Fender Bender turning ugly

[Jes974]

What is the name of your state? Akansas
My accident dates back to 12/24/04. Little Rock had an ice storm two days before and the ice had still not melted. I was on a city street in the left hand land around sun set, the ice was freezing back up again. My back end struck a truck which caused a dent in my back bumper and the person's front bumper to hang slightly scuffed. He had someplace to go as well as I and I guess it being Christmas Eve we just took each other's info and said we'd be in contact. At that point we knew nothing was open and there were wrecks everywhere, so the police would take a while to get there. About a month later he calls me and says his damages come up to (rounded) 700. Since I'm the one who slid and hit his vehicle, he thinks I should pay for the whole thing. Was he not following too closely? Aren't there laws about hitting someone's back end especially on ice? I am not offering to pay for the whole thing especially since I have my own damages, but no police reports were made and no claims. If I could go back, that wouldn't be the case. So now he is threatning to sue me and take me to court with his girlfriend (biassed) witness. She even said that they saw me sliding when we all got out of the car. What can he sue me for? The worst thing about it is he lives in my apt. complex and has started to "come by" and try to intimidate me in the parking lot. Any advice????

 

[Lynx 36]

What is the name of your state? Akansas
My accident dates back to 12/24/04. Little Rock had an ice storm two days before and the ice had still not melted. I was on a city street in the left hand land around sun set, the ice was freezing back up again. My back end struck a truck which caused a dent in my back bumper and the person's front bumper to hang slightly scuffed. He had someplace to go as well as I and I guess it being Christmas Eve we just took each other's info and said we'd be in contact. At that point we knew nothing was open and there were wrecks everywhere, so the police would take a while to get there. About a month later he calls me and says his damages come up to (rounded) 700. Since I'm the one who slid and hit his vehicle, he thinks I should pay for the whole thing. Was he not following too closely? Aren't there laws about hitting someone's back end especially on ice? I am not offering to pay for the whole thing especially since I have my own damages, but no police reports were made and no claims. If I could go back, that wouldn't be the case. So now he is threatning to sue me and take me to court with his girlfriend (biassed) witness. She even said that they saw me sliding when we all got out of the car. What can he sue me for? The worst thing about it is he lives in my apt. complex and has started to "come by" and try to intimidate me in the parking lot. Any advice????

You said you hit his vehicle. You say he was following to closely. I can't figure out what happened from your description of the events.

 

[Jes974]

Fender Bender

Arkansas

I slid on the ice into the next lane. He never slowed down or stopped. Then later admitted to seeing me slide. Our cars kind of bumped into each other. It's my back end and his front. At the time he tried intimidating me and telling me it was my fault, etc................He told me I had high risk insurance and I'd be in trouble for even driving on the ice. He says I hit him. I think he was following too closely. He did not stop when I was sliding. Therefore, I'm not too sure who is at fault.

 

[stephenk]

sorry buddy, but once you start sliding around on the ice, you can't blame a car in another lane for following too closely.

 

[Lynx 36]

Arkansas

I slid on the ice into the next lane. He never slowed down or stopped. Then later admitted to seeing me slide. Our cars kind of bumped into each other. It's my back end and his front. At the time he tried intimidating me and telling me it was my fault, etc................He told me I had high risk insurance and I'd be in trouble for even driving on the ice. He says I hit him. I think he was following too closely. He did not stop when I was sliding. Therefore, I'm not too sure who is at fault.

You are at fault f/ the accident as your truck slid and lost control. Turn it into your insurance co. and let them handle, pay him the $700, or pay him after you lose in small claims court. These are your options.

 

[Jes974]

How am I going to lose a case when there is no proof? There was no accident report or claim made. This happened 3 months ago. My back end is damaged. I thought it was a law no matter what happened, if a person gets rear ended it's the other persons fault for following too close? Ice isn't anything you can prevent.

 

[Jes974]

You are at fault f/ the accident as your truck slid and lost control. Turn it into your insurance co. and let them handle, pay him the $700, or pay him after you lose in small claims court. These are your options.

Are you guys attorney's???

 

[justaninsured]

I guess since there's no proof (besides a witness), you can always deny it ever happened but you lost control and slid into his lane. You have the responsibility to maintain control of your vehicle. If the ice was so bad, maybe you should've been driving a little slower. Take some responsibility for your actions.