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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Default Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Nebraska

    I got this ticket for what the officers claimed was an illegal u turn on December 17th 2013. I don't see how it can be valid though as I never actually made the u turn. I was waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before I proceeded with the turn when I was rear ended. The officers who arrived on the scene asked me what happened and I told them that I was waiting to make a uturn with my blinker on. When I pulled up there were two cars oncoming I was waiting for to pass. One had already passed at the time I was hit so I had been sitting there at a full stop for a few moments. The officers then proceeded to give me this ticket and now the other party's insurance is trying to claim they are not liable because I made a "sudden stop in the roadway to make an illegal uturn". When I tried to argue the u turn ticket with the officer he said he could tell by the position of my car and the damage that I was in the process of making a u turn. So my questions are : Can I really be cited when I never actually turned? and Can there insurance say they are not liable?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    New Jersey
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    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    It looks like it's a 50/50 at-fault accident. You for stopping and making a U-turn and the other driver for following to closely and not paying attention. Let your insurance company fight the other party's insurance company on that.

    As for the ticket for the U-turn. You would need to go to court and fight it. You admitted that you were making a U-turn, maybe you can plea it down to a no point violation. This way everyone is happy. The city gets their money, you get no points.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    334

    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    Quote Quoting abno1327
    View Post
    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Nebraska

    I got this ticket for what the officers claimed was an illegal u turn on December 17th 2013. I don't see how it can be valid though as I never actually made the u turn. I was waiting for oncoming traffic to pass before I proceeded with the turn when I was rear ended. The officers who arrived on the scene asked me what happened and I told them that I was waiting to make a uturn with my blinker on. When I pulled up there were two cars oncoming I was waiting for to pass. One had already passed at the time I was hit so I had been sitting there at a full stop for a few moments. The officers then proceeded to give me this ticket and now the other party's insurance is trying to claim they are not liable because I made a "sudden stop in the roadway to make an illegal uturn". When I tried to argue the u turn ticket with the officer he said he could tell by the position of my car and the damage that I was in the process of making a u turn. So my questions are : Can I really be cited when I never actually turned? and Can there insurance say they are not liable?
    Where was the damage on your car?

    Figuring it was oncoming traffic that hit you, were you hit from the from the front, the side, or from behind?

    I once hit a car that was making a left turn in front of me. I hit it in the right rear quarter panel. I thought the fault would be the other car's being it was making an abrupt left turn in front of me. I was wrong. Both insurance companies said that I had ample time to slow down since the car completed most of its turn before I hit it.

    Translating that reasoning to your case, if you were making a u-turn it would give more time for the oncoming traffic to see you and reduce their speed to avoid hitting you. Furthermore, it isn't legal to hit people making illegal u-turns just like it isn't legal to hit j-walkers in plain view. And a cop can't write you up for what you are about to do. You have to do it. So, you would only have a problem if you were hit at more than 90 degrees.

    Another approach: Let both insurance companies find you at fault, then sue the other driver in small claims court for your deductible only. Then forward the verdict to your insurance company as to not allow them to make it a chargeable/collision claim on your policy. I did this once and it worked marvelously. It's a way to screw your insurance company back for rolling over on you.

  4. #4
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    Jan 2010
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    New Jersey
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    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    Quote Quoting So Cal
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    Where was the damage on your car?

    Figuring it was oncoming traffic that hit you, were you hit from the from the front, the side, or from behind?

    I once hit a car that was making a left turn in front of me. I hit it in the right rear quarter panel. I thought the fault would be the other car's being it was making an abrupt left turn in front of me. I was wrong. Both insurance companies said that I had ample time to slow down since the car completed most of its turn before I hit it.

    Translating that reasoning to your case, if you were making a u-turn it would give more time for the oncoming traffic to see you and reduce their speed to avoid hitting you. Furthermore, it isn't legal to hit people making illegal u-turns just like it isn't legal to hit j-walkers in plain view. And a cop can't write you up for what you are about to do. You have to do it. So, you would only have a problem if you were hit at more than 90 degrees.

    Another approach: Let both insurance companies find you at fault, then sue the other driver in small claims court for your deductible only. Then forward the verdict to your insurance company as to not allow them to make it a chargeable/collision claim on your policy. I did this once and it worked marvelously. It's a way to screw your insurance company back for rolling over on you.
    Op stated they were rear-ended.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    Yes, I was rear ended, damage is to my drivers side bumper. I have a diagram from the police report that shows positions of the vehicles but the forum wont let me paste it here, only gives option to add url link to image. Im considering getting a lawyer...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
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    334

    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    Quote Quoting abno1327
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    Yes, I was rear ended, damage is to my drivers side bumper. I have a diagram from the police report that shows positions of the vehicles but the forum wont let me paste it here, only gives option to add url link to image. Im considering getting a lawyer...
    I'm still not clear. Were you hit from oncoming traffic or traffic from behind? Were you hit in the process of making a turn or standing still?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    New Jersey
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    Default Re: Cited for Illegal U-Turn Without Actually Making the Turn

    Quote Quoting So Cal
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    I'm still not clear. Were you hit from oncoming traffic or traffic from behind? Were you hit in the process of making a turn or standing still?

    It sounds like he was rear-ended from a vehicle that was behind him as he attempted to make a U-turn. He was hit in the left rear quarter panel and rear bumper cover area.

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