"Involved" in an accident.?

Question

About a month ago I was on my way to work on a six lane, divided road through the middle of downtown New Orleans. I was in the far right lane. I came upon a large truck stopped in the far right lane, apparently delivering things. I stopped. People behind me changed lanes quickly. Once traffic cleared out of the lane to my left (the middle lane) I turned on my signal, looked over my shoulder and proceeded to move to the middle lane. A man driving very aggressively in a blue sports car came up behind me in the far right lane. Rather than slowing down and waiting for me to merge, he tried to make it around me, and ran into a car in the far left lane. I stopped for a minute, because the man waved at me. He then began to yell at me and tell me the accident was all my fault. I don't think that I did anything wrong at all; I wasn't even in the accident. He was yelling and really scaring me so I left, and I didn't hit anyone or get hit. Today his insurance called. Did I do anything wrong?

Answer 1

From what you are saying, No. Some people are just is such a hurry they don't have time to slow down and let someone get out of their way. His insurance can call you, but you don't have to talk to them. Since you wasn't hit or involved I wouldn't say much if anything to his insurance company. If necessary let your insurance company do the talking for you.

Answer 2

Absolutely nothing, except being too careful and worried. Even if he hit you, the insurance companies would find him "More" at fault because the damage to your car would have been to rear. I can however, understand his frustration, as a driver you should be more aware of whats going on ahead of you and around you.. Why did you not realize the truck was making a delivery ahead of time, why would you need to look over your shoulder and not know how to use your mirror to check the other lane, and why would you stop long enough and block traffic more after an accident that you are not a part of? You seem focused enough to know a lot of details while you are in your car not driving, use the same focus while you are driving to avoid being nervous and disrupting the flow of traffic.

Answer 3

Possibly, yes. You should have drove down the road for 1/4 mile, and call police (and report the accident).

It's clear that his insurance is about to pin it all on you since you left the scene. Better call your insurance company quickly and report this incident.

You don't have to hit any one or be hit to be "involved". Remember that Governor Corzine whose SUV flipped over? It all started when a red pickup tried to get out of the way and almost lost control on the shoulder of the road. Another car tried to avoid HIM and plowed into a third car, then the Governor's SUV tried to avoid the mess, hit grass at 91 MPH, and flipped over and rolled. The red pickup did what you did: he didn't even know he was involved, and drove away. You at least stopped.

Without knowing the speed involved, TECHNICALLY speaking he had the right of way since he's moving faster than you were (provided he's not speeding, but no evidence of that). He is technically NOT required to slow down to let you merge, as he had the right of way. If he had came up behind you, didn't hit brakes soon enough and hit you, then he'd be at fault. However, from your description, you almost merged into middle lane. He was about to cut into middle lane, saw you also move into middle lane and block his path, decided he can't brake in time, and went the only way he could: further left, into the other car, and they both saw you left the scene.

Odds are stacked against you, and you MAY even be charged with leaving the scene of an accident (though you seem to have an explanation for that, that you feel intimidated), but you should have reported it to police within the next hour or so.

Again, report this to your insurance ASAP. Let the adjuster interview you ON TAPE (through phone usually) about what happened, and why did you drive away. You can't undo what you did, so better mitigate the damages ASAP.

Answer 4

What you did wrong was leave. You are a witness. You have to give a statement to the insurance, and the police if necessary, as to what you saw, and only what you saw. By what you describe here, he failed to change lanes in safety, so it is not your fault in any way. Your statement is needed to ensure the driver of the car he hit is treated fairly.

Answer 5

me 2 twist of destiny companies.... ok right here is going... soreness and that i mean authentic soreness.. even as dealing with stem cel implants on the Mayo health facility.. I were given Shingles, for the era of my accurate chest, my accurate brest and the midsection of my back.. they were about 3 inched huge... It felt like my brest grow to be being fired in a french fry friar and that someone grow to be attempting to tug it out of there with a fish hook... I had to flow the the medical institution for 9 days and the basically alleviation grow to be morphine... pay interest i grow to be a rodeo clown for `17 years and that i have been given kicked, stepped on and butted yet under no circumstances a damage like the shingles... i do not want them on my worst enemy (in simple terms my x)

Answer 6

In my "opinion" no you did what you were supposed to. I would NOT let the insurance company try to get you to settle and give them money. I would let them take you to court if they want to. You may want to contact a lawyer before even talking to his insurance company.

Answer 7

It does not sound as if you are at fault, but you did ought to declare that you were a witness to the police.

Answer 8

Nope, you didnt do anything wrong, if he or his insurance calls you tell them you will get the cops and a lawyer involved and sue them for harassment if the call you one more time. Tell me where he lives, I will take care of him!