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Accident . . .

5K views 42 replies 39 participants last post by  m4mica 
#1 ·
So tonight I was on my way home back up in lake arrowhead and I was hit by a white toyota/acura thing. Whatever, He came into my lane, to avoid hitting him, I went into the opposite (where he came from) he then decided to come back to his lane after realizing where he was. to avoid a head-on I tried to drive up the side of the mountain and roll it, he drove right into me and destroyed my car. Both me and my passenger walked away without a scratch. (4-POINT HARNESSES WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!) the other people had injuries. i'm the only one with tire marks from throttle (tires made some burn from stopping) hit the dire top flew off dirt and his blistering hot coolant and windscreen wash came showering in =( and somehow I'm being made P1!!! I'm going back in the morning to take detailed pictures. Anyone who has been through this knows how much it sucks . . . I'm sorry to have to add this car to the list :sad:

<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/?action=view&current=photo-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/photo-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/?action=view&current=photo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/photo1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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#3 ·
Hire a forensic investigator and challenge the report. It will pay for itself many times over. Very happy that no one was seriously injured.
 
#4 ·
Dude, no way! I'm really glad you're OK. I've been there, and I know how much it sucks. I'm sure I'll talk to you this week. Hang in there.
 
#5 ·
ouch

sorry to hear about this. Accidents are never fun. when will people learn to drive so that the roads will be safe for the rest of us!!!
 
#7 ·
So sad to see another Elise destroyed but I'm so glad that you and the passenger are unscratched!!!
 
#8 ·
sorry about the car dude...but i'm glad you guys are unhurt. Challenge the report and get the insurance money from the guy that hit you. People need to learn how to drive :(
 
#9 ·
I learned in defensive driving that when a car is in your lane, you are not supposed to move into their lane to avoid them, but rather move as far to the right as you can because they are likely to try to move back into their lane which they did.

I'm not sure if that was possible here...



What was wrong with the driver? Drunk? Retarded? Foreign?
 
#11 ·
I learned in defensive driving that when a car is in your lane, you are not supposed to move into their lane to avoid them, but rather move as far to the right as you can because they are likely to try to move back into their lane which they did.
Yep, learned the same. Get as far to the right and slow your car as much possible.

Of course it is very hard to second guess Cinesnow's actions. You still have to evaluate everything that is happening and react the best way possible. I have seen a similiar accident avoided before, by someone doing the same as Cinesnow. Had that car gone to the right, they would have hit the other car head on.

Cinesnow and his passenger and those in the other car all survived and that is what matters most. Cars can be replaced!
 
#12 ·
and somehow I'm being made P1!!! I'm going back in the morning to take detailed pictures. Anyone who has been through this knows how much it sucks . . . I'm sorry to have to add this car to the list :sad:
I made P1 as well... some idiot runs a stop sign and t-bones me and it's my fault... go figure :shrug: probably gonna take this one to court if needed. Best of luck with your situation.
 
#15 ·
What To Do Next

Glad everyone survived. First, in the light of day, go back and take detailed photos. Not just the scene, but go backward for maybe a quarter mile and photograph any evidence you encounter: from both your car and the one that hit you. Next, sit down and write a detailed, I SAY AGAIN, DETAILED chronological log of everything that happened; beginning about 15 minutes before the crash right up to the crash; and afterward. Write down anything you may have said and anything the other driver may have said while it's still fresh.

I'm assuming this was investigated by CHP. Contact their office and find out if it's being "written off" or is being investigated or reconstructed. If there were no major injuries then its unlikely they will spend a lot of time on it. It'll be a cursory investigation with enough supporting documentation to establish the elements of Reckless Driving or whatever is charged. They are far too busy to take it any further.

Was anybody arrested or cited at the scene? Were the cars merely towed to clear the scene or were they seized as evidence? There's a ton of questions here.

If protecting your drivers license, keeping your insurance rate out of the ozone, replacement of the car is an issue; you may want to hire an attorney who specializes in accidents and can do a proper reconstruction to support your claims.

Accident investigation is a science. You really do need experts on your side if your being prosecuted. Additionally, the occupants of the other car are most likely going to do whatever they can to get at your assets and ruin your life.

I will be at CA Speedway this weekend; HSR-West races. I drive a Lotus 61, #47. Track me down in the pits and bring your stuff and I'll try and answer any questions that I can.

Glad your healthy, hope all works out..
Carl
Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Major Accident Investigation Team Commander, retired..
 
#16 ·
Glad everyone survived. First, in the light of day, go back and take detailed photos. Not just the scene, but go backward for maybe a quarter mile and photograph any evidence you encounter: from both your car and the one that hit you. Next, sit down and write a detailed, I SAY AGAIN, DETAILED chronological log of everything that happened; beginning about 15 minutes before the crash right up to the crash; and afterward. Write down anything you may have said and anything the other driver may have said while it's still fresh.

I'm assuming this was investigated by CHP. Contact their office and find out if it's being "written off" or is being investigated or reconstructed. If there were no major injuries then its unlikely they will spend a lot of time on it. It'll be a cursory investigation with enough supporting documentation to establish the elements of Reckless Driving or whatever is charged. They are far too busy to take it any further.

Was anybody arrested or cited at the scene? Were the cars merely towed to clear the scene or were they seized as evidence? There's a ton of questions here.

If protecting your drivers license, keeping your insurance rate out of the ozone, replacement of the car is an issue; you may want to hire an attorney who specializes in accidents and can do a proper reconstruction to support your claims.

Accident investigation is a science. You really do need experts on your side if your being prosecuted. Additionally, the occupants of the other car are most likely going to do whatever they can to get at your assets and ruin your life.

I will be at CA Speedway this weekend; HSR-West races. I drive a Lotus 61, #47. Track me down in the pits and bring your stuff and I'll try and answer any questions that I can.

Glad your healthy, hope all works out..
Carl
Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Major Accident Investigation Team Commander, retired..
:bow: <------- For so many reasons...okay for at least 61 reasons. ;) Seriously - great advice.
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
:huh: WTF? Neil, when everything is settled, I'd love to hear the explanation behind this.
Yap, I lost sleep over this the first couple of months. But now my lawyer has made the appropriate steps to fight the whole thing, one of which includes hiring an Accident Investigation etc. the evidence rarely lies, people do... yes, even 65 year old women :mad: One major thing i've discovered in the whole thing is if you are driving a nice sports car, you are guilty until proven innocent. :rolleyes:

Neil
 
#23 ·
Its great that everyone is OK and no major injuries happened. Sorry about the car, I know how it is.
 
#24 ·
Glad you all were ok, the car can (and will be judging by the photos) be replaced. Stick to your story & hire a legal team and you'll be fine. They will get caught in a lie one way or another and you'll come out ok.
 
#26 ·
Sorry bout ur car dude. But hey look at the bright side! Time to buy a new Lotus!:shift:
 
#29 ·
First, and foremost - you're very lucky that they didn't hit you head on. Very glad you're OK.

Were there any other witnesses? I know those Arrowhead roads can be deserted at certain hours. Maybe someone else saw the other driver on the wrong side of the road.

I was hit by a drunk girl in Beverly Hills last September. Not only were there multiple witnesses who stated that it was her fault, she was drunk. They gave her the full field sobriety test. Was anybody tested in your crash?

Again, glad you're OK and hope everything works out for you.


.
 
#31 ·
To begin, Thank you to everyone for your support and advice!!! This really is a tight knit community, I received more messages and phonecalls in the last 24 hours than I was able to take. This really is a great group of people. Many people ask me why I bought a lotus and I can honestly say, at first it was the pursuit of a dream, now I’d say it’s the people more than it is the car, if an elise looked like a skoda I’d still drive it & we’d probably still share so much in common!!! Thank You So much to all of you!

As for the accident, I know I am P1 because of the point of impact, it's on the opposing side. the only skid marks are mine from trail-breaking in an off camber right hander in a car that I pulled the abs fuse from. Only the right front wheel locked up, & for about 10 feet or so. I have multiple witnesses that saw what happened and the aftermath, all say I am not at fault.

As for the other car, I can’t believe this – it’s a white Toyota Camry!!! Camry’s & Loti DON’T like each other, I’m sure Neil can back me up there, the only difference is this camry had 3 people, none of them could decide who was the driver, & the paramedics pretty much told them they weren’t hurt & that they were liars. The three appointed the eldest man with a cain in one hand, as the driver (who by the way me and 5 other people say was in the back seat) Upon the paramedics asking where he hurt, he motioned to his right shoulder and moved it in a circular motion (2-3 times) telling them how much pain he was in, then with the same arm cusps his neck and rocks it right to left!!!
The paramedics told him he was okay too rotfl They also asked “of you were the driver shouldn’t your’e left shoulder be the hurt one? That’s where the seat-bealt went across, right?” - All of a sudden he had shooting pains in his left shoulder!!! The police wouldn’t let me near any of them because I was ready to snap all three of their necks and trow them off the cliff, all 3000 feet of it.
I don’t have any of their contact information, just the NCIC card from the CHP. The CHP Officer was kind enough to call for a AAA flatbed so I wouldn’t be charged, I had the car dropped off in front of my house. I wasn't Cited and no one went to jail (unfortunately) I’m so angry I can’t even look at it let alone start taking off all the things ive worked so hard to aquire! I did the math in my head, IF, this were to be repaired, parts and labor is roughly $67,100.00 with parts time, & Labor. The car is over a 100% loss, the upper control arm mount where the camber shims used to be have been completely ripped off the chassis and the boot is dis-lodged in the shut position.

I will include pictures, be sure to look at the pass. side dash. The airbags diddn’t go off as I took one out the pass. and dis-connected the driver, I had plans to make a glovebox. The Scroth 4 point harnesses saved me and my passenger from serious injury! We both walked away, I only have a scrape on my right shin & it’s halfway healed already.

As for an Accident investigator, I talked to the insurance today, they said the adjuster that would be coming out would asses the need for one, I asked them for private recommendations as I feel I’m about to be taken to the cleaners.

I’ll leave you guys with some pics , Great memories for me, hope you enjoy them . . .

Thanks for all your concern! see you all soon, Marc

<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/?action=view&current=l_bb9528cd4deb418a298e6c5f7051b4ce.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/l_bb9528cd4deb418a298e6c5f7051b4ce.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/?action=view&current=photo-4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/photo-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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<a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/?action=view&current=photo6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a289/cinesnow/photo6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
#32 ·
Marc, glad everyone is okay. Crazy story and pictures - thanks for sharing. I think hearing about other people's accidents helps remind the rest of us how dangerous the roads can be. Sorry this had to happen to you (and your car) I hope everything gets resolved in a satisfactory and timely fashion.

peace
 
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