Ticket for failure to yeild? When to fight it?
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
.. .this can’t be good asked:
A mother’s worse nightmare and that dreaded phone call. “Mama, come quick. I’ve been in a bad wreck”. I don’t even remember the phone ringing – just “where are you and are you hurt?”. It was a classic antique car – but very unimportant. He’s 18, and never had a ticket or wreck. He turned in front of oncoming truck; he misjudged her speed. The speed limit was 35, and it took her 190 feet to stop after impact. The state patrol said her speed was at least 45, but he couldn’t cite her because he couldn’t prove it. State Patrol says it wouldn’t have mattered if she was running 100, he still has to yield right of way, even if she’s breaking the law. So, he did fail to yield but had she been running the speed limit he would have had time to make the turn. Witnesses agree. Is it worth arguing the point?
No, I’m not making excuses. I clearly stated he failed to yield, but her speed was a contributing factor to the accident. The insurance company will defend any suit for damages, and like I said I couldn’t possibly care less about the car. I just wondered what the thoughts were about fighting the ticket.
A mother’s worse nightmare and that dreaded phone call. “Mama, come quick. I’ve been in a bad wreck”. I don’t even remember the phone ringing – just “where are you and are you hurt?”. It was a classic antique car – but very unimportant. He’s 18, and never had a ticket or wreck. He turned in front of oncoming truck; he misjudged her speed. The speed limit was 35, and it took her 190 feet to stop after impact. The state patrol said her speed was at least 45, but he couldn’t cite her because he couldn’t prove it. State Patrol says it wouldn’t have mattered if she was running 100, he still has to yield right of way, even if she’s breaking the law. So, he did fail to yield but had she been running the speed limit he would have had time to make the turn. Witnesses agree. Is it worth arguing the point?
No, I’m not making excuses. I clearly stated he failed to yield, but her speed was a contributing factor to the accident. The insurance company will defend any suit for damages, and like I said I couldn’t possibly care less about the car. I just wondered what the thoughts were about fighting the ticket.
He did fail to yield, but she was speeding. He was turning in our church parking lot, so all the witnesses are going to be very one sided in their opinion.
Gertrude