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I was just in an auto accident...

S

SoylentG

Senior member
Alright, so last night on my drive home, I drove through a light, while looking at the light (it was green), I get NAILED in my back passenger door, spin a few times, while still heading in the same direction, and stop with my car facing the correct direction somehow. She spins once, and hits the traffic light pole head on. She was going about 45 mph or so on the service road.

She gets out of the car, and seems to be in some sort of a daze. I mentioned in passing that she's either in shock or on some drugs to the officer once he arrived. These two people were a little ways behind her, and told the officer that she had the green light. Before the officer arrived, these people were all about helping her...got her purse out of the car, kept asking how she was doing, etc.
They asked me how I was doing ONCE, and let me use their phone after we had been standing around for 30 minutes.

So the officer came and wrote me a ticket for running a red light, because the person that was way behind me didn't stay, they just told me that yes I had a green light and drove off. I couldn't remember his plate #.

I called my insurance, and I've got collision coverage with a $500 deductible, I wasn't aware that I had that on my insurance, since I have liability (i think?). I have to reread my insurance, because I thought I had just liability.

I've been in two accidents in the past, in one, an old lady came speeding over the top of a hill, and nailed me as I was illegally turning left from the far right lane. The other, some drunk guy in a fraternity stamped vehicle nailed my car at a red light, then pushed my car of the way with his truck and drove off. The police officer filed this report improperly, writing down the incorrect description. It was a large black truck, and they stopped a white Geo Metro according to his description.
I basically got ****** there.

At any rate, my insurance is going to be pretty high now, I'd imagine. Since it's Labor Day, I've got a day to mull over my thoughts. What should I make sure to include, when I talk to the insurance people, that will help me the most?
Anyone who works in the insurance industry would make my day by coming and giving me advice. I'd really love to not end up being considered "at fault" for this crap.
 
Originally posted by: Horus
then take it to court. Fight it. See if there's a traffic camera at that intersection
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I agree. U can't afford to get blamed on this one since this is will be your 3rd.
 
Originally posted by: Horus
then take it to court. Fight it. See if there's a traffic camera at that intersection
Click to expand...

Aye. I would fight and NEVER stop fighting.


<---remembers when the people he got into an accident were blatantly lying on the stand and he did not capitulate.


Sure I got screwed, but I stood my ground...and lost...oh wait, my story was supposed to have a positive outcome🙁

In the end though, I stood my ground, somehow managed to know EVERYTHING about the accident scene due to great memory, and writing it all down once I got home after the accident that evening, and got everything reduced DRASTICALLY. Now if I had kept my composure and kept from beign a nervouse wreck, I would have gotten off scott free sicne I forgot to tell the judge a KEY piece of information😱

I would stress that you make sure you are better prepared tcompared with them for court.
 
i'd say fight it if you were in the right. It really sucks when people who witness accidents don't stop and wait for the police if there is any confusion about who caused the accident.

Personally, I witnessed an accident between a motorcycle and automobile about a month ago. 5 teenagers were in a car not paying attention to the road and a motorcycle t-boned the car. The 2 motorcyclists were injured very badly and the teenagers didn't even run over to them to ask if they were ok. I stuck around until I made sure that the police got my report. Less than a week later the court summons showed up, I will show up to court to make sure those motorcyclist are cleared of any fault and get the insurance money they deserve.
 
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I'd suggest a lawyer in this situation--Too much at stake.
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it's a lot of money, but sometimes it is infinitely better than walking into the court room 'naked' 🙁

 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I'd suggest a lawyer in this situation--Too much at stake.
Click to expand...

it's a lot of money, but sometimes it is infinitely better than walking into the court room 'naked' 🙁
Click to expand...
Yep. Running red light and causing an accident with potential medical bills could be a bottomless pit. But now that I think about it, if the OP is found responsible, wouldn't his insurance company 'fight' on his behalf to avoid paying the other party?
 
If your neck really hurts, the first thing you should do is go to the doctor within 24 hours of the accident.

As far as the accident goes, it seems pretty fishy that two people would say the light was green for her, but the only person that saw it green for you left. You didn't bother to get the guys phone number and information?

I think you're screwed man. You have a history of making illegal turns, have no witnesses on your bahalf, and two witnesses who said the girl had a green light not you. The officer also felt there was enough evidence to give you the ticket.
 
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I'd suggest a lawyer in this situation--Too much at stake.
Click to expand...

it's a lot of money, but sometimes it is infinitely better than walking into the court room 'naked' 🙁
Click to expand...
Yep. Running red light and causing an accident with potential medical bills could be a bottomless pit. But now that I think about it, if the OP is found responsible, wouldn't his insurance company 'fight' on his behalf to avoid paying the other party?
Click to expand...

Correct. If he gets sued (which I'm 99% positive he will) his insurance must provide legal councel.

To OP: go back out there and scout the location for possible security cameras such as convenience stores, banks, ATM's, etc.
 
Yeah...I have insurance, so it's not like I'm going to be personally paying for anything here; I'm not particularly worried about that.
My biggest concern at the moment is any key phrases to say that would throw the case in my favor. I'm going to mention that it seemed like she was speeding, considering the force of the impact, and that she was acting excessively "out of sorts", more than I would personally expect from someone who was in shock. I'm going to note that she said she was tired, and was working all day, and suggest that she might not have been paying attention.
There weren't any cameras at the intersection, and no buildings nearby that would have caught anything, unfortuantely.
Why the heck would I get sued? We both have insurance, and they will be dealing with that, unless I'm mistaken?
Her only injuries were tiny airbag burns on her inner forearms; I doubt that she can sue me for such a small thing, and get anything done about it. My insurance will be responsible for her medical bills if I was at fault, and hers will be responsible if she was at fault, right?
 
get yourself to a chiropractor. if you don't get your neck fixed back to normal (after crashes, you usually lose your neck curve, skeletally, which makes for problems in the future), you'll be in for a future of pain and/or more expenses.

EDIT: make sure you go to a GOOD chiropractor... not just any chiropractor.
 
Bumpity Bump for more input.

The city says it's a no-go on traffic lights.
Also, my car was totaled, and the damage value on his computer (when I looked over his shoulder) was $6775. My car is a 2002 Honda Civic.

Whaaaaaaaaa?
That seems like a lowball amount, to be 80% (or whatever the threshold for total loss is) of my car's value. Then again, it's 4 years old, with like 45k miles on it. Assuming it is 80% for total loss, that'd put it around $8500 reimbursement for my vehicle. Does anyone know if I get to keep the wreck to sell for parts or not? I'm sure I could at least get around $500 for it, just selling it for scrap metal. Right?
 
Originally posted by: SoylentG
Bumpity Bump for more input.

The city says it's a no-go on traffic lights.
Also, my car was totaled, and the damage value on his computer (when I looked over his shoulder) was $6775. My car is a 2002 Honda Civic.

Whaaaaaaaaa?
That seems like a lowball amount, to be 80% (or whatever the threshold for total loss is) of my car's value. Then again, it's 4 years old, with like 45k miles on it. Assuming it is 80% for total loss, that'd put it around $8500 reimbursement for my vehicle. Does anyone know if I get to keep the wreck to sell for parts or not? I'm sure I could at least get around $500 for it, just selling it for scrap metal. Right?
Click to expand...

Nope, you definitely won't get to keep the wreck.
 
Originally posted by: SoylentG
Bumpity Bump for more input.

The city says it's a no-go on traffic lights.
Also, my car was totaled, and the damage value on his computer (when I looked over his shoulder) was $6775. My car is a 2002 Honda Civic.

Whaaaaaaaaa?
That seems like a lowball amount, to be 80% (or whatever the threshold for total loss is) of my car's value. Then again, it's 4 years old, with like 45k miles on it. Assuming it is 80% for total loss, that'd put it around $8500 reimbursement for my vehicle. Does anyone know if I get to keep the wreck to sell for parts or not? I'm sure I could at least get around $500 for it, just selling it for scrap metal. Right?
Click to expand...

now why would you get to keep the car if they totel it out? it does not work that way.

of course they are going to lowball you. thats why you need to argue with them.
 
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