Car Collision While Turning: Understanding the Outcome at Low Speeds

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter MBRyo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Collision Turning
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dynamics of a car collision involving a pedestrian while the car is turning right at low speeds (10 to 15 mph). The inquiry focuses on the potential outcome of the car's position post-collision, specifically whether it would rest parallel to the street or move in a particular direction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the outcome of a car collision with a pedestrian while turning right at low speeds, questioning the final position of the car after the collision.
  • Another participant expresses that the forum does not assist with car accident analysis, suggesting the need for a local expert to evaluate the situation.
  • A later reply provides context about a specific incident involving the participant's husband, detailing the circumstances of the collision and the pedestrian's behavior, which raises questions about negligence and the location of the incident.
  • Concerns are raised about the inability to prove the exact location of the collision relative to the crosswalk, which adds complexity to the inquiry.
  • One participant emphasizes that the question cannot be adequately addressed within the forum's scope.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the forum is not the appropriate venue for resolving the specifics of car accident analysis, and there is no consensus on the outcome of the collision scenario presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion is limited by the lack of technical analysis and the absence of witnesses or definitive evidence regarding the collision's circumstances.

MBRyo
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hi! Sorry about the thread level. I had no idea which level to choose.

I have a burning question. Can someone help me?
If a car collides with a pedestrian (who walks into the path of the car from the right) while turning right (the wheels are still turned) at low speed (10 to 15 mph) and if the driver does not make any emergency actions, would the car rest parallel to the street, move toward the left, or move toward the right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
MBRyo said:
Hi! Sorry about the thread level. I had no idea which level to choose.

I have a burning question. Can someone help me?
If a car collides with a pedestrian (who walks into the path of the car from the right) while turning right (the wheels are still turned) at low speed (10 to 15 mph) and if the driver does not make any emergency actions, would the car rest parallel to the street, move toward the left, or move toward the right?
Welcome to the PF. (I fixed your thread prefix for you) :smile:

What is the context of the question? We don't help with car accident analysis here at the PF.
 
Thank you for your reply.
It's about a car accident my husband had but it's been settled already.
It's a done deal. Nothing can be done at this point. So no legal complications. The case has been settled but I have unsettled curiosity. :oldconfused: Please help.

My husband believes the collision happened outside the crosswalk, but the pedestrian claimed that he was in the crosswalk. They didn't see each other before the collision, and there were no witnesses. The pedestrian was drunk, wearing earbuds and listening to loud music, and did not pay attention to the traffic before stepping into the street. So he was negligent enough, and probably whether or not the collision took place in the crosswalk did not make much difference to the settlement result, but it was vexing that we couldn't prove that it was outside the crosswalk. If it took place in the crosswalk, the wheels hadn't been straightened yet at the time of collision. The car rested parallel to the street. Thus, my question.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah, sorry. As I said, this is the kind of question that we really can't help with here. If you can find a local person with a technical background who is willing to look at all of the evidence and other things involved, that is probably your best bet (short of hiring a professional accident investigator).

Thread is closed now.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Mechanics of a car turning left
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
10K
High School What happens if two wheels turn toward each other....
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
High School Filming a passing road sign: speed vs bumpiness
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
High School Confusion while trying to build intuition of centripetal force
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
High School Does the Bernouli Effect Work On Cars?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
High School Understanding air flow and resistance
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Forces on a car in circular motion
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
High School Hey guys, I'm going to say right up front that I haven't a c
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
High School Questions about momentum and force as well as normal force/friction
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
5K
Graduate Trajectory of a turning particle
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K