The 10,000 Post thread V3

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3751: Just when I thought I was having a bad week, welp. My car gets taken off the road after someone crashed into me on the freeway at over 100kph.







Basically a man raced up behind, started tailgating, flashing lights and all that, and as he's gone to pass he's just merged into my lane and taken me out with the trailer he was towing. He then had the audacity to yell at me for being in the far right lane!

Some people...

[Duke87 1,070]

(3752)

 

I was going to say that seems like a rather low amount of damage for a collision at that speed, but it being a sideswipe with a vehicle moving the same direction now makes it make sense.

 

Indeed, I would almost argue that you don't need to fix the dents or anything, all you need to do is jerry rig the bumper back on... and then I noticed that your left turn signal is missing, thus rendering the vehicle not road legal. So it does need repairs from the shop before it can be driven again.

 

As for your presence in the fast lane, well, how fast were you going exactly, and what is the speed limit on that stretch of road? Was this guy the first one to pass you on the left or did other people do the same before him?

[metarvo 710]

3753.

 

Oh, man, I'm sorry about that.  Where's a cop when you need one?  I'm sure that the other driver was driving recklessly even if he wasn't speeding.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3754: Thing is the accident wasn't my fault, so I don't want to just drive it away, I want it fixed at his expense. Not to mention I think the wheel alignment is out; you can see the hubcap is gouged out.

I was doing 100kph in a 100 zone, keeping roughly with the flow of traffic. If he was overtaking me, then he would be speeding. And since he was tailgating and approached me suddenly, yes he was driving recklessly. I do have witnesses that back up my story, and the cops believe me after I reported it to the station.

Getting weird looks from people as I was driving a car home held together with my pants belt was interesting enough though!

[Duke87 1,070]

(3755)

 

I've been told people generally drive less aggressively in Australia than they do in the US, so maybe obeying the speed limit is normal over there.

 

All I know is that if I were to encounter someone in the left lane doing 65 on a highway where the speed limit is 65, I would be passing them on the right doing 75 the instant I got a chance... and I wouldn't be the only one. If you are actually obeying the speed limit in the US, you are driving slowly.

[metarvo 710]

3756.

 

That's true, Duke.  When the most common speed limit in my state was 70, almost everyone drove 75.  A couple of years ago, the state raised the predominant speed limit to 75, and now they all drive 80.

[Larks2242 251]

3757.

 

My condolences to you're car roffle, hope everything can work out for you.

[Duke87 1,070]

(3758)

 

Texas does generally enforce their speed limits more strictly than most states, though. Compare Texas where the speed limit is 75 and you'll likely get stopped for anything above 80, to New Jersey where the speed limit is 65 but you probably won't get stopped for anything under 85 unless you're weaving in and out of traffic.

 

Or to Connecticut where everyone goes 70 on the highway where the speed limit is 55, but then sticks to 40 on local roads where the speed limit is 40 but it's perfectly safe to go 55.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3759: Yes, people as a rule do not exceed the speed limit, and I've heard of people getting booked for doing 62 in a 60 zone.

Either way the driver who hit me is being formally criminally charged with several offences, and I had to make a witness statement today. Here's hoping he doesn't be silly and try and contest the charges, and it doesn't go to court.

[Muck308 55]

3760

 

Bummer about the car, man. Good luck in court. (If it comes to that. Lol. Not paying attention.)

 

I watched an Indonesian movie last night. That's a first for me. Good movie... action-wise. The Raid: Redemption.

[Duke87 1,070]

(3761)

 

Either way the driver who hit me is being formally criminally charged with several offences, and I had to make a witness statement today. Here's hoping he doesn't be silly and try and contest the charges, and it doesn't go to court.

 

I think there may be a disparity in legal language here. Most traffic violations (speeding, improper lane change, etc.) are not considered to be "criminal charges" in the US. Are we talking about stuff like that, or are we talking about more serious offenses of the sort you could potentially be penalized with more than just paying a fine for (community service, jail time, etc.)? Because when you say "doesn't contest it, doesn't go to court" it implies the former, but the use of the term "criminally charged" implies the latter.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3762: I'm honestly not sure. I think they are ones you can lose your licence over, etc. One of the charges, driving in an aggressive demeanour is quote serious. We shall see what happens.

[Larks2242 251]

3763.

 

 Road Rage is serious, gotta exercise precaution.

[simcity1999 34]

3764

Here, in Indonesia, especially outside of Jakarta, you can see drivers speeding up to 200 kph on a 80kph speed limit toll road. Very few of them have been caught by the police, AFAIK. However driving in Jakarta is a nightmare. Even on toll roads (where minimum speed limit is usually 60 kph), it's difficult to even pass that minimum limit, especially on rush hours. I'm not living in Jakarta, though, but I very frequently visit Jakarta and "enjoy" its traffic.

[TheCjm1999 11]

#3765

The majority of people obey the speed limit here in Australia, except for hoons and P Platers

[Larks2242 251]

3766.

 

I got the need for speed, Virtual speed that is.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

3767

 

On the Tohoku, people know the speed cameras never have film in them, and I get passed when I'm doing 110kmh or 120kmh like I'm standing still.  Traffic on the Shuto in Tokyo is limited to 60, but most people will exceed 80 if there is room (there usually is not: it's Tokyo).  On any other road, it is usually too crowded to speed, and on local, non-highway roads?  Pff, forget about it.

 

I hope you get all that fixed and sorted out quickly and painlessly, ROFLYoshi.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

#3765

The majority of people obey the speed limit here in Australia, except for hoons and P Platers

3768: And yet here I am as a P Plater and I wasn't in the wrong; it was a fully licensed driver.

Well after consulting the local panel beaters they have decided that the damage to the car exceeds the market value, so all in all its a write off. I've forwarded this to the other driver and if he or his insurer doesn't come up with a satisfactory compensation, I am suing.

(Gee, I wouldn't of thought I would be involved in all this in less than a year of driving!)

[Duke87 1,070]

(3769)

 

See, this discussion is fascinating because I'm learning stuff about traffic law in Australia.

 

What are "local panel beaters"? I've never heard of the assessment of the damage to a car being made by anyone other than an adjuster for the insurance company.

 

I also find it interesting that you're threatening to sue personally. When I got hit by someone last summer, my insurance company told me they would sue the other driver and/or his insurance on my behalf if they didn't pay up, I wouldn't have to lift a finger. For good reason: if the other driver/insurance didn't pay up, my insurance would have had to pay up because the terms of it say I'm covered in the event that I'm hit by an uninsured driver.

[Larks2242 251]

3770.

 

Good luck with the suing Yoshi, Hope you get a decent settlement and then some.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

3771

 

Is suing big in Australia?  It's not here.

[Muck308 55]

3772

 

Yeah, it's not very big in the US either.

[Duke87 1,070]

(3773)

 

Ah yes, lawsuits. Often described as "it's your fault for not protecting me from my own stupidity/clumsiness", "your honesty is preventing us from making money off our lies, so you need to shut up", or "I own the air in this town and you haven't been paying me royalties for breathing it".

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3771

 

Is suing big in Australia?  It's not here.

 

(3773)

 

Ah yes, lawsuits. Often described as "it's your fault for not protecting me from my own stupidity/clumsiness", "your honesty is preventing us from making money off our lies, so you need to shut up", or "I own the air in this town and you haven't been paying me royalties for breathing it".

3774: Suing does happen, but it's somewhat uncommon.

I'm only going to sue if he/his insurer try to play funny and drag this out or give me something stupidly low like $1000 to fix the car. My father sued his ex-employer for damages (he was permanently put out of work), so I know how difficult the process gets and in the end, you don't really win.

[Larks2242 251]

3775.

 

Depends how good your representation is. 

[Duke87 1,070]

(3776)

I think the point is that when something goes to litigation, in a way everyone loses since regardless of the outcome, you both have to deal with the headache, take the time to go to court, and spend the money on lawyers. The lawyers are the only real winners.

[Muck308 55]

3777

 

I view most lawsuits as unnecessary. Many are a huge waste of time.

[Larks2242 251]

3778.

 

All dependent on the sum and outcome.

 

Of course if you can get on Judge Judy, that is a plus.

[Duke87 1,070]

(3779)

 

If you do have to go to court, why on Earth would you want to have it broadcast on TV for the whole world to see? That's a little bit of an invasion of your privacy, methinks.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

3780: I think they pay for all your costs.

It is an annoying waste of time, but at the same time I drive at least 100kms a day and need my car. Currently I'm borrowing my brothers, though.