Is this crash my fault?! I don't see how?

I def had a Monday! I was approaching a red light approx 600' the light turned green traffic was starting to move so i only decreased my speed to 35mph (speed limit is 45). Approx 300' from the light is the exit from a shopping center as I approached the exit a van pulled right in front of me, unable to stop or change lanes I hit the van's driver side door. Thankfully no one was hurt, however it's my fault! A witness stopped said it was the driver of the van that pulled out their fault. I was not stopping, changing lanes or had my blinker on. The cop didn't want my statement, said looking at the damage it was my fault that the van had already committed to the turn, I should have stopped (like I hit on purpose!) Is this right??? FYI- I live in FL.Is this crash my fault?! I don't see how?
Let your insurance fight this. When a vehicle is pulling out from a curb or from another road then the at-fault driver is the one that pulled out into traffic. Some states make rear-end accidents the fault of the rear vehicle but it's usually pretty clear that the officer was not doing his/her job or knew the people in the van.



I hope you have the witnesses information as well as the information that the officer refused yoru statement.



Even if a vehicle commits to a turn they have to yeild to traffic that has the right of way.Is this crash my fault?! I don't see how?
Well why could you not stop on your breaks? you should have, if the person behind you hits you, its there fault, it would be theres becouse if they hit you the must have been following to close, so sadly, It would be your fault
Did you get the witnesses telephone #...Do not rely on cops..They need to take a statement from you for your insurance..Go to the police station and speak to a Seargent of where the accident occurred...Be proactive! Tell the seargeant what happened and the officer did not want you statement..Bull!

Speak to your insurance co...
Most people, when they get into accidents, don't understand it's their fault.



The officer is correct. Depending on where you hit the van, it means that a certain amount of the van was clearly visible and in front of you.



And if you were at a slow enough speed (35mph being slow enough), you should have been able to stop, to avoid the accident.



At 35 miles per hour, unless they rammed you at the last second, which the damage would show.....you had enough time to do something to avoid the accident. Or at least, lessen it.



As a final note, most mall exits, have good visibility to the side, so the vehicles can see traffic going. This works both ways. This means you have plenty of visibility to see the other vehicle coming into traffic. You should have been more aware of this, especially since you knew that you were near a mall, and mall traffic this time of the year is always crazy.
The cop is wrong, but you'll have to go to court to prove it.



I hope you got the witnesses' name and phone number, sound like you're going to need it.



Good luck!
i hope you got the witnesses info...if not it's your word against the cops and the moron that cut you off...oh and it wasn't your fault... that was a bad cop...he doesn't deserve a donut
you should took the name and phone number of the witness and took it to court. because that officer can not say its you fault by looking at the damages of the other vehicle. you should have called 411 that a program for people involved in accidents. good luck.
Lets think about this.



If you are moving at 35 miles in one hour, that means that you are moving 184800 feet in one hour.



About 51.3 feet per second.



You had about 6 seconds to react plus the time that the car had traveled infront of you,



unless you were moving faster...



ofcourse, by the time that you realized the car was not hardly moving, you probably had about 3 or 2seconds.



If the car was not moving quickly at all, it would have taken you awhile to realize this because the car is infront of you, decreasing your time of reacting.I don't know though; its a tough one.
I definitely sympathize with you...doesn't seem fair to let that other person off the hook, even though they were in the wrong to deny your right-of-way by pulling out into moving traffic.



The cop should have taken your statement. I would make a visit to the precinct and question this. Request a copy of the accident report and witness information. Did the cop cite you for any moving violations?



Good luck with this!




Its your fault because you had plenty of time to both see this and stop in time....
The van had to make sure coast was clear to commit to turn. If they turned out and you sped up and slammed into him then it would be your fault. If they turned out and you had time but didn't slow down - it would be your fault.



If van turned when not safe to do so then it's their fault. Recount your story to your Insurance, write down every detail while fresh in your mind. Take pix of the intersection if you need to. Forget the cops - many of them are washed out and don't care anymore!



Insurance will find out your story and find out the van's story - why did they turn, was it safe to do so, how far away were you etc.