Question for all Experienced Drivers

I disagree that 'classic' is a psychopath. I would say he is a sociopath.

 

Actually, what the other vehicle was doing is ABSOLUTELY relevant. If the speed limit was 45 and they were doing 70 when they topped the hill, that is relevant. If the brakes on the van weren't in proper working order, that is relevant. If the driver of the van was under the influence, that is relevant. If it was dark outside and one or more of the van's headlights weren't working, that is relevant. There is a LOT of possible things that could have been wrong with the other vehicle which would mitigate the OP's liability in the wreck. The only thing the OP has mentioned is that the other vehicle never hit the brakes, and that there were several occupants in the other vehicle and only the person who died had failed to wear their seat belt. I find that to be extremely relevant because they died on their own terms. ALL they had to do was strap themselves in....like everybody else in the vehicle....and they would more than likely have survived the crash. That IS relevant. If the van's driver had hit the brakes, the crash might have been avoided but at the very least the impact would have been less severe. That IS relevant.

So just out of curiosity, how long do you wait before making a turn when you don't see anybody coming? Inquiring minds would like to know, since you seem to think you're perfect. If you pull up to an intersection...you have a stop sign, cross traffic does not...how long do you sit there stopped before you decide to proceed if you do not see any other traffic approaching?

 

The OP STILL failed to yield and pulled out in front of the vehicle. It doesn't matter if the vehicle was going 70 or 10. The OP is still at fault. And seatbelts dont save everyone all of the time either. What if that other vehicle was a emergency vehicle responding to a call?

When you are SURE that noone is comming, you go. If you aren't sure, you wait until you are.

 

And what exactly does my living in a certain state pertain to this subject ? Care to enlighten the rest of us ? You excuse a vehicular homicide. What's next ? How low can your standards go ? Oh that's right..you killed someone and it's "ok" ? There isn't ANYBODY DEAD because of MY actions. Just yours. "Super trucker"...

 

Don't bother...This forum excuses everything from sex offenders to felons to "When can I drive with two recent DUI's" ? Don't believe it ? Just look at the drug test forum. According to some people here, we should just forgive anything, including vehicular manslaughter. And then there are the morons like....hmmm..to be politically correct, and in the interest of not getting banned, certain posters "above me"...Who has actually killed someone and feels no guilt. Interesting..

 

can you imagine if tucking companies and their insurance were just as forgiving?I cant help but blame classic because he has'nt even tried fighting it.Just pay the ticket and case closed.I would feel horrible for along long time if I killed somebody even if it was'nt my fault.I would probably voluntarily surrender my CDL.

 

Any excuse right ? Perhaps if their van was painted pink you would excuse the OP too, correct ? And, to answer your question...You sit there until you are absolutely, 100% sure the roadway is clear..Never said I was perfect, but you and a couple others can't seem to digest that fact. But, I never KILLED anyone, fault or NO fault. And the fact that you "defenders" think it's no big deal is disgusting. How would you feel if that was YOUR kid lying in that wreckage ? Would you still excuse the OP and "Mr. EZ." then ? Somehow, I doubt it..

 

So... OP was involved in a fatality accident and claims he didn't fight it because he "never had a chance to fight it"? How is that supposed to work? This is something you would just get a speeding ticket for... this is something you'd have to appear in court for, possibly to answer for vehicular manslaughter charges. If there's something else which I've missed, feel free to point it out.. I have neither the patience nor inclination to read through page after page of pissing contest in order to find what's relevant to the OP's first post.

 

I was just about to say this too, so you just saved me some typing. But yeah, if it was their family member killed and the truck driver said: "Oh well, #### happens", they wouldn't be anywhere near as forgiving.

 

Did the OP say he thought there was somebody coming? No. He did just as anybody would have done. He looked...didn't see anybody coming....and pulled out. Everybody who is on here jumping down his throat about it has come right out and said if they were in a similar situation, that they would proceed when they were certain it was clear for them to pull out. So how do you determine when it is safe? WHEN YOU DO NOT SEE ANYBODY COMING! That is the EXACT SAME STANDARD the OP said he used. He looked. He didn't see anybody coming. He pulled out. You haven't killed anybody YET. That could change tomorrow...NOBODY knows what the future holds for them, and it only takes a split second for things to turn ugly. I only hope if that day ever comes, you are judged according to the same standards which you have used to judge others.

I've been hit by another motorist before. I was driving a wrecker, slowing to pick up an abandoned car on the side of the road. There were 2 state troopers there investigating it as a possible stolen because the steering column had been pulled apart. So there I was...approaching the 2 patrol cars on the shoulder with their emergency lights on. I started slowing, turned on my 4 ways, emergency beacons, flood lights, and work lights. The scene was lit up like a Christmas tree....yet I was STILL rear-ended as I was pulling onto the shoulder. She was drunk 3 times the legal limit. If she had died, should it have meant an end to my driving career? After all, I was only driving 15 mph on the interstate at the moment of impact....far below the posted minimum. You could say I was obstructing traffic, even though I was just doing my job. According to you, NOTHING going on with the other vehicle is ever relevant....not the fact that she was drunk....not the fact that she should have reduced her speed and moved over....only the fact that I was driving a CMV too slow on the interstate. In your world, details don't matter....big truck is automatically 100% at fault for everything.

I'm glad that here in the real world, you're wrong.