10 replies to this topic

[rmorse]

Hey guys, just got hit driving in a hood section of baltimore. I typed up a five minute blurb describing what happened, just so I don't forget. I'll copy and paste in a second. But, I want peoples opinions. I've been driving for 10 years, and this is the first accident I've ever had where the was another car involved. This would also be the first time I ever report something.

Do I report this? It's dark out, but from what I see, there is very very little damage. I took three pictures, which I can attach if people care. Either way, it's super light scuff marks that should buff out. I would NOT have cared, had the chick just pulled over and let me look at the damage. But I never got the chance to look and assess what happened.


Either way, what do you guys think?


9:30 pm, June 10, 2012. Traveling along a three lane road, felt my left rear get pushed over slightly. I looked for the car and identified which car hit me, and started slowing down. The car drove past me and the woman driving said “Sorry.” I sped up to get closer to the car and started taking my phone out of GPS mode so I could snap a picture of the cars tag. The car slowed down and I rolled down my window and said “Either pull over now or I will call the cops and report you for a hit and run.” The car stopped in the lane, and I stopped next to it. The woman’s father, in the passenger seat, started yelling at me saying that she never hit me and blah blah blah. I told him, then pull over and let me look. We finally pulled over and the father continued screaming at me that she never hit me, and started including racial slurs. I walked over to check my car and noticed the scuff marks. Insert minutes of yelling here. I called the police, since it was escalating. Passerbys showed up, and the father continued the race baiting. The passerbys started with the race baiting as well, and it started turning into a really REALLY bad situation on my part and so I called the police again. At this point, the woman pulled me aside and stated “I’m sorry for hitting you. I thought you were saying it’s ok, and to keep driving. That’s why I didn’t pull over.” At this point, the father came back and heard her saying “I’m sorry”, and essentially admitting to hitting me. He then started taking pictures of the damage and kept repeating “You been drinking.” He continued to accuse me of drinking (I’m assuming because he realized that she just admitted fault.) At this point the cops show up, and the dad immediately becomes the victim and perfect person. All the yelling stops and the daughter starts crying. The cops assist in us exchanging information, and goes from there. I am allowed to bounce at this point, so I roll out.

[andyb5]

So it sounds like you got a police report detailing the accident? Were any citations issued? Did the daughter admit fault to the officer, and was it included in the officers description of the accident?

If the other driver admitted fault on the record, reporting its a no-brainer.

[survolvo]

I assume you got their insurance info. Did she admit fault to the officer?

Call your agent and just let them know what happen, than call and make a claim with the OPs insurance company.

[scumcity14]

Always go to the PD and fill out a report. If for no other reason, to save your ass if it ever comes back to you. That way it's on record and not a hit and run. States differ though as far as reporting accidents..

[rmorse]

Here's my deal with it, and why I don't know if I talk to the insurance companies or not....

She admitted fault to me, not to the police.
Both the driver and the passenger were lying SOB's. They first claimed she never hit me, and then it was my fault, and then I had been drinking, etc.
It really will buff out. It is such a minor mark.


Here is what I WOULD have done, had the other driver been resonable - I would have immediately pulled over and exchanged info. I would have gone home, seen it was minor, and attempted to buff it out myself. If I am able to, I would then call the other driver and say "No harm, no foul."

But, the fact that they didn't even want to let me pull over and LOOK to see if there was any damage at all really pissed me off.

[rmorse]

So it sounds like you got a police report detailing the accident? Were any citations issued? Did the daughter admit fault to the officer, and was it included in the officers description of the accident?

If the other driver admitted fault on the record, reporting its a no-brainer.

No, no police report. The police were just there as my bodyguards, as the dad was trying to turn it into a race deal and start a fight. The police really didn't care, but becuase they were there, I actually was able to get her info.

I assume you got their insurance info. Did she admit fault to the officer?

Call your agent and just let them know what happen, than call and make a claim with the OPs insurance company.

I did get her insurance.

[Fudge_Brownie]

So, if you don't follow a police report, what is going to stop her from reporting that you were DUI and hit her car and making a claim against your insurance, causing your insurance to go up?

You want to be proactive about this. Like others have said, even if you don't want to report this to your insurance company, at least file a report with the police so it can be referenced in the future. Do it ASAP, so that any police who have to write/state anything can do it while they actually remember things. The police did not question your state of mind, so I doubt they were concerned at all that you were DUI, and you should not fear this if you were not.

If you've never filed a police report and are worried that it is a 'process', it isn't. All you do is go to the department that it happened in (or call ahead and check), and tell them you'd like to write a report. They give you their form and a pen.

[rmorse]

So, if you don't follow a police report, what is going to stop her from reporting that you were DUI and [pi]hit her[/i] car and making a claim against your insurance, causing your insurance to go up?

You want to be proactive about this. Like others have said, even if you don't want to report this to your insurance company, at least file a report with the police so it can be referenced in the future. Do it ASAP, so that any police who have to write/state anything can do it while they actually remember things. The police did not question your state of mind, so I doubt they were concerned at all that you were DUI, and you should not fear this if you were not.

If you've never filed a police report and are worried that it is a 'process', it isn't. All you do is go to the department that it happened in (or call ahead and check), and tell them you'd like to write a report. They give you their form and a pen.

Ok. I'll give them a call and see how I go about doing it.

[T-5Bandit]

Maybe it's just me (and no offense), but I am surprised you needed to come to a forum to figure this out - it really is common sense to always get a police report for an accident, especially when things escalate. Once the father started showing the slightest hint of escalation, that is one big red flag to get a report no matter how small the property damage. If it happens again, insist the cops take a report at the scene so you don't have to go the station after the fact. As Fudge_Brownie said, it protects you from the other side coming back and making a false claim.

[rmorse]

Maybe it's just me (and no offense), but I am surprised you needed to come to a forum to figure this out - it really is common sense to always get a police report for an accident, especially when things escalate. Once the father started showing the slightest hint of escalation, that is one big red flag to get a report no matter how small the property damage. If it happens again, insist the cops take a report at the scene so you don't have to go the station after the fact. As Fudge_Brownie said, it protects you from the other side coming back and making a false claim.

No offense taken. I just have absolutely ZERO experience dealing with this. Zip. Nada. I don't want to get burned later.

[scumcity14]

No offense taken. I just have absolutely ZERO experience dealing with this. Zip. Nada. I don't want to get burned later.

Did you file a report? Whats the update?