bad accident at 60 mph (pictures)

[MrMatt2532]

Well one of the worst things that could ever happen, happened today in my new e30. I was taking on an offramp from I-5 north city center exit onto I-705 north into tacoma, WA. It was a recommendation 45 but the speed limit was 60. I was going 60. This is what i ussually always take this road at, not really even a big deal at 60 in the e30. It was a bend in the road, and all of a sudden there was debris in the road, looked like some sort of sawdust. Anyways, as soon as i saw it i was on top of it and my rear end swung loose. It was a left turn so I had oversteer to the right. I corrected and it swung to the left. Then it swung to the right again and it was just about back under control but i was really close to the guard rail, but since there was still a little bit of over steer my car glanced the guardrail on the right side. Then i pulled over to the side of the road. Thirty minutes later a guy in a civic or accord ran into the same thing and ran head-on into the guard rail, one of his wheels fell off. For all i know more of these accidents could of happened. The police officer told me that a semi rolled over earlier that day and spilled some sort of debri all over. The officer gave me a ticket for going to fast for conditions, but by the time i saw the debri i was already on top of it. I don't know if i'm at fault here or what, can someone give me some tips on how to sort this out before i call my insurance agency. I mean am i at fault here, or is it the city's fault for having this debri in the road. Anyways here are the pics: http://www.worldisround.com/articles/168477/index.html

[Charlie]

"Is it the city's fault?"

You're kidding, right bro? You were going too fast for conditions, hit a loose surface and stuffed it. That could just as easily have been rain.

-Charlie

[MrMatt2532]

"Is it the city's fault?"

You're kidding, right bro? You were going too fast for conditions, hit a loose surface and stuffed it. That could just as easily have been rain.

-Charlie

Well.....i was going 60 in a 60 and as soon as I saw the debri i was on top of it and then it was too late. And i'm asking because i don't know how this stuff works... And had it been rain i wouldn't of been going 60. But it was a perfectly clear dry day, how was i supposed to know there was debri around the bend.

[KenC]

Guess whose car be totalled

[Charlie]

"Is it the city's fault?"

You're kidding, right bro? You were going too fast for conditions, hit a loose surface and stuffed it. That could just as easily have been rain.

-Charlie

Well.....i was going 60 in a 60 and as soon as I saw the debri i was on top of it and then it was too late. And i'm asking because i don't know how this stuff works... And had it been rain i wouldn't of been going 60. But it was a perfectly clear dry day, how was i supposed to know there was debri around the bend.

Is that what you told the cop?

That is the textbook definition for "too fast for conditions".

I'm not trying to be a dick, but I get a sneaking suspicion that the speed limit on the ramp was 45 vs 60 on the road. You cooked it down the ramp at 60, hit a loose surface, overcorrected and stuffed it. The cop pretty much has you dead to rights there.

-Charlie

[lowslowe30]

I dont believe you should get a ticket for that because A)how does the cop know you were going that fast B) you were going the speed limit and random shit spilled on the road should not count for road conditions. That is fucking bullshit. As far as the crash the city wont do shit so you are gonna have to bite the bullet. Maybe if it had been freezing rain for example or another NOTICABLE prolem and it was blatanly obvious that the conitions were bad it would be your fault but how are you supposed to know that a semi flipped and no one could be bothered to clean it up properly? Boo your day, I feel bad for you man. Your car looks fucked and being that these cars are only worth a couple grand nowadays, I'd say your insurance company will write it off.

[m42technic]

I dont believe you should get a ticket for that because A)how does the cop know you were going that fast

Maybe becuase he told him he was?

[benDASHDASH]

The roads in Tacoma were dry today. You were going the speed limit. If you can argue that the "sawdust" wasn't visable, you'd have a case. Either way, it never hurts to go to court.

[MrMatt2532]

Is that what you told the cop?

That is the textbook definition for "too fast for conditions".

-Charlie

Again how could i have been going too fast for conditions if i didn't know the condition was there until i was on top of it. Maybe your right....doesn't make much since to me.....so you're going 60 in a 60 on a perfectly dry day and behind a bend you are suddenly in an oil slick, are u supposed to see through walls and into the future, should u have known that was there.

[MrMatt2532]

The roads in Tacoma were dry today. You were going the speed limit. If you can argue that the "sawdust" wasn't visable, you'd have a case. Either way, it never hurts to go to court.

Yes they were dry, there was a rollover accident earlier that day at the same spot with some kind of spill. It obviously wasn't cleaned up all the way. By the time i saw the condition i was literally on top of it and already experiencing oversteer. Also while i was waiting there with the cop he had me get in my car with the seatbelt on in case a similar accident happened. And sure enough another guy crashed from the same debri.

[Charlie]

Is that what you told the cop?

That is the textbook definition for "too fast for conditions".

-Charlie

Again how could i have been going too fast for conditions if i didn't know the condition was there until i was on top of it.

Driving at a rate of speed at which you could not assess the road surface changes and obstacles until it was too late. That would be "too fast for conditions", the exact definition actually.

-Charlie

[MrMatt2532]

Is that what you told the cop?

That is the textbook definition for "too fast for conditions".

-Charlie

Again how could i have been going too fast for conditions if i didn't know the condition was there until i was on top of it.

Driving at a rate of speed at which you could not assess the road surface changes and obstacles until it was too late. That would be "too fast for conditions", the exact definition actually.

-Charlie

True, but i was going the speedlimit. Which is designed so that at that speed i should be able to see conditions. But I obviously wasn't. Plus i don't know if it's a good idea to slam on your breaks at 60 mph on a turn of sorts, probably would of gotten oversteer for sure. Anyway u look at it IMO the city should of posted warnings to slow down for debri in the road or just should of gotten it cleaned up all the way.

[Charlie]

Is the concept of personal responsibility completely dead?

"The city should put up signs warning my ass to slow down in case there's debris in the road".

The cop nailed you on too fast for conditions and failure to control, seeing as you stuffed the car into a guardrail, he's got you pretty much nailed on that one. Are you actually going to go up to a judge and state that the city should have a sign up to warn you about possible trash in the road?

-Charlie

[shahe]

I dont believe you should get a ticket for that because A)how does the cop know you were going that fast B) you were going the speed limit and random shit spilled on the road should not count for road conditions. That is fucking bullshit. As far as the crash the city wont do shit so you are gonna have to bite the bullet. Maybe if it had been freezing rain for example or another NOTICABLE prolem and it was blatanly obvious that the conitions were bad it would be your fault but how are you supposed to know that a semi flipped and no one could be bothered to clean it up properly? Boo your day, I feel bad for you man. Your car looks fucked and being that these cars are only worth a couple grand nowadays, I'd say your insurance company will write it off.

it's called physics! morons!

[MrMatt2532]

Is the concept of personal responsibility completely dead?

"The city should put up signs warning my ass to slow down in case there's debris in the road".

The cop nailed you on too fast for conditions and failure to control, seeing as you stuffed the car into a guardrail, he's got you pretty much nailed on that one. Are you actually going to go up to a judge and state that the city should have a sign up to warn you about possible trash in the road?

-Charlie

Well they made an effort to clean it up. I do think they should of cleaned it up all the way, or put a sign up that says "debris in road, we were to lazy to clean up all the way."