Had a minor accident...need advice

have had two accidents on public roads that taught me the beauty of keeping your mouth closed.

Slid on ice and rearended a lady. As the cop was taking my name, insurance etc, lady came up and confessed it was all her fault. Cop looked at her and said something to the effect of "Pardon?" like he couldn't believe what he just heard and asked to to clarify. She said it was ALL her fault I rearended her. Cop just told me to go sit in my car and stay there.


Second incident was when I creeped out to look around a lilac bush that was obstructing the view to the left. Coupled with the trees on the boulevard, you couldn't see but maybe 50 feet past the corner.

Guy took off the left front quarter fender good. Bent the body of the van and totaled it he hit us that hard. Wife gave them my insurance and license, I got a bubble gum ride to the ER from a sore shoulder.

A week later I got a visit from the adjuster and he was kind enough to inform me I was cleared of everything as the guy was drunk at 9 am on a Sunday morning, revoked license and no insurance.


NEVER say a word except to your insurance company. You have an accident investigation kit with camera (or at least SHOULD have one) in your truck. USE IT.

You never know how things will REALLY turn out for you.

 

I'm no expect in the law, but I've always been taught that federal law requires that all accidents involving a commercial vehicle MUST be reported??? You're taking a big risk by not reporting it, especially if the other guy calls an atty to recover damages plus the fact that he's already admitted guilt by making payment by CHECK.

There's an old Jamaican saying, 'the short cut draws blood, the long route draws sweat'.

 

a door skin and a paint job should NOT cost over $1,000 (as i continued reading your posts). you now have a "black-mailer" on your hands. you should have NEVER paid out anything either "up front" or later on. he played you, he probably set it all up and you took the fall.

best to get an attorney NOW, give him all the details, let the attorney read him the road laws and ask him,
"do you feel lucky, well do you"..???

"cuz if you're a feeling lucky, we can counter sue your arse"....

DING-DING-DING...we have a winner Tad, what does he get..??

EXACTLY what i was going to say, but i had to go through all the other posts first.


YES, a PROPER button hook would have prevented this by cutting off any side access.

i think "nuff said"...