Driving & Driving Test Tips: Car accident, approximate speed, side mirror


Question
The other driver hit the rear door right on the door's seam and dented the rear door in deeply.  He continued to move along the side of the car and dent the front driver's door as well (slightly more shallow than the rear door), but pulled away before hitting off the side mirror.  They approximate the driver that hit my GF was going between 50 and 55mph and she was going approximately 25 to 30mph.
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Followup To

Question -
Hi Mark,
My girlfriend got into an accident last week and I want to know how she should handle her case.  Heres what happened, She was turning right from a private driveway onto a three lane highway in a residential area.  With her signal on she turned right and quickly moved into the middle lane when she was hit on her rear driverside door.  Although she did not see the other vehicle before it hit her, we have a witness that claims he was in the far left lane and attempted to move over into the center lane at the same time she did.  We think he will probably argue that he was in the center lane the whole time. His tire marks show mostly in the middle lane.  I would gladly give you more information if needed.  With your experience could you tell me what we need to do to strenthen her case. Thank you.

Answer -
I need to know the damage pattern of the two cars to ascertain which car was going faster then the other, or if they were at the same approximate speed

Answer
THIS WOULD INDICATE THE THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING MUCH FASTER, AS INDICATED IN YOUR INFORMATION.  THEREFORE, HE SHOULD BE HELD MORE AT FAULT BECAUSE YOUR GIRLFRIEND WAS WELL AHEAD OF HIM, AS THEY BOTH STARTED TO MERGE, AND HE SHOULD HAVE SEEN HER ENTERING THE LANE AS HE WAS TRANSISTIONING INTO THE LANE.

HIS INTIAL POSITION, WHEN YOUR GIRLFRIEND WAS MERGING WAS WELL ENOUGH BACK THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE CONSIDERED HIM A THREAT BEFORE STARTING TO MERGE.

TO DO A PROPER TIME DISTANCE ANALYSIS, THE TIRE MARKS FROM HIS VEHICLE AND THE AREA OF IMPACT WOULD HAVE TO BE PROPERLY DOCUMENTED.  THEN ONE COULD SEE WHERE HE WAS IN PERSPECTIVE TO YOUR GILRFRIEND AS SHE CHECKED TRAFFIC AND THEN STARTED TO MERGE.