he got a ticket or not.
I would greatly appreciate any advice on what to do or how to go about this. Thanks a bunch in advance!
Here's the scene:
I got in an accident a few days ago. It was a grey, drizzly day - the roads were slick - and I was at a stop sign. I was making a left turn and saw a guy in the distance. I judged that I had enough time to safely get through the intersection onto the proper lane on the next street. I truly believe I stopped (0 mph), and I proceed to cross. The guy appears to be going faster, swerves over the double line into my lane, and crashes his car.
EVIDENCE
His airbag goes off, mine doesn't; his car is wrecked, I only have a dent on the front of my car; the speed limit is 25, the obstacle has gone at least 4 feet or more through the front of his car. I gather that the airbag goes off at around 15 mph or so in a frontal collision.
Thankfully - and most importantly - neither I nor the other guy gets injured in the least.
I get a ticket (I think it's a violation because of the $100+ value) for "not obeying the stop sign". There is a witness, but the witness was driving behind the other guy and it is not likely he could've seen whether I stopped or not. The cop interviews the witness and the other guy, but not me. He states on the accident memorandum that the weather is "clear". Because I was technically at fault, I stand to have my rates shoot through the roof, and that will be judged by my plea on the ticket.
I haven't decided if I will pay the ticket or not. I need some advice whether or not I have a leg to stand on in traffic court to fight the ticket.
For instance, my speedometer said 0, but if the roads were slick I could've slid - could that help my situation out at all?
The other guy (I'm 17, he's either 17 or 18) apparently tried to get around me, not break straight or follow the road I was coming from. The angle of the intersection (between the road I stopped on and the road I was getting on, is about 160 degrees)
He crossed the double line and hit the obstruction before I hit him. I am convinced he was speeding and there are various skidmarks on the road. Not sure if he got a ticket or not.
I would greatly appreciate any advice on what to do or how to go about this. Thanks a bunch in advance!