Who is to blame for the RV accident
Updated: Aug 13
For two weeks, I believed I was at fault for the accident. It wrecked me inside.
Here are the events as they occurred, and the answer to who is to blame for the RV accident.
The Deputy's Initial Assessment
At 4 a.m., hours after the accident, the deputy came to the hospital I was at to bring me my dog, whom they had found, and to get my statement. He told me the accident looked to be my fault and said I had crossed the center line. He asked for my statement, and I told him honestly and truthfully everything I remembered.
What I Remember
It was nighttime. I was driving. I had not been drinking. I did not take any drugs. I was not on my phone, and my navigation on my iPad was in dark mode. The radio was on quietly, because about 45 minutes before that, the passenger had gone to the back to lie down — something that was her choice. My dog came up to the front in her place.
At some point, my dog shifted in the seat next to me. I looked down to pet her, and as I did, I felt the RV pull to the left. Looking up, I saw a semi truck (I originally told the deputy it was black, but I later recalled it being red). I pulled the steering wheel to the right — we hit, flipped, and went airborne. I grabbed my dog and held her until we stopped. She ran out once we came to rest, and I was trapped for a moment until I broke free. I found the passenger, freed her, and tended to her until first responders arrived.
I know the standard legal advice is to say you don't remember, and I could have, in the moment the deputy asked me to share my side. I truly believe he was surprised to see me answer honestly. I don't believe in protecting my own interests over the interests of others in something like this. People were hurt, and they deserve answers, not a runaround built on fear of admitting anything.
The Dash Cam Footage
At first, that was the extent of the known facts. But the deputy noticed a dash cam on the semi. When he requested the footage from the trucking company, they told him none existed. He didn't accept that, investigated further, and obtained the footage.
From the deputy's notes: the dash cam activates every time the driver crosses the center line. In the minutes before the accident, the semi driver had been weaving across the center line and into my lane repeatedly — so much so that the deputy noted he did this "numerous" times prior to the accident. Two additional details matter here. First, the deputy did not receive footage from the exact moment of impact. Second, when the insurance company reviewed the video, they identified what appeared to be the reflection of the semi driver's phone in his hand, screen on.
Why Fault Isn't Simple
I mention this because when you read the police report, the question of fault is not simple. My view is that this was an accident — unintentional — and everyone survived. The semi driver was badly hurt. He may have lost an eye or vision in one eye, broke his arm and his leg, and may not be able to work as a driver again.
Reading the police report, I see the elements of what looks like a perfect storm: a semi driver who was distracted and not staying in his lane, and me, distracted at the moment of impact. I don't believe I crossed the center line, and I stand by that. But I also know the RV pulled to the left, and that could have been me crossing the center line. I know I looked down at my dog, and I will not hide that from myself or anyone. It was barely a second — something I've done countless times without incident — but this time, that's all it took.
Accepting My Share
For my involvement in this accident, I am willing to take the Sheriff's Office at face value. I am willing to accept my share of responsibility. What matters more to me is that I am not willing to add to what the semi driver has already had to accept.
It may be because I walked away without a physical injury, but I believe it's more that this is just who I am. And even though I had no physical injuries, I had emotional ones, which I'll address separately — ones I didn't fully believe were real until I went through this myself.
My answer on fault is this: each of us shares something in it. I believe the Sheriff's Department conducted a fair investigation, and I won't carry shame over this, nor will I add to anyone else's.
In fairness, I completed a Claude RE:port on the police report itself, which will be published separately. The police report is available in the evidence locker, along with the fourth page outlining the details of the investigation, below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Andrew found at fault for the RV accident? The deputy initially told him the accident looked to be his fault for crossing the center line, but Andrew disputes fully crossing it and points to dash cam evidence showing the other driver's repeated lane departures.
What did the dash cam footage show? According to the deputy's notes, the semi driver had crossed the center line into Andrew's lane multiple times in the minutes before the crash, and the insurance company identified what appeared to be a phone reflection in the driver's hand.
Was the semi driver injured? Yes — Andrew states the driver was badly hurt, possibly losing an eye or vision in one eye, and broke his arm and leg.
Does Andrew accept any responsibility for the accident? Yes. He states he accepts his share of responsibility — including looking down at his dog moments before impact — while maintaining he does not believe he fully crossed the center line.
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