Who's fault is it if a car hits an oncoming car at an intersection?

[airforcewolf16]

If a car is at an intersection and wants to make a turn at the green light (but no arrow, just green) and the oncoming lane's signal turns yellow, is he supposed to take it for granted that the other car will slow down? Today, I made the dumb decision to race a yellow light because I was late for a meeting. I usually slow down but today was different. A car almost hit me because I guess he took it for granted that I was going to slow down. If he had hit me, whose fault would it have been? I know I was going fast, but the light was still yellow, not red.

 

[bigjim5551212]

never assume anything. if you turn in front of someone and you crash, its your fault. he did not make sure you were stopping. but then the police or insurance co might say that you were 50% at fault for not slowing for a yellow.

 

[mom2l2]

I think that unless the light had turned red, you had the right of way. They would have had to cross your lane of traffic and it would have been their fault.
Glad you were not hurt.

 

[atlantisflicka]

f it is yellow and you are able to stop you must stop. But at the same time the other guy is not allowed to turn until the road is clear. I think the other guy would have been at fault but it is a 'grey' area.

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[kttlwistl]

Depends on the laws in your state. But the law here is if you rear bumper is anywhere in the intersection when that light changes from yellow to red, then you have run a red light. Now in your case if you guys had hit each other and you lived here then the cop filing the report would have asked witnesses if they thought you would have made it across the intersection before the light was red. If no witnesses then he would probably just ticket you both for careless driving and let it go to court. hope this helps