first time

[hunnie_bunnie]

What is the name of your state? WI

I was involved in a car accident last night. It snowed last night and the roads were slippery. When I tried to make a right turn, my car slid and hit a truck (who was on the far right lane, not the turning lane). There was little damage to the other car, but the hood on my car is a wreck. Before I could get out of my car to get any information from the other driver, they just took off going straight. A little shocked, scared, and confused for what just happened, I just drove home (a few blocks away). I didn't call the cops right away to report anything because I honestly didn't know what to do (but I did about 1 1/2 hours later). About 2 1/2 hours later a police officer shows up at my place and gives me a citation for "hit and run property damage". I know I was at fault for leaving the scene, but is it my fault that they took off before I could get any information? The police later told me that the other vehicle took off, but turned around eventually and came back to the site looking for me, in which case I wasnt' there anymore. My only fault was not remaining there and calling the cops right away. I know I hit the car, but is it really fair to cite me for leaving, if the other car left first? Yes they may have returned, but how was I to know that? I didn't. How was I supposed to know that they were going to come back. We were at an intersection, so they should had pulled over there, why drive down a block and then come back? I didn't know what to do when they just took off, I was still in shock, so I just came home. I now have to go to court for this citation and could lose points for this. Am I guilty for leaving if they were first to leave? Help!!!

 

[The Frugie]

How long after they left did you leave? And how long after they left did they come back?

 

[hunnie_bunnie]

well, i right after i hit them, i started to get out of my car, but they drove off. i think i waited like 30 seconds to see if they were going to turn around but they didn't. i don't know when they turned back. the police never told me either. he just said that they went down to the next liight (about a block or two down) then came back to look for me. He really never even asked for my story, so i don't know.

 

[The Frugie]

When the truck was driving away, did it every leave your field of vision? If it did, I think it would've been reasonable to assume the driver wasn't coming back. But, if you just saw him driving off and decided "Well, he's driving away. I guess I can do the same," the ticket would probably be upheld.

 

[hunnie_bunnie]

well, the road does curve after the intersection, so it's hard to say whether or not it was coming back, but as far as i could have seen from the position of my car, i couldn't see his car anymore. And yes, since they left i left too. because i had no phone, and i didn't get a look at their plate, even if i stayed there and they would have never return, i wouldn't know who they were. i did decide just to go home first.

 

[The Frugie]

I don't know. Sounds like you probably should have waited a little longer before you left. Of course, I think the other drivers owes some explanation of why he left in the first place. Normally, both cars just pull to the side of the road. Going forward and then making a u-turn sounds pretty inexcusable to me, unless there was something about the road that made it impossible or unwise to pull over to the shoulder.

 

[teflon_jones]

Now for some correct advice:
You should have stopped and called the police from the scene of the accident. Regardless of the other driver's actions, you're responsible for reporting this to the police immediately unless you were in immediate danger by remaining at the scene.

You should plead not guilty to the ticket, go to court, and explain the circumstances. The fact that you did call the police within a reasonable amount of time helps your case. They may dismiss the ticket entirely, or knock it down to a lesser charge.

 

[hunnie_bunnie]

I have another question then. On the back of my ticket, it says I am required to go to court and fighting the ticket does not apply to me? So how can I plead not guilty before going to court? Should I just wait until the day of and plead not guilty or take other actions?

 

[The Frugie]

You should have stopped and called the police from the scene of the accident.

Teflon, if you had thouroughly read what the young lady said, you would've known that she had no cell phone on her, which is why she called from home. Details, my friend, pay attention to them. It'll work wonders for your advisory skills.

 

[hunnie_bunnie]

Would it help my case at all to tell them that the other vehicle took off first. I know I hit it, I admit it was my fault, but should I only be the only one to blame for leaving. Despite the fact that they did come back eventually, doesn't it still matter that they left the scene too? Or is it just me because I was the one who hit them? And who also would have known when they did decide to come back!?! If they had nothing to hide or anything, why just leave, especially if they weren't at fault? Does any of this help me at all, or no?

 

[teflon_jones]

Teflon, if you had thouroughly read what the young lady said, you would've known that she had no cell phone on her, which is why she called from home. Details, my friend, pay attention to them. It'll work wonders for your advisory skills.

Frugie, nowhere does she say she didn't have a phone.

 

[The Frugie]

Post #5

well, the road does curve after the intersection, so it's hard to say whether or not it was coming back, but as far as i could have seen from the position of my car, i couldn't see his car anymore. And yes, since they left i left too. because i had no phone, and i didn't get a look at their plate, even if i stayed there and they would have never return, i wouldn't know who they were. i did decide just to go home first.
Reply With Quote

It's not most well-written pair of sentences, but she does make it clear that she didn't have a phone and that was part of the reason she went home.

 

[Lynx 36]

Post #5

It's not most well-written pair of sentences, but she does make it clear that she didn't have a phone and that was part of the reason she went home.

What did people do before cell phones? mmm mmm mmm. They may have actually had to get their fatass out of the car and walk to a pay phone.

 

[The Frugie]

Walk to a pay phone in a snowstorm? That would just be silly.