Car was run into, I got the ticket...
11-26-2007, 12:18 PM
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Car was run into, I got the ticket...
Misery loves company, so here goes....
Saturday night (11/24), my wife & I were grabbing something to eat before a movie we were going to see (Hitman), and were pulling out of the restaurant parking lot, looking to cross the 3 lanes of traffic & pull into the left turn lane to do a U-turn. I have about 200 yards to do so - just enough space to pull into the right hand lane & make my way over 1 lane at a time - like you're supposed to.
I get across safely & without disrupting the light traffic get up to the turning lane (where the median decreases in width to allow for the lane. Due to the rain & low visibility, I move over into the turning lane slowly so as to not slide. An 18 year old girl in a Ford Ranger (no ABS) slides up behind me into the turning lane, bounces off the median & into the rear driver-side door, scraping and rolling up the metal as she goes along.
The cop shows up after about 25 min, separates my wife and I, the girl, and the "independent third party" who had admitted to knowing the girl they were following (to us, not the cop, evidently). The cop took statements as though no one had the time to collude, found that mine was different (they said I darted out of a different driveway that was only 75 yards or so from the turn lane), and subsequently gave me the ticket.
W. T. F.
The cop never looked at my car & explained as he was giving me the ticket that since the damage is on the side, I must've come over on top of her. Nevermind the fact that the damage to my car is obviously from another vehicle coming up from behind me and scraping, not slamming into the side of my car.
The point of all this:
- like I said, misery loves company, so thanks for reading
- anyone know about hiring an attorney to dismiss a ticket?
- anyone know the best way to play the insurance game? my deductible is 250, but I understand that the whole deductible thing is pointless since the insurance company just writes you a check for whatever the fuck they feel like.
- word of 25 y.o. grown man > 18 y.o. girl & friends. seriously.
Saturday night (11/24), my wife & I were grabbing something to eat before a movie we were going to see (Hitman), and were pulling out of the restaurant parking lot, looking to cross the 3 lanes of traffic & pull into the left turn lane to do a U-turn. I have about 200 yards to do so - just enough space to pull into the right hand lane & make my way over 1 lane at a time - like you're supposed to.
I get across safely & without disrupting the light traffic get up to the turning lane (where the median decreases in width to allow for the lane. Due to the rain & low visibility, I move over into the turning lane slowly so as to not slide. An 18 year old girl in a Ford Ranger (no ABS) slides up behind me into the turning lane, bounces off the median & into the rear driver-side door, scraping and rolling up the metal as she goes along.
The cop shows up after about 25 min, separates my wife and I, the girl, and the "independent third party" who had admitted to knowing the girl they were following (to us, not the cop, evidently). The cop took statements as though no one had the time to collude, found that mine was different (they said I darted out of a different driveway that was only 75 yards or so from the turn lane), and subsequently gave me the ticket.
W. T. F.
The cop never looked at my car & explained as he was giving me the ticket that since the damage is on the side, I must've come over on top of her. Nevermind the fact that the damage to my car is obviously from another vehicle coming up from behind me and scraping, not slamming into the side of my car.
The point of all this:
- like I said, misery loves company, so thanks for reading
- anyone know about hiring an attorney to dismiss a ticket?
- anyone know the best way to play the insurance game? my deductible is 250, but I understand that the whole deductible thing is pointless since the insurance company just writes you a check for whatever the fuck they feel like.
- word of 25 y.o. grown man > 18 y.o. girl & friends. seriously.
Last edited by revitupwriteitoff; 11-26-2007 at 12:22 PM.
11-26-2007, 12:24 PM
#3
Go Giants
ouch..yeah, get a lawyer...
11-26-2007, 12:29 PM
#4
Team Owner
Had something similar happen to me a few years back -- got rear ended at the head of a 3-car accident (car behind me got hit into me), still I got the ticket based on a BS story from one of the other drivers.
Insurance companies didn't care about the ticket and the guy who did the hitting paid for all the damages. I paid the $75 ticket and took court supervision so nothing ever hit my insurance.
I'd only get a lawyer if there's real risk of significant financial issues for you, not based on principle.
Insurance companies didn't care about the ticket and the guy who did the hitting paid for all the damages. I paid the $75 ticket and took court supervision so nothing ever hit my insurance.
I'd only get a lawyer if there's real risk of significant financial issues for you, not based on principle.
11-26-2007, 12:32 PM
#5
dent is pushed forward
only 2 ways of doing that. Either you drove next to her and slammed on your brakes or she ran into you. Since I am sure you arent dumb enough to take route 1, I would think it was her fault.
only 2 ways of doing that. Either you drove next to her and slammed on your brakes or she ran into you. Since I am sure you arent dumb enough to take route 1, I would think it was her fault.
11-26-2007, 12:33 PM
#7
Give it to your insurance, tell them what happened, see how the run with it. You can also plead your case in court, a judge can overturn the charges.
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11-26-2007, 12:34 PM
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Yeah, I really don't care about the ticket, etc. & I really really don't care for lawyers in situations like that. I'd pay for her damages out of pocket based on what I saw of her car (1/2 flat tire and a busted light) just to make things simple, but I have no idea what all affects the insurance and to what degree. I really hate to take steps that will result in unneccessary loss of $$ because I don't know what I'm doing.
I'm getting a couple estimates (from Lexus dealership and a "specialist") to give to the insurance company since they evidently just write a check & ignore the whole "deductible" thing
. We have a close family friend that does body work (has owned his shop longer than I've been alive) that will give me a fair deal & I trust his work over anyone else's, so we might end up making money on the thing if Geico doesn't raise our rates b/c of the ticket, too.
I'm getting a couple estimates (from Lexus dealership and a "specialist") to give to the insurance company since they evidently just write a check & ignore the whole "deductible" thing
. We have a close family friend that does body work (has owned his shop longer than I've been alive) that will give me a fair deal & I trust his work over anyone else's, so we might end up making money on the thing if Geico doesn't raise our rates b/c of the ticket, too.
11-26-2007, 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JJ4Short
dent is pushed forward
only 2 ways of doing that. Either you drove next to her and slammed on your brakes or she ran into you. Since I am sure you arent dumb enough to take route 1, I would think it was her fault.
only 2 ways of doing that. Either you drove next to her and slammed on your brakes or she ran into you. Since I am sure you arent dumb enough to take route 1, I would think it was her fault.
11-26-2007, 12:49 PM
#11
Benchwarmer
Originally Posted by revitupwriteitoff
Yeah, I really don't care about the ticket, etc. & I really really don't care for lawyers in situations like that. I'd pay for her damages out of pocket based on what I saw of her car (1/2 flat tire and a busted light) just to make things simple, but I have no idea what all affects the insurance and to what degree. I really hate to take steps that will result in unneccessary loss of $$ because I don't know what I'm doing.
I'm getting a couple estimates (from Lexus dealership and a "specialist") to give to the insurance company since they evidently just write a check & ignore the whole "deductible" thing. We have a close family friend that does body work (has owned his shop longer than I've been alive) that will give me a fair deal & I trust his work over anyone else's, so we might end up making money on the thing if Geico doesn't raise our rates b/c of the ticket, too.
I'm getting a couple estimates (from Lexus dealership and a "specialist") to give to the insurance company since they evidently just write a check & ignore the whole "deductible" thing
. We have a close family friend that does body work (has owned his shop longer than I've been alive) that will give me a fair deal & I trust his work over anyone else's, so we might end up making money on the thing if Geico doesn't raise our rates b/c of the ticket, too.
11-26-2007, 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by IlliNorge
Geico will raise your rates. They would've even if you had not gotten a ticket, but this will be on your insurance record for a minimum 3 years.
how much are 'failure to yield right of way' tickets? I called the city's municipal courthouse, but the girl told me she doesn't remember (and evidently can't just ask).
are they like $100, or $1,000?
11-26-2007, 12:56 PM
#14
Safety Car
That sucks man, I would get a lawyer and argue your case in court.
I'm my past experience in being a witness to an accident, don't expect the cop to "get it right".
About 4 years ago I witnessed an accident at an intersection with a flashing yellow light. The lady who got hit was on the main road so she had a flashing yellow and the guy who hit her was on a side street and had a flashing red light. According to state law the people with the flashing yellow light do not have to stop only proceed with caution through the intersection, the people with the flashing red light have to stop and make sure its free to enter. Anyway, traffic was backed up pretty bad, and based on that I'm sure the lady had to stop anyway, but after she went into the intersection, the guy on the side street came out and ran into her pretty hard. I pulled over into a nearby parking lot and ran to her car along with some other motorists and by-standers to see if she was ok, and she was, except for obviously being dazed, a bloody nose and a cut on her head.
The cops showed up, asked me and some other people about what we saw, and long story short they gave HER the ticket! "Failure to Yield right of way" I was summoned to testify in court. In addition her insurance company also called me a few days after the accident and I told them what happened and also that it was a flashing yellow light.
When the court day came I told the judge exactly what I saw. The cop was there too and he told the judge that a flashing yellow light should be treated as a 4-way stop...ummm no. So anyway the judge asks me if I saw her stop before she got hit, and I said I couldn't tell him one way or another because I wasn't sure. They ended up dropping the ticket, and I also found out that the guy who hit her didn't even have insurance so he got a ticket for that.
I'm my past experience in being a witness to an accident, don't expect the cop to "get it right".
About 4 years ago I witnessed an accident at an intersection with a flashing yellow light. The lady who got hit was on the main road so she had a flashing yellow and the guy who hit her was on a side street and had a flashing red light. According to state law the people with the flashing yellow light do not have to stop only proceed with caution through the intersection, the people with the flashing red light have to stop and make sure its free to enter. Anyway, traffic was backed up pretty bad, and based on that I'm sure the lady had to stop anyway, but after she went into the intersection, the guy on the side street came out and ran into her pretty hard. I pulled over into a nearby parking lot and ran to her car along with some other motorists and by-standers to see if she was ok, and she was, except for obviously being dazed, a bloody nose and a cut on her head.
The cops showed up, asked me and some other people about what we saw, and long story short they gave HER the ticket! "Failure to Yield right of way"
I was summoned to testify in court. In addition her insurance company also called me a few days after the accident and I told them what happened and also that it was a flashing yellow light. When the court day came I told the judge exactly what I saw. The cop was there too and he told the judge that a flashing yellow light should be treated as a 4-way stop...ummm no. So anyway the judge asks me if I saw her stop before she got hit, and I said I couldn't tell him one way or another because I wasn't sure. They ended up dropping the ticket, and I also found out that the guy who hit her didn't even have insurance so he got a ticket for that.
11-26-2007, 12:57 PM
#15
Benchwarmer
Originally Posted by revitupwriteitoff
nice
how much are 'failure to yield right of way' tickets? I called the city's municipal courthouse, but the girl told me she doesn't remember (and evidently can't just ask).
are they like $100, or $1,000?
how much are 'failure to yield right of way' tickets? I called the city's municipal courthouse, but the girl told me she doesn't remember (and evidently can't just ask).
are they like $100, or $1,000?
11-26-2007, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by IlliNorge
In Illinois a moving violation is typically $75. Insurance companies will look for any reason to raise your rates.
11-26-2007, 01:04 PM
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Sorry to hear about this man, I'm glad to hear you're ok though.
Definitely should get an attorney and/or let the insurance company work it out.
If you got a ticket though, getting an attorney will help get that ticket off your record. If you only rely on insurance all they will focus on is ensuring you are not at fault so that they decide who's insurance will be assuming damage costs.
Definitely should get an attorney and/or let the insurance company work it out.
If you got a ticket though, getting an attorney will help get that ticket off your record. If you only rely on insurance all they will focus on is ensuring you are not at fault so that they decide who's insurance will be assuming damage costs.
I agree.. get a lawyer. I hope this gets settled sooon!
11-26-2007, 01:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Acuraluvr
on a brighter note, how was the movie? 
11-26-2007, 01:44 PM
#24
Originally Posted by revitupwriteitoff
don't know...we spent the first 30 min of it standing outside in the cold rain waiting on, then talking to the fat fuck of a cop.
dont i feel like shit my bad man... seriously fight it, its a no brainer for the judge
11-26-2007, 02:25 PM
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Geebus. Well, firstly...glad everyone's alright, rev. And secondly, get a freaking lawyer.
11-26-2007, 03:13 PM
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I feel your pain. I once got a phone call from my Sister, who was just hit by some guy. The officer proceeded to write them both a ticket.
At that time I pulled the officer to her car, then to the other guys car, and then asked him how he decides that they both get tickets. (He side swiped her)
The cops sole answer was, "I have done a few dozen of these in my career, I know what I'm looking at." Of course I replied, "then I bet you'll enjoy when I get her ticket dismissed in court." I told him that he didn't do his job too well if he couldn't see a basic side swipe with a clear 'hitting' vehicle.
End of the story? Her ticket was dismissed, and the only shitty part is that my sister's insurance had to cover her damage.
At that time I pulled the officer to her car, then to the other guys car, and then asked him how he decides that they both get tickets. (He side swiped her)
The cops sole answer was, "I have done a few dozen of these in my career, I know what I'm looking at." Of course I replied, "then I bet you'll enjoy when I get her ticket dismissed in court." I told him that he didn't do his job too well if he couldn't see a basic side swipe with a clear 'hitting' vehicle.
End of the story? Her ticket was dismissed, and the only shitty part is that my sister's insurance had to cover her damage.
11-26-2007, 03:55 PM
#31
Basically it more or less comes down to what the cop writes in the accident report for the insurance.
and that might of influenced the cop to write his report different, making it look like your sister were more to blame.
and FYI, cops dont care if a ticket gets dismissed, it doesnt effect them at all, specially if he has to show up to court and paid OT.
Originally Posted by SuperStar
Of course I replied, "then I bet you'll enjoy when I get her ticket dismissed in court." I told him that he didn't do his job too well if he couldn't see a basic side swipe with a clear 'hitting' vehicle.
End of the story? Her ticket was dismissed, and the only shitty part is that my sister's insurance had to cover her damage.
End of the story? Her ticket was dismissed, and the only shitty part is that my sister's insurance had to cover her damage.
and that might of influenced the cop to write his report different, making it look like your sister were more to blame.
and FYI, cops dont care if a ticket gets dismissed, it doesnt effect them at all, specially if he has to show up to court and paid OT.
11-26-2007, 05:00 PM
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To clarify, this happened in Tyler, TX while I was visiting my folks. That's about 4 hrs north of here.
OK...so here's what I've gathered after a day:
- if I get an attorney & fight it & win (which will take a minimum of 2 trips and up to 4 or 5 up to Tyler), all that does is dismiss my ticket. I understand that it's the damage payout that will cause Geico to raise our rates, not the ticket, etc. If my ticket gets dismissed, I'll still have to start a lawsuit against the girl to prove that it is her fault so that I may file on her insurance. That's another trip or two up there, plus a bunch of arguing I don't feel like doing.
- if I suck it up & just deal with everything, this is what I'm out:
- ~$100 for the ticket
- $250 for the deductible
- ~$40/month for the next 3 years in raised rates. this is the biggest estimate due to the nature of the insurance claim process, but should be a good, conservative estimate.
All in all, the $100 for the ticket is negligible & would be a couple times going out to eat that I don't need anyway. The $250 for the deductible will probably not be a concern due to the family friend that will be doing the body work, but is also a fairly small amount of $. The $40/month is ultimately not that big of a deal either, since it's only a bit more than 1 hour of work per month dedicated to paying extra premiums. I think I'm just going to take the easy road & assume responsibility - it won't kill me & my time is much more valuable than going up and down the road to Tyler & back is worth.
thoughts?
OK...so here's what I've gathered after a day:
- if I get an attorney & fight it & win (which will take a minimum of 2 trips and up to 4 or 5 up to Tyler), all that does is dismiss my ticket. I understand that it's the damage payout that will cause Geico to raise our rates, not the ticket, etc. If my ticket gets dismissed, I'll still have to start a lawsuit against the girl to prove that it is her fault so that I may file on her insurance. That's another trip or two up there, plus a bunch of arguing I don't feel like doing.
- if I suck it up & just deal with everything, this is what I'm out:
- ~$100 for the ticket
- $250 for the deductible
- ~$40/month for the next 3 years in raised rates. this is the biggest estimate due to the nature of the insurance claim process, but should be a good, conservative estimate.
All in all, the $100 for the ticket is negligible & would be a couple times going out to eat that I don't need anyway. The $250 for the deductible will probably not be a concern due to the family friend that will be doing the body work, but is also a fairly small amount of $. The $40/month is ultimately not that big of a deal either, since it's only a bit more than 1 hour of work per month dedicated to paying extra premiums. I think I'm just going to take the easy road & assume responsibility - it won't kill me & my time is much more valuable than going up and down the road to Tyler & back is worth.
thoughts?
11-26-2007, 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by JediMindTricks
oh....
well still....HPD and freezing rain FTL!
well still....HPD and freezing rain FTL!
^ 12ththe rain messed up Jennifer's shoes, made us both miserabler than we already were, & HPD blows
11-26-2007, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by joerockt
What exactly was the reason for the ticket? Usually they write it down...
the only things it says on the ticket are "failure to YROW" and the reason for the stop is "accident". There is little or no other information about the ticket, which doesn't make a ton of sense. It seems as though he needed the ticket for his quota & he figured the out of town guy in the Lexus would pay it sooner than the poor hometown college student.
11-26-2007, 05:40 PM
#38
What Would Don Draper Do?
Originally Posted by revitupwriteitoff
^ 12ththe rain messed up Jennifer's shoes, made us both miserabler than we already were, & HPD blows
