accident today..

We werent there so it is ALL speculation----and double left turn lanes can be a challenge--really need to go as far FORWARD as possible--b4 making left--and even then in many cases I have to stop and let the inside lane clear before completing turn--and while YOU are probably SOL in terms of fighting this--
Im willing to bet--if his mirror was folded in---he HIT you--probably not payin attention--and got into your wagon---
It is a MINOR accident--so I wouldnt get too shook up about it--
BUT--take it as a learning experience--you almost have to take many of these type of turns almost the same way as if you are backing--Go very slowly--pay MORE attention to your mirrors--watch the dividing line VERY closely--and if needed---STOP before completing the turn--and let that lane clear--
Unless you are VERY cranky old salt like me--who gets a somewhat perverse PLEASURE outta messin with em---what can I say--I bore easily---LMAO

 

What he'll pay a lawyer he'd have bought a new mirror four times over.

 

Here's my theory:

1. Tail swing may have caused your trailer to go into his lane but he still hit you.

2. I think you said you were both traveling south. At the point where the rear of your trailer allegedly entered his lane, his southbound speed was greater than your southbound speed. In other words, he was passing you. That's why his mirror turned IN towards the door instead of OUT toward the front of his vehicle.

3. Given that his mirror turned in, and the laws of physics being what they are, the sequence of events in #2 above must be true, I would argue that THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE HIT YOU (which he did) and is therefore at fault. Perhaps your tail swing crossed you over the line and perhaps he was left of center only the four wheeler knows for sure. But it is a fact that he hit you that's why the mirror turned in.

4. Here is what I would do. With the help of your dash cam and a tape measure to measure the width of the lanes, I would re-create the situation in the parking lot and measure my tail swing to determine if my tail crossed into the other lane. If it did not, then I would video the tail swing from behind and show it to your safety manager. If the accident re-creation shows that my trailer did swing into the other lane, I would proceed to step 5.

5. If my trailer did swing into the other lane, and if I could afford it, I would talk to the other driver and explain the situation about your company's accident policy. I would offer to pay him cash for the damage and a letter stating that he was left of center. Take that letter you your company. This needs to be done quickly before someone pays the claim.

 

No matter who hit who, if you told the police, "I don't think I hit him, or there is no way I could've hit him", the police will take the other guy's side, because he is saying, "You definitely hit him".

 

I think your scenario # 2 is probably what happened but I would have to disagree with who was at fault if that is what happened (assuming that his trailer went into the other lane).

Just because one vehicle hits another does not make that vehicle automatically at fault. If you’re traveling down a road and someone pulls out directly in front of you and stops so close that you cannot stop in time are you at fault just because you hit him? Of course not, the vehicle that pulled out in front of you would be at fault.

In your scenario the OP would be responsible for making sure the other lane was clear if he needed his trailer to use it as anyone already in that lane would have right of way. The other driver may not have been able to stop in time or even get to the brakes at all if the OP started his turn while he was passing him on the right. It was the other drivers lane you use, not the OP’s.

 

OK not/wasnt speculated on what kind of driver you are--and I did say WE serent there--which is WHY I hate all the speculating-and I think by the tone of MY post it is obvious I WAS tryin to be helpful without casting judgement....
-Now--my question is--how did you make contact with his passenger mirror--if he wasnt on your drivers side--only one turn lane?

 

I didn't see where it said anything about a passenger mirror. Just that he clipped a mirror.

 

I agree. That's why I suggested doing a recreation to help show whether on not the trailer swung into the other lane. If it could be shown that the trailer did not leave the lane then it's the other guy's fault 100%. That might be all it takes to put the driver in a better light with his safety manager.

 

I think you're wrong on that one. The guy who runs into the back is at fault there unless he can prove the other driver acted illegally. Been there, done that, hit her in the rear and wrote her Passat off. I had to prove to the cop and the judge that she made the illegal lane change and cut me off, which luckily I was able to do but it did not look good for a while.