Signage missing, Can I sue the county?

[btornados426]

I live in NJ. I was involved in an auto accident due to an unusual traffic pattern where oncoming traffic has an extended green. It is my understand that it is the law to have a sign that warns that oncoming traffic has an extended green. The interaction where the accident occured did not have a sign of any kind. As a result of this accident I cannot get my own insurance policy. Can I sue the county? If so, how long do I have to do this?

 

[djohnson]

Can you please explain a little better. What do you mean by extended green? How did the accident happen? What was the other side of the light?

 

[You Are Guilty]

I bet it means he "jumped the light" by starting to go when the other side's light turned green, despite the fact that he still had a red. Now it seems he'd like to sue someone for his inability to distinguish red from green.

 

[PinHead]

i dont know, i think the traffic light itself is the sign...its basic actually, red is stop green is go, so the thing is, make sure you have a green light, but still watch for incoming traffic just to be safe , i do think that you have a rightful claim for your insurance if you went through a green light.

 

[btornados426]

Clarification

As I said, it is an unusual traffic pattern. On my side, the light went yellow and I was in the intersection, I assumed the other side went yellow too and the oncoming car was going to stop for the red light so I could get out of the intersection. However, the other side had an extended green, they got to keep on going even though my side was red. This situation must be marked with a sign that says oncoming traffic has extended green, but it wasn't.

 

[The Frugie]

You're still leaving out a lot of important details. What part of your car was hit, and what part of the other car hit you. What was the other car doing, going straight, making a turn? Also, what were you doing when you got hit, driving through the intersection or just sitting still?

 

[djohnson]

I think I understand. You were going to make a left hand turn on a green light and not a green turn signal. Instead of waiting behind the stop line you got out in the intersection and the light turned yellow. You assumed the other persons did too and they would stop. Is that pretty much it? If so, you are so in the wrong. You shouldn't have been in the intersection. The light itself tells you where to be. All of them are different and as long as you follow the traffic laws and common sense this would not have happened. You should not have been in the intersection. You drove dangerously not making sure what the other car was doing. Cars have even ran red lights and you get hit. You shouldn't take anything for granted and you should not have been in the center of intersection.

 

[longneck]

did you have a red arrow?

 

[btornados426]

There was no red light arrow. I was in the middle of the intersection because I was going to make a left turn. The opposing traffic had a green and I had a delayed green and the other side also had an extended green (my light turned red and they still got to go). There is a law that states that if the opposing traffic has an extended green it has to be posted, it was passed back in 2003. Section 4D.05 now *REQUIRES* that these be signed, either as "Oncoming traffic has extended green" (W25-1) or "Oncoming traffic may have extended green" (W25-2). I was hit on the right front panel of the car. The other car hit me as I was turning. I am not sure where they hit me with their car or the damage their car sustained. I took pictures of the light the other day, and it still does not have the sign on it 2 years after the law was passed. There have been many accidents at this particular intersection. The intersection is 71 and Norwood Ave. in West Long Branch in Monmouth County.

 

[Happy Trails]

There was no red light arrow. I was in the middle of the intersection because I was going to make a left turn. The opposing traffic had a green and I had a delayed green and the other side also had an extended green (my light turned red and they still got to go). There is a law that states that if the opposing traffic has an extended green it has to be posted, it was passed back in 2003. Section 4D.05 now *REQUIRES* that these be signed, either as "Oncoming traffic has extended green" (W25-1) or "Oncoming traffic may have extended green" (W25-2). I was hit on the right front panel of the car. The other car hit me as I was turning. I am not sure where they hit me with their car or the damage their car sustained. I took pictures of the light the other day, and it still does not have the sign on it 2 years after the law was passed. There have been many accidents at this particular intersection. The intersection is 71 and Norwood Ave. in West Long Branch in Monmouth County.

Just curious, did your insurance company pay for the damages to the other vehicle? What did your insurance company say when you told them about the law and the fact that it was not posted?

 

[djohnson]

That law will not cover you. You are not suppose to wait in the middle of an intersection to make a left hand turn. There is a white line you are suppose to stay behind until you can turn safely. If your light had turned red why were you going? Could you really see from under the lights? Do you really take no blame here?