Got hit head on while waiting in turn lane, what can I expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

Not the merge lane. Reading is fundamental.

They have these lanes on 85% of the roads with shops on either side of the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

The center lane (has arrows right and left) is where you stay to safety get across a road. So if you turn left, you wait in the center lane until traffic is clear to get back on the highway. It’s not illegal. It’s so you don’t cross 3 lanes at once. It was also clear to begin with. He wasn’t looking. There was zero obstruction of my car from either direction.

Our local police instructed us that this is illegal (I haven't researched it myself - but our neighborhood exits onto a main road with a center turning lane so I make this turn multiple times daily). You only make your turn onto the main road when it's clear to get to your travel lane -- police specifically said you could not use the middle lane as an in-between/half-way stopping point to wait until it's clear to get into your travel lane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

Not the merge lane. Reading is fundamental.

They have these lanes on 85% of the roads with shops on either side of the street.

I was the original PP who asked the question. And yes, I understand exactly what a center turn lane is. OP stated they were sitting in the middle of the road not to turn, but to merge into traffic. As I mentioned, where I grew up it was illegal to use the center turn lane to wait to merge into traffic. You literally had to wait for both directions to clear. Ie the OP would be partially at fault. If it is legal here, that would be different.

[Anonymous]

If you were literally not moving then you wouldn’t be found at fault. Having the right of way in a turn lane is a different issue. If a car is parked illegally you can’t just hit it because it’s parked illegally. You would be at fault. As long as OP wasn’t moving the other driver is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

The center lane (has arrows right and left) is where you stay to safety get across a road. So if you turn left, you wait in the center lane until traffic is clear to get back on the highway. It’s not illegal. It’s so you don’t cross 3 lanes at once. It was also clear to begin with. He wasn’t looking. There was zero obstruction of my car from either direction.

Our local police instructed us that this is illegal (I haven't researched it myself - but our neighborhood exits onto a main road with a center turning lane so I make this turn multiple times daily). You only make your turn onto the main road when it's clear to get to your travel lane -- police specifically said you could not use the middle lane as an in-between/half-way stopping point to wait until it's clear to get into your travel lane.

What state/locality are you in, if you don’t mind sharing? I’m curious now

- PP who also thought this was illegal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were literally not moving then you wouldn’t be found at fault. Having the right of way in a turn lane is a different issue. If a car is parked illegally you can’t just hit it because it’s parked illegally. You would be at fault. As long as OP wasn’t moving the other driver is at fault.

Is this true though? Say I’m driving on a busy road and some jack*as Uber eats driver parks in the right hand lane w/flashers on. If I hit the car, is it completely my fault? Or partially theirs bc they are parked illegally on a main thoroughfare?

[Anonymous]

Sorry to get off-topic, but I’m still not understanding (NP). Can anyone give me an example of where these merge lanes exist around here? I know the center turn lanes, obviously, but these center metge lanes off a highway? I just can’t picture it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

The center lane (has arrows right and left) is where you stay to safety get across a road. So if you turn left, you wait in the center lane until traffic is clear to get back on the highway. It’s not illegal. It’s so you don’t cross 3 lanes at once. It was also clear to begin with. He wasn’t looking. There was zero obstruction of my car from either direction.

Our local police instructed us that this is illegal (I haven't researched it myself - but our neighborhood exits onto a main road with a center turning lane so I make this turn multiple times daily). You only make your turn onto the main road when it's clear to get to your travel lane -- police specifically said you could not use the middle lane as an in-between/half-way stopping point to wait until it's clear to get into your travel lane.

What state/locality are you in, if you don’t mind sharing? I’m curious now

- PP who also thought this was illegal

McLean, VA (note that police went to great lengths to explain that this was illegal - basically every driver exiting the neighborhood would do this maneuver daily)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to get off-topic, but I’m still not understanding (NP). Can anyone give me an example of where these merge lanes exist around here? I know the center turn lanes, obviously, but these center metge lanes off a highway? I just can’t picture it.

It is not a merge lane.
OP was stopped in the center turning lanes. Waiting to merge into her desired travel lane.

[Anonymous]

I doubt OP would be held contributorily liable in this case, but that doesn't mean what she did was legal.
Drivers should learn the law on this issue.
And why does OP keep stressing the bad guy was exiting a "STRIP MALL" as if it has some nefarious meaning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

The center lane (has arrows right and left) is where you stay to safety get across a road. So if you turn left, you wait in the center lane until traffic is clear to get back on the highway. It’s not illegal. It’s so you don’t cross 3 lanes at once. It was also clear to begin with. He wasn’t looking. There was zero obstruction of my car from either direction.

Our local police instructed us that this is illegal (I haven't researched it myself - but our neighborhood exits onto a main road with a center turning lane so I make this turn multiple times daily). You only make your turn onto the main road when it's clear to get to your travel lane -- police specifically said you could not use the middle lane as an in-between/half-way stopping point to wait until it's clear to get into your travel lane.

What state/locality are you in, if you don’t mind sharing? I’m curious now

- PP who also thought this was illegal

McLean, VA (note that police went to great lengths to explain that this was illegal - basically every driver exiting the neighborhood would do this maneuver daily)

Oh yeah I see what you mean (not PP). I’ve done this before too. Good to know it’s not legal.

[Anonymous]

1. OP has an estimate been done on your vehicle? Have you actually spoken to any insurance adjuster?
2. What state are you in? In Virginia once repairs are 75% or more of the vehicle value, the insurance carrier will total the vehicle.
3. If totaled, you will be offered the value of your vehicle. The carrier will offer from Kelly Blue Book or NADA. If you think that value is not correct you can pull comparable vehicles that have sold locally and negotiate with the insurance company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

Not the merge lane. Reading is fundamental.

They have these lanes on 85% of the roads with shops on either side of the street.

I was the original PP who asked the question. And yes, I understand exactly what a center turn lane is. OP stated they were sitting in the middle of the road not to turn, but to merge into traffic. As I mentioned, where I grew up it was illegal to use the center turn lane to wait to merge into traffic. You literally had to wait for both directions to clear. Ie the OP would be partially at fault. If it is legal here, that would be different.

No they didnt say that. Read the OP again. Please. Read and THEN post - not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you were not turning into the strip mall, but using the turn lane to merge? I was always taught that was illegal?

The center lane (has arrows right and left) is where you stay to safety get across a road. So if you turn left, you wait in the center lane until traffic is clear to get back on the highway. It’s not illegal. It’s so you don’t cross 3 lanes at once. It was also clear to begin with. He wasn’t looking. There was zero obstruction of my car from either direction.

Our local police instructed us that this is illegal (I haven't researched it myself - but our neighborhood exits onto a main road with a center turning lane so I make this turn multiple times daily). You only make your turn onto the main road when it's clear to get to your travel lane -- police specifically said you could not use the middle lane as an in-between/half-way stopping point to wait until it's clear to get into your travel lane.

What state/locality are you in, if you don’t mind sharing? I’m curious now

- PP who also thought this was illegal

McLean, VA (note that police went to great lengths to explain that this was illegal - basically every driver exiting the neighborhood would do this maneuver daily)

The officer is correct and "everyone else does it" isn't a legal defense.

[Anonymous]

what to expect?

1. Estimate from someone's insurance as to whether your car is totaled or can be fixed.
2. Then you accept that check or get the car fixed.
3. Sounds like car will be totaled you will get a check and buy a new car, the end.