my 1st accident, I feel like total ****. Im 17 and been driving since august, under a jr license, in New Jersey. I drive a 99 Impreza L. About 2 hours ago i just rear ended someone, a green lincoln town car. I was going around 30 and pulled into the left lane on a 2 lane (each side) road. There was a red light and a car ahead of me the Lincoln, the light is a very short ligh too. I was about 50 feet away so started to brake, and about 30 feet towards the Lincoln the green light turned on, so i let go of my brake, just covered it, the lane next to me traffic started to accelerate and move. The Linocoln was still there and it did not move, and i hit it. The light was green and i was goind around 10-18 mph. I was in total shock, and got out to ask if they were OK, (they were and so was I). Called 911 and my dad. waited till the police come to do an accident report. It happened so quickly it took me a couple seconds to realize it.

Thanks to ImageShack

After the cop told me to make a left into an aboondoned shopping plaza. I did and so did she. He asked me what happened, and i told him my story above. She told him her story too, BUT SHE SAID THERE WAS SOMEONE IN FRONT OH HER MAKING A LEFT TURN (had to wait till oncoming traffic wasgone to make a left hand turn). I was in total shock and my heart was at my toes. I just said OK to the officer and her story. Even though i have proof it was BS.

After they towed my car and my dad picked me up and everybody left i realized that there couldnt be a car infront of her. After i hit her she didnt move and neither did i, and there was no space before her for the "turning car". And the shards of glass from my right headlight was about 12 feet before the white solid stop line, the same size as her car from the white solid line to her back bumper. So proving again that no one was ahead of her.

Thanks to ImageShack

I got a 85$$ ticket for careless driving and 2 points on license i think. I will get accident report on wednesday of next week.

Do you think i can make something out of this that she lied on her accident report. I take responcibility of my carlessness and inexperience. But she didnt tell the truth to the officer and i think i might have the proof.

I think she didnt see the green light and was not paying attention.

The damage on her car was some of mine paint no dents or nothing. On mine driverside headlight totaly busted and the front bumper had some paint marks on it, and the hood is bent a bit. The upper grille is loose and bent in a bit too. the only reasont it had to towed cause the headlight wouldnt work and i couldnt properly show when i would make a turn.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

It doesn't matter if there was a car in front of her or not. The law is that the person behind is always responsible for the accident in a front-to-rear collision (at least that's the law here in CA).

Sorry to hear about the accident, but at least you're taking responsibility and telling the truth. Good luck getting your L back in shape.

 

Yes i know im responsible but i would like to get rid of those 2 points, I will have to pay for everything. But atleast get rid of the points on my license by goint to court, and trying to prove the point that she was no paying attention and lied on the accident report. Thanks for the support.

 

The only way to get rid of those two points is to get a lawyer and go to court. You'll probably still get at least something, but the lawyer might be able to reduce the penalties for you.

 

i thought you had signed the police report stating the accident, because if you did you can no longer argue your point.

 

nope he just gave a slip stating that the police report will be ready on wednesday. and a ticket, which i can argue and plead not guilty, then i will have march 8th court date.

 

That sucks. I don't think it will help to fight it. Unless you took pics right after it happened it will be very hard to prove anything. Just your word against her's. And regardless why she was sitting there, you still are reasponsible for the accident. Whether there was a good reason for here to be there or not, you expecting here to move isn't a good enough reason. Not trying to be mean, I just think your kind of screwed here.

I have certainly had my share of accidents. I almost rear end someone when I was first driving. Wasn't paying attention and didn't notice it was a red light till I was about 100 ft away going 60-70. Nailed the brakes and skided to a stop about half a foot behind the guy in front of me. Scared the crap out of him and me, but luckly I reacted just quick enough. Haven't made a mistake like that since.

The only real crash I had was when I was cruising the backroads to school and skidded my accord off the road into a gardrail. I honestly wasn't going very fast, not compared to me powersliding through that same corner the other direction the day before. Anyway, no ABS, and not trained to pump the brakes, I paniced when it started sliding, and instead of letting off or pumping it, I nailed the brakes and slid into the gardrail. Not too bad a crash, broke the headlight, messed up the hood and fenders. The rear manages to wack it to so the quarter panel and tail light was toast too. But I was a mile from home and it still ran so I just drove home. It was just a POS with only liability so I got all the parts off ebay and the junkyard and fixed it myself. Black fenders are hawt! Especailly on a pinkish brownish honda!

I also got rear ended at school, but it was about 5-10mph and my bumper just had a mark and I think his emblem came off, but it mostly just scared the crap out of me.

That was all with my old honda. I was so reckless with that thing. The only trouble I have had with my subie is a speeding ticket, and I don't speed anymore, at least not more then everyone around me.

I don't know what you could do in NJ about the points. I know I did community service to get the points gone from my speeding ticket. So I saved my insurance that way. You might just be hosed though. Look up your local laws and figure out what your best option is. Good luck getting your car back together. If you do the work yourself and get some used parts it can be pretty cheap to fix. Hope it teaches you something. I have definitely learned why to drive sanely.

 

OMG, my dad got an estimite from the garage that it was in for the night, and they said $2750 US. Yeah right, im tryin to find an impreza at a junk yard to buy a headlight, so if anyone know one or has one PM me, please.

 

i finally got some pics, if anyone is interested

 

in most cases rear end collisions are avoidable- - suck it up dude. it sucks. i did that 2 times in one year. insurance rates will suck- but if its of any solace- you definitely will be driving differently now....



aloha from the summit of *-^-Mauna Kea-^-*

 

I know what you mean. I was recently involved in a wreck, but I believe I can pin it on her. Now, only if the Judge takes the word of a 16 year old over a 27 year old.

 

Man, don't even try fighting this one. It definitely sounds like your fault (you also admitted it).

Basically, what it sounds like you're saying is that you were trying to time it just right for her to get out of your way so that you didn't have to brake. Just because she may have screwed up the facts about whether or not there was a car impeding her progress makes no difference because it was your responsibility to stop regardless of whether or not she "SHOULD" have gotten out of your way. It's a judgement call for the person in front of you in an intersection to commit to a turn or a movement; so even though you may have gone in that instance (if you were the lady) doesn't mean that other drivers would've made that same choice.

You gotta be more careful and mindful of everything on the road not just the fact that you had a green light. It's a hard lesson to learn but at least it's one that you'll hopefully remember.

 

Yeah,
You are definitely at fault don't waste your time. Also, you didn't notice the car in front of you wansn't moving how are supposed to believe that you saw what was in front of her.

 

bpang, Well said.

You have to look at it like this, even if her car was broken down in the lane, and you were the only to cars on the road. Still your fault. We call it inatentive driving over here. It is human nature to try and put the blame some where else. Dont worry about it, just learn from it. I know its cliche' but the only driver you can depend on is you. Defensive driving 101. Atleast no one was hurt.