Help on an accident ticket

My friend had involved in a minor accident.
Here is what happened:
She stopped at a side way intersection trying to merge into a 2-lane main
street.
After checking it was clear, she turned left and merged in the lane on the
left. After driving for 10 or 20 meters or so in the main street, a car
speeded up from the right lane and suddenly made left turn to the left lane
my friend was on.
The rear-left corner of the car hit the front-right corner of my friend's
car. Fortunately it was only a minor collision, only some paint came off.

The other party did not want to report to the cop. However, a cop happened
to pass by. He stopped and talked to the other driver who insisted my friend
did not yield. Then without listening to my friend's story, he gave my
friend a ticket of failing to yield.

My friend and the driver shared the same insurance company, who refused to
compensate either party. My friend pleaded NOT guilty and is going to court
tomorrow.

Here is what my friend has: a witness in her car when the accident happened,
the interview of the cop by the insurance company showed that the cop did
not give enough opportunity to let my friend to tell her story.

Here is our question:
1. From traffic law's point of view, since the accident happened after my
friend successfully made the left turn and drove straightly on the main
street, can it be considered enough yield, especially considering the
accident happened due to the other party changed lane?

2. How can we make the argument stronger, except my friend will bring a
powerpoint presentation and a witness?

3. If my friend lose the case, can she appeal, or it worths the time/effort?

4. If my friend win, can we go ahead to ask for the compensation from the
other party either through insurance company or court?

Thank you all!

所有跟帖： 

• It was not clear when your friend made left turn. -Biming1- ♂ (480 bytes) () 09/27/2006 postreply 07:08:33