Modesto driver gets into merging accident and realizes their insurance is expired too late.
NorCal resident to the Central Valley and Redditor /u/gummi_eater shared frustrating dashcam footage from earlier this year (June 23, 2024) from Modesto, CA to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver in a Mercedes failing to merge correctly and causing a fender-to-fender accident, no fault of his own.
Check out the dashcam proof below.
[OC] She asked “why did you swerve into my lane!?”
byu/gummi_eater inIdiotsInCars
The incident happened in the 4300 Block of Sisk Rd. in Modesto, CA (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As his dashcam footage shows, he’s driving along Sisk Rd. where the lane on his right ends and merges with the lane he’s driving along.
Out of frame is a driver in a black Mercedes C250 in the right lane with arrows informing drivers their lane ends soon.
It’s the responsibility of the driver in the lane ending to merge with the other lane, yielding their right of way.
The Mercedes C250 driver continues driving straight, expecting OP to accommodate her as the two lanes converge into one.
The inevitable happens with the rear of her Mercedes making contact with his car, knocking off one of his wheel covers in the process.
They stop to assess their respective damages and to trade information.
During their conversation, she blames OP for the collision, asking, “Why did you swerve into my lane?!”
At that point, OP reveals he had a dashcam running, recording the entire accident, including what happened before and after.
“Of course expired insurance and she got quiet when I said let’s not argue I’ll just send the dashcam video to our insurance companies.”
Thinking OP was some kind of idiot, she had the nerve to show OP this as proof of insurance.
As the image shows, this isn’t active insurance but a canceled insurance policy. She had been driving around uninsured for most of the year.
As this happened back in June, OP’s insurance has already taken care of most of the damage and this situation is mostly behind him.
“Of course expired insurance and she got quiet when I said let’s not argue I’ll just send the dashcam video to our insurance companies.
Uninsured motorist insurance already paid $3,000 for the damage to the car and said they would take her to small claims court for the costs if they had to (no idea if that’s true), but hope they do,” OP commented.
OP heaped praise on having a dashcam, which, without, it would’ve likely been a case of he said she said.
“I showed this to my parents and a few friends and they already bought some (dashcams) for their cars as well when I showed them how cheap and easy they are to install. Only the 2nd time I’ve needed to use it for an insurance claim in the 10 years that I’ve owned a dashcam, but it makes things so much easier.”
OP also recommended getting uninsured motorist insurance, especially if you drive often in not the best places.
“Make sure you guys have uninsured motorist coverage, so many cheapa**es here.”
According to the Modesto Bee, Modesto ranks 145 out of 150 of the best large metro places to live.
Despite doing everything right, OP still was forced into a situation where he had no chance to react to avoid a collision.
Thankfully, he had a dashcam running which probably saved him weeks of time and energy, expediting his insurance claim.
