Driving & Driving Test Tips: Collision investigation., collision investigation, yield sign

Question
Hello Sir,
         Thank you so much for your reply. It happened in Fremont on Mowry and Hastings. The signal i had was a green arrown pointing to the left. So doesnt that mean the right of way is mine? I turned and almost went past the road. the Yield sign was for the oncoming traffic that was turning right. Sir, there are no skid marks on the road, which means she was not even looking at me till she hit me. The car waiting atthe yield signal meant that i had the signal and they had a red signal. Is there anyway that the cops would get her EDR from the car to see if she was actually driving recklessly. Cause when she got off and when she was talking to the cops also she said she was trying to call her mother. I would think that if it was my fault would she not react atleast a little and try to avoid the accident rather than just come in straight and hit me? It is hard to prove what i am trying to but does that mean even though i waited for my signal and turned i am at fault? by God's grace non of us was badly injured or nothing untoward happened. I am trying to figure out a way to prove the truth. The one big blunder i did was not to take the contact info of the witnesses. I hope the cops did take the info from them. I will be waiting for your reply. I have a drawing that i made of the situation but i dont know how to add it to this mail. Thank you so much for your time and help.

Regards,
Sujay.

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Followup To
Question -
Hello Sir,
          I met with an accident last night (01/31/06). This is what happened, I was waiting in the left most lane on a signal to make a left turn. There were not too many cars and i drive a stick shift. My signal turned green and there was a car waiting to let me make a left turn as it has a yield signal. I made my turn and i almost got into the lane when another car came and just banged right into my car. My car turned a full 180 degrees after the hit. I looked at the signal just before she hit me and it was turning yellow for me. She hit on the rear tire and the rear door on passenger side. I was in pain and could not talk to anyone. The cop came in right immediately and i went to the ER to get a checkup. but i overheard the lady say she had the signal. I am trying to figure out how i can defend myself. My being in the first gear should prove that i stopped completely and was just making a turn also the fact that a car was waiting at the yield signal means that her signal is red. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much Sir.
Answer -
If this is an intesection collision controlled by standard tri light signals, I would have to say that you were at fault, in that, if the light was green or yellow for you then it would also be green or yellow for opposing traffic.

The fact that one lane of traffic let you pass in front of them does not mean that the other lane has yeilded the right of way, and you have to make sure the second lane is clear of approaching traffic before proceeding.

The information you sent states that opposing traffic had a yield signal.  I have never heard of such a signal, but if there is a "yield signal" for opposing traffic, then opposing traffic must yield the right of way until it is safe to proceed, and the other vehicle would be at fault.

If you don't mind, please send me a clearer description of this "yield signal" that you mentioned, and include what city and state where this signal is used.  I can contact law enforcement from that area to confirm how it works.

Answer
If you had a green arrow, then you definitely had the right of way.  Even if the light had changed to green for opposing traffic, once you are legally within the intersection, opposing traffic must yield to your right of way before proceeding forward.  As to proving this, if it is not shown in the traffic collision report by the police officer, then you can obtain the signal plans from the government entity that maintains the signals.  This is called a timing chart and it will show the sequence of how the lights are activated.  If they show that the left turn arrow comes on before the normal green light, then you have a case to prove you were turning on a green arrow prior to the normal green light turning green for opposing traffic.

Again, there is no such thing as a yield signal for traffic at an intersection controlled by signal lights. All traffic is controlled by the signals (green, yellow, red or arrows).

The yield sign is for uncontrolled (by signals) lanes of traffic, such as two merging lanes of traffic at a freeway entrance, or other uncontrolled intersections.