Sometimes the bug smashes you.

I have to assume the buy-out would be close to or more than the cost of a motor...

 

That’s true BUT if he’s in California then he’ll get part of the blame if he didnt use the turn signal .

 

im pretty sure i heard a thump at the end of 1 second beginning of 2 that sounded like a turn signal. either way you cant rear end someone at that speed in those conditions and not be at fault.

OP, ive rarely made out better after an accident and the only time i did was when i drove a POS that you couldnt sell for the price they reimbursed me for. Hope you have better luck.

Blackened is the best song on that album.

 

Thanks It was playing while I was driving.

Truth! I've lost count of all the little things that keep reminding me.

 

didnt hear any wheels screeching from the Bug so im guessing distracted driver which makes sense with the lapsed insurance. Make sure the insurance reimburses you for the pain and suffering.

 

really? a dude got his truck totaled and he's injured, and you guys are ragging him about his use of turn signals? Jeez.

I'm sure his brake lights were working and I'm sure turn signals would not have made a difference by the speed at which he was hit.

 

Bingo. No amount of blinky-blinky would have impacted someone who simply was not watching the road anyway. The bug Driver couldn't have seen something he/she was not looking at.

 

No one uses turn signals in California.

 

Absolutely. You have turn signals for a reason. Your logic is stupid. Yes you have brake lights, but you do realize that they do not come on until you put your foot on the brake? You also have no idea when you see brake lights in front of you what the intention is. Are they just slowing down? Are they panic braking? Are they just a 2 footed driver resting on the brake pedal? I'm assuming you are one of the ignorant types that can't be bothered to use a turn signal. Your turn signal in this situation gives you the ability to warn other drivers that you are about to turn. This can happen well before you brake and offers a different signal than brakes.

Would the use of turn signals prevented this? That is hard to say, but it certainly doesn't hurt. If I were the OP, I would be taking down that video because there is a chance he gets nothing if the investigation turns up he didn't use his turn signal.

 

I think the universal assumption when you see brake lights is they are slowing down and you should also slow down (but i could be wrong)

 

She ran full speed into a big red truck.... its safe to assume a red blinking light on big red truck wouldnt have changed things

 

That is a flawed assumption. How do you know that had he indicated his turn before he started braking that she wouldn't have had enough time to avoid him? Seriously, if turn signals are not needed, why do we have them? Maybe you should try using your turn signals and see what the results are.

 

you should stop doubling down on the whole turn signal deal. Try using some common sense and admit that regardless of signals she was going to hit him. overcast day, Brake lights, Headlights and rear lights on, no screeching tires from the VW. she wasnt paying attention. Turn signals on or off it was going to happen.

 

My first post!

Classic Canadian answer...were you in cab with him?
No, you weren't.
Did you see what's happening behind him?
No, you didn't.

You don't know WTF was happening.

Oh, and it's "bight"

 

Because it doesn't matter.

Yes, turn signals should be used. But he could have been slowing for literally anything so the turn is irrelevant, he slowed and was hit. Had he been slowing for an animal in the road and was intending to continue straight he STILL would have been hit. Had he been stopping for a medical emergency he still would have been hit. Had he been slowing for a vehicle issue, he still would have been hit. In all cases he would have been hit if he was going straight or turning. It is STILL the responsibility of the car following to NOT hit him. In this case the turn signal is irrelevant, the following driver should have been responding to the brake lights regardless.

Should they be used, YES, in every case. But as has been said, in a bright red truck slowing down with bright red brake lights illuminated a turn signal would not have made any difference. The following car has to respond to the situation, not what they think MIGHT be happening. If anything a turn signal would have indicated they would be clearing the roadway, stopping without one indicates they are NOT clearing the roadway and the following car should be responding to a vehicle coming to a stop IN the road in front of them.

 

Lol! I was watching a video from inside the cab. Clearly he wasn’t watching his rear view either or he would have dodged onto the shoulder when he saw a vehicle barreling down on him at speed.

You can’t turn right off a freeway at 5mph when other traffic is going at 65mph. Maybe there was a car in front of the bug that changed lanes at the last second to go around the Tacoma. Now the bug has 1 second to react. BOOM!

“Here lies John Smith”

“He had the Right-of-Way”

 

in the pictures you can see he had a fiberglass cap on the back. (notice all the bits of camper near his truck?) no he couldnt see them

 

You literally CAN turn right off that road, and in your situation that was still the FAULT of the bug. Its not other peoples responsibility to do your driving for you.

 

Glad you weren't injured more seriously OP
Rest up and get better!

If numb nuts didn't see the brake light, then the turn signals wouldn't have made a difference.

If all y'all can, get uninsured motorist coverage!!
There are way too many ----- driving around with no insurance (and probably no license too).
I've even had LEO tell me to get uninsured coverage - bc they see this shit alot..


There is no point in suing them bc they don't have shit to sue for and while the idea of getting a lien placed on them is appealing, no attorney is gonna do the work to get to that point, without a paycheck..

If you have uninsured motorist coverage, and your insurance doesn't wanna pay, then you can get an attorney to sue the insurance company.. said attorney can also help with getting medical bills paid and such = less of an impact on you.
Litigation is messy AF.

I know . . .been hit 3x by different assholes with no insurance; 2 totalled vehicles; 1 shoulder put back together (got popped by the seatbelt) and 4screws/2plates in my lower spine.

Oh and my health insurance rejected paying the medical bills because the injuries were from an auto accident - WTF - it all went to hell in a hand basket real quick.

 

You really don't understand. The laws are not to protect those the stupid. Our responsibility is put on those that are responsible. If you could tag someone from behind every time they did something stupid, it would be chaos. Whether that is not using their turn signal, brake lights not working, cutting in front of someone etc. There are a lot of stupid things people do that go unpunished because it is the responisibility of the person behind them to anticipate stupidity.

Your assertation of the use of the turn signal is a fine example of that ignorance. The turn signal indicates exactly that, a turn is pending. That could be a lane change, a turn off the road, etc. It is an indication to the driver behind you that you are going a particular direction so they need to be aware.

In this situation, it appears he didn't use his turn signal. He hasn't denied it so we can assume that to be correct. You don't hear it, you don't see it so unless he has a silent flasher, he didn't use it. That alone doesn't mean that he wouldn't have been hit, but there is a good chance that had he given the driver the proper notice, she could have taken evasive action.

Now you also need to separate the law from liability. He could have been cited for not using his signal, but she undoubtedly would be cited failure to control a vehicle. If she did have insurance, this is where they fight it out. Has nothing to do with the law, has everything to do with who would win a civil suit. These are two totally separate issues. His posting of the video showing he didn't use his turn signal in some states would be considered contributory negligence. This could either favor the other driver or could negate any potential damages awarded to him (which is why he should take the video down). It is all really a moot point since she didn't have insurance. If he didn't have uninsured motorist, it is really moot unless she has a substantial amount of liquid assets. He could take her to court and win, but civil judgements are not the same as criminal. She doesn't have to pay if she doesn't have the money.

If he does have UM which he probably does if his truck if financed (again, this varies by state), then his insurance could take a look at his video and decide against him.

Bottomline, use your turn signals. They are there for a reason.