I have no idea, but I hope you're okay. That sounds awful.
When that impact occurred, it was very scary. I remember being frozen in my seat for God knows how long. It's still pretty fresh in my head, but I think I"m getting better. Thanks.
Was a police report filed? In Illinois, the reports are structured in a specific way, listing "Unit 1" and "Unit 2" for each vehicle. It is not specifically stated, but the common thought is that when a police officer completes the report, the vehicle/driver listed as Unit 1 is believed to be at fault based on the officer's investigation.
I've also learned to not try and cross three lanes of traffic each way - I'll make a right turn, find a place to turn around, and then go the way I need, if traffic is heavy.
Yep. The police report was filed and I asked for it by mail. I'm still waiting for it to come to the mail. And that is a good idea. I usually get impatient trying to make a right then a turn, so I just wait until I'm able to drive forward. Also, this road was the first time I took it so I stupidly didn't have knowledge of the traffic conditions or whether there was a light or not. Waze loves giving me dangerous directions.....it makes me take lefts and straight's in uncontrolled intersections.
How would you have been expected to cross that traffic under perfect conditions? There are no lights or stop signs?
The cars headed westbound also yielded for me (all the lanes), so I proceeded across when suddenly a motorcycle just rams into the side of my car.
Based on this, the motorcyclist must not have been in a lane, but in a shoulder or whitelining. Unless you are in California, that is illegal.
I am not in California.
But I wasn't sure what he was doing.
How would you have been expected to cross that traffic under perfect conditions? There are no lights or stop signs?
My question also. If there is no actual mechanism for crossing, you may be found at fault just for that fact alone.
I guess it's just wait and hope that they will yield for you or just gun it when there are no cars. Dangerous intersection...don't know what I was thinking. There were unfortunately no mechanisms for crossing, as it was shown in Google Maps.
I'm having a hard time putting the scenery together in my head. I've never seen an intersection where 6 lanes yield (this is a topic where word choice is important) to perpendicular traffic. Were people yielding to you by law, or were they yielding out of politeness? If it was out of politeness, I'd say it was you at fault unfortunately. Can you give us an address so we can see the intersection on Google Maps?
Yeah, they were being polite. When one car yielded, the rest did too.
Tricky. I think the best question asked thus far is if a police report was filed.
Yep, it was. Still waiting for it.
I hate to say it, but I think this is on you unless there is witness testimony and police agreement that the motorcyclist was speeding and/or whitelining. The fact that it's a two-way stop puts the onus on you as the one crossing traffic to make sure you have safe passage. Even traffic yielding in both directions doesn't transfer right-of-way, they are just being courteous.
I really hope you're okay, though. Whiplash is a bitch.
Ah...that sucks. But oh well, I deserve it...
It still kinda hurts to turn my neck, but it's getting better and bettere. Thank you.