Damn those punk kids..

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

04.30.03 @ 12:45 pm Location: eastbound interstate 10.

I'm driving in my daily driver. A 1995 Honda Civic, automatic EX. It's not really my car, it's my sisters, but she's dorming at her school so she doesn't need it. Plus paying rent is enough to suck all of her money, and car insurance is just way overpriced for her.

So I'm driving to work right. Minding my own business, until I hit some slow down up ahead. Which is normal for this time of day, then suddenly, the Camry in front of me slams on his brakes. So instinctively, I do the same and I swerve a little to the right for some extra cushion between me and the Camry. Then this kid in a riced out black 2001 Accord V6 plows right into me. Doesn't do much damage visually to my car, possible minor frame damage to the rear driver side bumper.

I get out and we exchange info, I quickly write down his "legitimate" looking papers. License (looked real), registration (DMV written all over it, looked real), insurance papers (looked up to date). So I get his info and I continue on my way to work. By this time, my neck feels stiff (still does) and my lower back is aching.

Then lunch time for me rolls around and I go outside for a cigarette break. Being the skeptical person that I am, I always want to verify things. So I call up his insurance broker and verify the info that I got. The lady who answers his call takes down the info I gave her and said she'll call me back when she locates the folder. Right after I hang up, I get a phone call from my mom asking, "did you get into a car accident?" So my first response was, "how did you know I got into an accident?" She says, "the guy who hit you, is at the house right now." So I say, "wtf is he doing there? I'm coming home from lunch mom."

By the time I get home, this kid is telling my mom this little sob story. "I'm a student, I have no money, I work and go to school, I'm starving, blah blah blah" the whole 9 yards! Then he admits 100% at fault (I already knew from the moment he hit me). So he says, "I'll pay you off, let's just go to a bodyshop and get an estimate. Whatever damages they come up with, I'll give it to you in cash." So I tell him, "I'm not sure, why? Don't you have insurance that'll cover you?" His response, "I don't have insurance." I say, "awww crap.." At that time, I call his insurance broker up, and confirmed it with the agent, HE HAS NO INSURANCE, HE NEVER SENT PAYMENT FOR IT. HIS PAPERS ARE NO GOOD!

So now he wants to settle out of court. What do you guys think? Let him pay for the damages he incurred on my sister's Civc and never see him again? Make him pay dearly by getting a lawyer who will make it really nasty for him? What about my neck injury? Should I let him go? I need more options. And another thing, I only have one-way insurance, meaning my own insurance doesn't pay for any damages to my sister's car.

I also think about it this way. What if he hits a minivan full of kids coming home from soccer practice, would he ever get off the hook for that? HELL NO! He's got to grow up and accept the responsiblity that comes with driving. BTW, it's mandatory that all motorist in the state of CA have proof of liability insurance.

Post by **Zebrahead** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Don't let his story of being a "poor, starving student" get to you. Its unfortunate that he doesn't have insurance, but if YOU are injured, and may possibly need medical attention, then he has to pay.

Every aggressive driver takes the risk every time they get behind the wheel that if they drive fast, they may get into an accident. He was dealt a ****ty hand. Maybe this will be good for him. He'll learn his lesson, and maybe realize that driving the way he does is NOT at all worth it. It could save his, or more importantly, other people's lives.

I say, get a lawyer, and get what you deserve. Its not YOUR fault that he hit you. He's at fault, and its up to him to do everything to make things they were before the accident, even if it does mean paying a chiropractor for years, or thousands of dollars to repair the car.

That's my opinion. Do what you feel is right. This may sound selfish, but think about yourself. Your future. Its all that matter. Your happiness comes before most other's (especially some kid who railed your car).

Nick.

Nick.

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

You're right, somebody has to teach him a lesson. Sound advice, I'll keep that in mind. I already told a friend of mine and she's calling me an a$$hole for even considering taking him to court. I don't want to look like greedy money vampire trying to take advantage of him in this situation. But I do have to look out for my best interest. The damage is that extensive, but it's still damage nevertheless. I would estimate he was traveling 10-15 mph while braking when he hit me. Thanks for your input Nick.

Post by **Nathan** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Honestly there is probably nothing wrong with your neck that wont be fixed with a couple nights sleep. I personally would take him up on his offer of going to a body shop and finding out how much the damages are, and allowing him to pay for it. If your neck still hurts in a week, then perhaps you have a real issue and should go see a doctor in which case you should notify him that in light of your injury you have decided to pursue medical attention and will be retaining the services of a lawyer to ensure that you do not have to pay for the doctor and subsequent bills. However, if you have health insurance I say dont worry about just pay the 20 dollar or whatever copay and go find out if anything is really wrong. It's a lot less hassle that way. I am not a fan of sueing people or taking them to court so I think if he is willing to own up to the damage he did and pay to have it fixed then give him the opportunity.

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

After careful deliberation and hearing/reading advice from various sources I have made a decision. I'm going to take my car to 3 bodyshops to get an estimate. Next, I will decide which shop will repair the damages to my vehicle. Then, using the lowest estimate I get from the 3 shops, I will ask that he pay whatever amount they quote me in cash for any medical and rental car fees that I may have.

Does that seem fair?

Nathan: I'm not a big fan of messy court proceedings and lawsuits. Getting a third party involved will further complicate things.

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

2001 v6 accord seems like a nice car for a "poor starving student"

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

krazy skwerel wrote:2001 v6 accord seems like a nice car for a "poor starving student"

I didn't mention, but it's a black 2001 Accord V6 coupe. 18 inch Racing Hart C2 Evolutions. It was slammed to the ground sporting the latest in ricer technology. Aftermarket headlights and audio system.

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

If he can afford RICE he can afford to fix your car AND make it worth your while.

BTW, I'd have a little "private" meeting with this clown outside just to let him know it's not cool to come to your residence uninvited - Didn't anyone else think this was a little creepy?

p.s. Did you get a police report? I'd be wary of this one - Who says he HAS to pay you now? What's to keep him from saying, "I never hit you - I don't know what you're talking about."

Good luck with it - I think you're making some wise decisions.

Post by **skydragoness** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

agreed. creepy for the bastard to come to your house and talk to your mom. what if he did something worse?

anyhow. it wouldn't be right to sue or have a court settlement. he'll get what's coming to him soon enough. your'e lucky the bastard offered to pay for it outside of court because hit and runs are way too common. and he's poor because he's a ricer. 'nuff said

Post by **Anand** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

don't go to court but just take him to the ringer... OO and umm.. I don't knwo if anyone got that but did you say he has no insurance??? call the cops... Remember... in CA we have a law that says, you must HAVE ins at all times or else... so go that rout and get the highest repair bill you can find and get the money to fix it. He cna't be all that poor if his car is hooked up all that much inless he puts all the money he has in his car... ehich is possible... even though it's a honda.. he may still be in love with it... you gotta understand that part of the love

Post by **89sxRCR** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Quote »License (looked real), registration (DMV written all over it, looked real),[/quote] do you have doubts to the validity of his license as well?? Im with hitman, cover your a$$ so you wont be screwed if he decides to weasel out of things. Quote »Getting a third party involved will further complicate things.[/quote] getting a third party might also force him to own up a lot more than he is.

Post by **Tino** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Sounds like riceboys life is over.

Post by **MasterMan** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

my friend got the same story "hey man i dont want my insurance to go up and my parents to find out let me just pay for it" its been 6 moths and the bumper is still broken.. DO NOT LET IT GO.. take him to court. call the cops u have 48 hours to make a police report. do it NOW.. otherwise u will never get your money.

Post by **Dano** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

i agree with MasterMan, do it or ure gonna get screwed.

-Dan

Website · Post by **daniel240** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

krazy skwerel wrote:2001 v6 accord seems like a nice car for a "poor starving student"

:Werd

Website · Post by **creophus** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

skydragoness5 wrote:anyhow. it wouldn't be right to sue or have a court settlement. he'll get what's coming to him soon enough.

Take him to court dude. It's right and it only makes sense. I've been rear-ended before and you might develop problems down the road that are related to this accident. Spinal and neck injuries are really tricky. You want to be able to get medical care now and later if necessary. That's why people have to have insurance. You owe this guy nothing. Lawyers suck...trust me I know :boink Cover your butt and make him pay.

Post by **Dano** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

yes yes, my mom got rearended 7-8 years ago and is STILL haveing problems...mom was in a turn lane, stopped, ready to make a turn ('94 Aerostar..big minivan), there was another car (Full size conversion van), and some chick was speeding and the sun got in her eyes, didnt seen the big van, hit it, and pushed the convers. van into her, like i said, shes having problems and its 7-8ish years later, dude, cover ure butt so u dont pay later.

-Dan

Post by **Stock-S13** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

dude don't do it some guy plowed into my moms civic as well with a suspended licence no isurance as well... long story short my mom let him go becuase of such a touching story, two months later he counter acts and requests the police report and tells th epolice he had the right of way and my mom should pay, so insurance calls my mom to give the insurance a massive dudctible to cover my moms civic and his pos Neon, i was so pissed dude i wanted to run out and get his ***, but my mom as like oh well.. oh and don't ake that kink in your neck so lightly my mom had the same thing and after a month if neglect she ruined some tendandt in her neck.. Just get his *** i swear you'll be doing me and i bet whole lot of people some type of justice!!!!

Edgar

Post by **nismokid** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

hmmmm all that money to buy parts for his car and no insurance. tell him to kiss your a$$, call the cops, do what you gotta do. im a poor college student, 1990 honda crx si stock and i pay for my insurance!

Post by **stretch240sx** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

get the cops involved... get the insurence involved... get everyhting you can afford involved... i have a ****ed up back from being in 4 "minor" rear ends...

if he is the poor student that he says he is, you can get a free honda accord or some of his garnished wages...

Post by **Slider** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Report it right away, if you don't, you might as well kiss any money goodbye. Don't deal with that crap. If you don't report he can just go away without paying you crap.

Sorry about what happened, and good luck!

Post by **WingsNThangs** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

If it were me, i would tell him in person to pay a certain reasonable amount within 24 hours or else threaten to go to the legal system. I've heard of too many cases where the person who has no insurance gets justice and goes to jail while the victim gets no compensation.

Remember, you are not being greedy because he is not poor. Customized 2001 V6 Accord is not poor in any way shape or form. If he is somehow poor, then he is financially stupid, and should be reprimanded for that.

Post by **SCOOTER240** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

speaking from too much experience-(i have been in 23 accidents-no BS!!!) you need to take this guy to court-if you don't he will take you for a ride-it has happened to me before-obviously this guy has some money or he wouldn't be driving a new car!! the story that he is feeding you is nothing more than a load of :bsflag -hope you come out on the better end of this mishap and hope you get to feeling better!!!

Website · Post by **elbles** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Yeah, definitely get a police report filed man. I've been fortunate enough (knock on wood) that it hasn't been an issue for me, but my dad told me a story that has instilled in me this belief. When he was working in New Jersey one night, a kid hit my dad and his MGB. The kid was drunk, and didn't want the cops to come, so my dad let it go, with the kid's promise to pay. The very next day, my dad gets a call at his office from the police, after the kid had complained that my dad had beaten him up. :-( This was back in the 70's, but the point is, you never know what someone will say after an accident, and you never know who the police, an insurance company, or even a jury will believe. But a police report goes a long way in helping to sway others into believing your story, assuming it is true. ;-)

Post by **MainEvent212** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

get a police report filed and sue his *** for all he's worth...trust me it'll feel alot better when u can lean ur hurt neck back onto your fresh leather 350Z headrest..

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Thank you everybody for your input. I think I will go down to the highway patrol office and file a report. If I want anything to happen, I want it to be official and on paper. It's going to suck for him, and I feel sort of bad. But like I said before, I'm looking out only in my best interest. It'll probably take longer for me to see any payment and restitution if I go through the court system, but hopefully my lawyer can speed it up. But then again, everybody has their price, and I have mine. If he shows up at my doorstep (again) with the right amount of cash, I might just let him go.

I'll post up some pics of the damages if anyone who replied to this thread is still interested. Taking another look at my Civic, the damages don't look as bad as it did on the day of the accident. Hopefully my sore neck will go away with some rest, physical therapy and an adjustment from a chiropractor.

Post by **milo** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Quit being complete ****s.

Make the kid pay for the damages along with anything else and be done with it.

You'd **** yourself if this happened to you, if he pays for anything then its no big deal, maybe you can ask for compensation for the trouble.

Website · Post by **elbles** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

It's not necessarily about punishing the kid, but just documenting, and covering your own a$$ in the future, because you never know what someone will come back and say, but if you have a police report, it makes it a lot harder for a person to change their story. Yes, maybe this particular situation would work out fine, but you never know . . .

Post by **Nathan** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

I think its very likely that he IS a poor college student. Perhaps his parents paid for the car and the modifications to it (its amazing how stupid parents can be) and while HE has no money, his parents do. He just doesn't want to go to them and tell them about the accident/make the insurance rates go up etc. I like the idea of giving him a very short amount of time to come up with a large portion of the money to fix the damages. If he cant come up with it, THEN file the charges, but if he comes up with it then just get your car fixed. I've hurt myself way too many times in way too many ways to be the least bit worried about some minor neck injury from being rear-ended at 15mph....it'll heal, you'll be fine. Take a coupla ibuprofin (anti-inflammitory AND pain killer) each day for a week and you'll be right as rain. If not...take some more pain killers and give it another week, eventually you'll forget that it ever even hurt.

Post by **1dollar240** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:19 pm

Quote »He was dealt a ****ty hand. [/quote]

I hardly think he was dealt a ****ty hand. Hell, he IS the dealer, he CHOSE to drive without insurance, which as far as I know is not only illegal in all states, but its extremely stupid. This is ENTIRELY his fault. Now I'm not saying you should sue him, I dont really agree with lawsuits, they ruin lives and are just and excuse to milk a situation for as much money as possible. But you, the responsible party who was carrying insurance, should not have to suffer because of someone else's stupidity. He should pay for the damage to the car and for any medical bills you have.

Damn those punk kids..

Damn those punk kids..

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