that can be fixed it will take a bit

 

Just my opinion, flame if you want.

I wouldn't spend time figuring out ways to blame or place blame on the other driver.
I would figure out ways to avoid getting into traffic accidents.

First I would probably reduce speed driving through intersections when the light turns yellow especially when the weather is inclement.

My guess is that you are both going to be blamed equally for the accident since the light was changing and it is going to be a war of words.
Get ready for your insurance to double or more.

Like I said, for the welfare of your child you need to try to be more careful...

Accidents do happen however most of the time they can be avoided.
I for one have had many close calls and most I can say were my fault but I just got lucky.
I try to leave a time barrier or out when driving just in case something pops up at the last second to try to avoid an accident....

Glad you and your son are ok. Stay safe.

 

I won't flame, you have valid points but I will respond.

It's not that I am trying to place blame, I want to know what the laws state in regards to yielding the right of way. If it states that I am to blame then there is little I can do about it and I have to accept that. If it states that the other guy's failure to yield the right of way caused the accident then he should be found at fault plain and simple. Unfortunately insurance companies seem to think that law does not apply to them and they will do what they can to put the blame on anyone but themselves. I had an accident where a guy pulled in front of me and stopped suddenly and I rear ended him. I didn't feel I should have been to blame, but the law stated otherwise so I didn't fight it.
My speed was approximately 40mph through a 45 zone, so my speed was already reduced. As far as the yellow, how fast can a person react to a light changing to yellow?? If someone reduces their speed before going through an intersection where the light is yellow, then I feel they for darn sure could have stopped at it before it turned red. Most people that go through an intersection when the light turns yellow are at a point where nothing they do could stop them at the stop/white line before it was to turn red, such as the case with my accident. There wasn't anything I could do but just hit the brakes and hope he cleared before I hit him. I think if it had been dry he may have made it just barely, but given the conditions he may have lost traction when he "gunned" it to try and get clear, ultimately delaying his progression and putting his truck in position for mine to collide with his.
That seems to be the rule for insurance companies. No one accepts fault or wants to, regardless of traffic laws. That's why in an accident like this, word vs word should not outweigh the law and what it states about failure to yield.
Now just how much more careful can a person be?! I can drive 5, 10, 15 or more under posted limits. I can slow down going through a green, or crawl through a yellow, I can do just about everything possible to be "careful" but when another driver does something foolish and causes an accident my being more careful did nothing to prevent or avoid the accident.
Agreed. I don't tailgate the crap out of people and I like to leave a good size gap between my truck and the vehicle in front of me. I always watch the actions of other cars and drive as defensively or careful as can be done. But again someone can do something that even the most defensive driver cannot prevent....
Thanks, will do!

 

Good response Adam, very tactful.

 

The better and larger pictures from my digital camera are up from the accident here:

http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j252/DieselSmoke59/

 

I would say there is around $20k in damage to that truck just by guessing.

 

Wow you think there is that much? I don't think there is quite that much. I could care less if they fixed the dang bed, it's my work truck. I just want my front end fixed and the drivers side doors.

 

I wouldnt be suprised if there is 20k in damage, more importantly I wonder if the frame got tweaked at all.

 

I see 12-15k tops, how could it get to 20k?

 

I'd say that the Chevy is done, it will probably be a total. You might be close to $20K like the others are saying. Isn't there some magic rule regarding a total vrs a repair - some % of the book value? Something like that, sure someone here will know that answer.

All that matters is that you and yours are OK. Vehicles can be replaced, lives cannot, and injuries can haunt you for a long time. At leat you walked away.

As far as % of blame, if the other guy turned into your path, you did have the right of way. If the signal changed as you were entering or about to enter the intersection they could come up with some % contribution on your part, but the other guy should not have turned in your path or turned at all until he saw that his turn could have been completed without causing an accident. I would not worry at this point in time, I would just take a wait and see approach. It may be that the other guy ended up being cited, that could just clear your path without anything else being said.

Just be glad you both are OK, everything else will go the way it goes.

CD

 

Just for body replacement parts in the front area and labor, paint I would say there is $4-5k there in damage.
Now mechanical up front that needs replaced in parts probably $2500 labor another $1000.
New bed with paint $3k
New doors probably $1k each, paint and labor $600

Not sure what they do about the cab it self. If it can be fixed good but if it requires a replacement the cost goes way up.

Even by my own assessment the damage might be less than $20k but I wouldn't doubt $15k at all.

 

Yah, but toodles to the Chevy. It's gonna rust in a junkyard somewhere from now on.

It looks like the cab might be tweeked on the drivers door, where the windshield meets the door, but maybe it's just the angle...

Merrick

 

depends on the insurance company but most go to about 75% of value. they also devalue for prior damage and wear and tear. seeing as your truck is an 03 my money is on it being totaled. i have totaled newer with less damage. make sure you pull the fass and every other goody out before you relaes it to the insurance company. they will add value for that stuff. meaning you could 10k in stereo gear in the cab and they will only add upto $250 to the value. i may be wrong but i have been in the auotbody trade for nearly 20 years and if it is not totaled i wouldn't fix it. a hit that hard you will have split seams somewhere in the cab and you will end up with water leaks that may not show up for months after the repairs are finished. this is jm.02 though.

 

glad to hear everyone is ok adam. ive been in the same boat. I had a green light in my old beater car and a woman pulled out in front of me. I had nowhere to go and had to hit her

 

That seems about right with what I was thinking. I could care less if they repaired the bed. I just want the truck back, it's all I have.