On Wednesday June 29, 2011, my son Joshua was driving a Salvation Army mini-van at about 23 mph on a three lane one way street in San Diego. Speed limit 25 mph. He was passing a vehicle in the middle lane that was from South Dakota that was traveling about 15 mph. Behind that vehicle was a police car.
The driver of the vehicle he was passing, the one in the middle lane, decided to make a left turn. A crash occurred. It was a fender bender. Both vehicles could drive from the scene. My son received a bruise from his seat belt and has twice been to the Emergency room with back pains. He has been given some palliative care but not much can be done as a cure. It will require six or more weeks of natural healing. An X ray determined no spinal damage.
The other driver immediately claimed fault. He had thought it was a two way street and with nothing coming felt he could make a left turn.
There are several points here to consider.
1. Slow speed may make us careless about what could happen.
2. An out of state plate could be a clue to someone becoming disoriented.
3. The slow speed of the other vehicle could be a clue of disorientation.
4. When passing there are blind spots that must be cleared. Although in this case the other driver was only thinking of oncoming traffic.
5. I don't know the cost of his hospital and doctor visits. Many, if not most, policies only have $5,000 per person for medical care. These days who knows what the emergency room visits can cost. In his case workers' comp comes into effect since he was on duty in a company vehicle.
6. Back pain for even six weeks is not so much fun. Yet slow speed crashes can cause injury. 23 miles per hour is 35 feet per second. Imagine the sudden stop from even that speed.
David Sneed
The driver of the vehicle he was passing, the one in the middle lane, decided to make a left turn. A crash occurred. It was a fender bender. Both vehicles could drive from the scene. My son received a bruise from his seat belt and has twice been to the Emergency room with back pains. He has been given some palliative care but not much can be done as a cure. It will require six or more weeks of natural healing. An X ray determined no spinal damage.
The other driver immediately claimed fault. He had thought it was a two way street and with nothing coming felt he could make a left turn.
There are several points here to consider.
1. Slow speed may make us careless about what could happen.
2. An out of state plate could be a clue to someone becoming disoriented.
3. The slow speed of the other vehicle could be a clue of disorientation.
4. When passing there are blind spots that must be cleared. Although in this case the other driver was only thinking of oncoming traffic.
5. I don't know the cost of his hospital and doctor visits. Many, if not most, policies only have $5,000 per person for medical care. These days who knows what the emergency room visits can cost. In his case workers' comp comes into effect since he was on duty in a company vehicle.
6. Back pain for even six weeks is not so much fun. Yet slow speed crashes can cause injury. 23 miles per hour is 35 feet per second. Imagine the sudden stop from even that speed.
David Sneed
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