Good grief, I remember why I stopped frequenting this group. All this nonsense and bickering. I'll clarify a few things and give an update.
At the time of the accident I was traveling at 25-30 MPH, within the speed limit. I was just putzing along enjoying my drive home, in no hurry. I had just shifted to 3rd gear a couple seconds before the accident. The other drivers deceleration was not gradual as some here seem to think ("suddenly slows to a crawl" is how I described it, suddenly does not imply gradually by any stretch of the word). It was a quick deceleration and in an instant he was turning in front of me at a very slow speed. I couldn't have been more than 30 ft from the intersection when he first started decelerating. I hit the brakes the instant I saw him start turning and locked the wheels. After that I let up on the brakes a bit in attempt to unlock the wheels and started turning the steering wheel in an attempt to not hit him straight-on.
There was no way to avoid a collision. Even if I were driving a modern sports car (Ferrari or some such thing that stops on a dime and handles excellently) I highly doubt it would have been possible for me to avoid a collision. There's just no way to avoid hitting an object straight ahead when traveling at that speed and given 15-20 ft in which to do anything about it. If you think otherwise I would love to see a demonstration. I am confident that I did everything I reasonably and prudently could to avoid a collision. Show me otherwise and perhaps I can learn from it. I will not start driving like mjy grandfather and slow down for green lights because they might turn yellow. That type of driving is not safe and I've been in the car with him for some close calls and 'misunderstandings' as a result of his driving with that mindset.
Anyhow, I've got settlement for the damage to my car. Yesterday Allstate mailed a check for $4200 and I get to keep what's left of the car, so I can make some money parting it out or if I get another '62-'63 Falcon I can use some parts for that. The $4200 is just for the car, my medical expenses still need to be taken care of in a seperate claim, and I believe the repair shops insurance will be picking up the tab on that. That is where I may need a lawyer (I have talked to one). Since NJ is a "no fault" state my insurance pays for at least 80% of my medical expenses and the rest must be submitted in a claim to whichever insurance company is liable, if I am not at fault for the accident (which I am not). I now understand that it's because of this "no fault" law in NJ that insurance is the highest in the nation. Myself and my insurance company should not have to pay a dime, and if my insurance company pays for my medical expenses they should be reimbursed from the at-fault driver's insurance. Oh well, that's not how it works. Typical bbutt-ackwards NJ.
Cory
