What is wrong with people? (1 Viewer)

[Ryan Wright]

What is the deal with people nowadays?
I was run off the road again today, this time in my brand spankin' new Fiero. I had just picked up my food (if you can call it that) from McDonalds and was heading down the road when the guy next to me merged into my lane without checking to see if anyone was there. He forced me up onto the sidewalk, and the impact with the curb destroyed two of my tires and scarred the hell out of one of my wheels. No damage to the car itself, thankfully, but AGAIN since he did not hit me it's "my" fault.
Last time this happened I swore I'd just let the jerk hit me, but you just can't help but try to avoid an accident. It's a reflex thing.
Anyway, he pulled over, apologized, helped me put the spare on and followed me to Les Schwab to get my car fixed up. He wants to pay for it himself (of course). He claims he just purchased his vehicle (it's a newer Suzuki Grand Vitara/Sidekick thing) and that insurance doesn't kick in until Monday. He was not even carrying a valid driver's license. He did have a state issued ID card which I wrote down all of the info on, as well as his license plate number. Despite the fact that I always preach to call the cops no matter what someone says in a situation like this, I didn't. I figure it will work like this: If I call the cops they're going to fine him a few hundred bucks and he won't pay me. Then I'm stuck paying the $500 deductable on my insurance. If I don't call the cops, maybe he will pay me and I won't be completely screwed.
The bill is going to look like this:
$300: new tires
$100: alignment
$150-$350: new alloy wheel
What are you thoughts? Do I file a police report anyway, knowing that since he didn't actually hit me they will simply let him go? Or do I just sit here and hope he pays me back?
Another issue that bothers me is, how the hell does he not have insurance, if he has a new vehicle? Unless you pay cash, it's impossible. I know where he bought the vehicle, it had a dealer license frame thing on it. Do I get ahold of them and try to find out who his insurance company is, then file a claim with them? What are my options?
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-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

 

[Bill Catherall]

The last time I bought a car, the dealer issued temporary insurance to cover me until I got it added to my regular insurance policy. If he really doesn't have insurance then he could be looking at jail time for driving without a license and without insurance. I'd get cash from him, then call the cops.

He should not be doing such things.
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Bill

[Edited last by Bill Catherall on September 27, 2001 at 06:00 PM]

 

[Nathan*W]

I hope accident reporting works differently in WA than in Virginia. Here, if there is no injury and the vehicle damage is less than $1000.00, the accident is non-reportable.
You also may have trouble because you waited to report it instead of calling from the scene.
I'm sorry about your dilemma, I think you will be doing good to get your money from the guy.
-Nathan the Newbie
[Edited last by Nathan Webel on September 27, 2001 at 06:20 PM]

 

[Jay H]

Yeah, defintely get as much info from him as possible.. I think getting cash from him might be a good idea, just use the other info (like lack of insurance, driver's license) as ammo for the future... I've been almost run off the road on my bike before.. A few weeks ago, some moron in a camry decided to make a right without looking in his mirror.. Started turning.. THEN put on his signal and by that time I was right next to him with my bike. Fortunately, I was going slow enough that all I did was leaned INTO the car and put my left hand and my brake lever/handlebar into his rear passenger side door and guided myself along into his turn. No damage to me or my bike and I didn't hang around long enough to see if I damaged his door. I doubt it but in either case, I didn't give a damm and rode off. BTW, that's the proper way to avoid damage if you're going slow enough when a car turns right into you at a stop light. Make sure you are riding slow enough so you don't get forced into a slide under the car or crash into the car and get flipped.
Ryan, I think your Fiero is too small.. apparently people can't see it and are running into you.. perhaps you should put a flag on the back so these tall damm SUVs can see you... and be happy you're not driving a MGB or a triumph spitfire convertable... I swear, when my friend had the spitfire, he could pass people UNDER their cars if he wanted too...
Jay

 

[Clinton McClure]

There are several insurance agencies which will not file a claim for repair without a police report. Mine is one of them.
In other words, if someone were to hit me, etc... and cause damage, but I do not call the cops and get a report, my insurance company is not obligated to fix my car. For all they know, I could be filing a false claim. In a world of cheap-ass con-artists, this makes sense and I have no problems with it.
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[JonZ]

Yesterday I was almost hit by a guy who ran a stop sign becuase he was talking on his cellphone, i swerved, swore at him and he smiled and waved.
10 minutes later another idiot went inot my lane without looking, and YET another taking up 2 lanes on the high way.
I swear I HATE HATE HATE to drive. I wish I could fly everywhere.
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[Ryan Wright]

quote: Ryan, I think your Fiero is too small.. apparently people can't see it and are running into you.. [/quote]
Well, the last guy saw me just fine, he was simply in a road rage and ran me off the road on purpose.
I've had people merge into my lane a number of times before, but usually they listen to my horn and get back in their own lane in time. I agree that I have a small car and it may be hard to see - though that doesn't excuse people not doing head checks. I've never had an accident before last month. Never been run off the road, never hit anyone, nothing, and now I get two in a row. Luck is NOT on my side lately...
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-Ryan ( http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
[Edited last by Ryan Wright on September 27, 2001 at 06:47 PM]

 

[Kirk Gunn]

From MD and MA:
You can always file a police report, but that doesn't mean their going to knock on his door and interrogate him, then find him at fault. They'll file it away and that's the last anyone will ever see of it.
You get a copy for your insurance company, but the report alone will not cause the other driver any grief.

 

[Eric Scott]

I see it as a test of your judgement of individuals. (A bit of a gamble.) I've had people who paid up, who said they would. Then I had a guy who not only lied to the insurance company about what happened in the accident, but the location of the accident, (because it made his story sound better.)

 

[Scott Merryfield]

It's quite possible this guy was not carrying a driver's license for another reason -- his license may have been suspended for previous violations. I would file the police report and let the insurance company pay for the damage. If this guy is driving on a suspended license, he should be reported. If he has a valid license, then there's no harm done.
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[MikeAlletto]

All these examples of almost getting run off, running stop signs...taking up 2 lanes makes me think of something. Did any of you use your horn to signal you were there and that you were pissed? This is one thing I don't understand about living in Texas (or anywhere in the south). When I lived up north...people used their horns and used them often. You knew if you cut someone off or irritated someone. Just flipping them off doesn't do it. Down here when I get cut off I lay on the horn. Then let them get a little further ahead of me, then I speed up and give them another long obnoxious horn blast a little down the road when I pass them. Last time I did this on the way back from lunch the people in my car couldn't believe I did it. The horn is there for a reason, use it in excess I say.
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Michael Alletto
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[Joel Mack]

Down here when I get cut off I lay on the horn. Then let them get a little further ahead of me, then I speed up and give them another long obnoxious horn blast a little down the road when I pass them.

I dunno...sounds like a good way to get shot one of these days...
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[alan halvorson]

I used to work for an insurance company that carried autos. This is how that insurance company, and every insurance company I'm aware of, does it (it might even be a state law or regulation): If the guy has insurance and bought a vehicle as either an addition or a replacement but hasn't told his insurance company about it yet, that vehicle is covered for a reasonable length of time. Who in their right mind would buy a vehicle on, say, Wednesday but not make their insurance effective until Monday, all the while driving that vehicle? Why have insurance at all?
Always report an accident to the police. You have no assurances at all that this guy will come through - he could be be a very smooth talker. Without that report, what if he stiffs you? How are going to back yourself up if you sued in small claims court? Driving without a valid drivers license is a huge red flag. Insurance that doesn't "kick in" until sometime in the future is another.
Anyway, hindsight is 20-20. Hope it all works out.
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!!!
- Napoleon XIV

 

[James Q Jenkins]

1) Report the accident IMMEDIATELY with the police.
2) Call your insurance company and report the accident.
If the guy was not insured he should not have been driving. If he had no license he should not have been driving.
Since the guy was not insured and the accident was not your fault it will be covered under your uninsured motorist provision. Your deductible won't be $500, it should be $100 or $0 most likely.
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-JQJ

 

[AdrianJ]

I hope accident reporting works differently in WA than in Virginia. Here, if there is no injury and the vehicle damage is less than $1000.00, the accident is non-reportable.

I lived my first 23 years in Virginia and I have never heard of such a thing. I've filed a couple of police reports that had under $1,000 damage in Virginia.
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Adrian Jones

 

[Moe Maishlish]

Look at it this way.
If he does not have a license he should not be driving. The accident that he had with you could be minor, but the next one he has could end up killing someone.
Report the accident ASAP. If he does not have insurance then either get the money from him beforehand (as it looks like you have done), or get ready to take the hit.
It a crappy situation, I know... but I personally think it's worth it.
Way I see it, we've all got a sense of public duty in keeping society safe. If we don't take responsibility on an individual level, what makes us think that the problems will ever go away?
Sorry, don't mean to sound preachy.
Moe.

 

[MickeS]

quote:
Down here when I get cut off I lay on the horn. Then let them get a little further ahead of me, then I speed up and give them another long obnoxious horn blast a little down the road when I pass them. Last time I did this on the way back from lunch the people in my car couldn't believe I did it. The horn is there for a reason, use it in excess I say.[/quote]
My philosophy has always been this:
The horn is there basically as an extension of your headlights. For example, if someone is about to merge into the lane so you might be in danger, honk long and loudly. If you're pissed off, honk a little longer.
But when the situation is over, don't use the horn as an extension of you middle finger. It does no good: either they KNOW they did something wrong, and they don't care, or they DIDN'T KNOW, and in that case they already feel bad, or took notice the first time you honked to make them avoid hitting you.
IMO, of course.
/Mike
[Edited last by MickeS on September 28, 2001 at 03:47 PM]