Drivers beware

[Smiling JOe]

Charges?
Call your insurance company. I don't see how this can be considered your fault. They should have been ticketed for unsafe driving.
Walton County's finest

Not throwing blame in any way, but I can see how police reports and insurance companies could say that the accident was your fault. With proper distance maintained between you and the vehicle in front of you, you should be able to avoid an accident when the vehicle in front of you comes to an abrupt stop. However, in today's world with cell phones, and easy to drive cars (only one hand or only a few fingers on the steering wheel), eating food, etc., most people would find it difficult to do such, especially when looking across Western Lake at the dunes and trees. I would probably have hit the truck myself.

I won't even go into the topic of illegal aliens and unlicensed and uninsured drivers. Maybe we need more laws. :funn:Or, is it an enforcement issue? It is sad that people get arrested fro peacefully sitting on the sandy beach for tresspassing and potentially face up to a year in jail if convicted, not to mention lawyer and court costs, when crap like this goes unenforced.

 

[tistheseason]

I was in Destin last year October 1, give or take a few days. My wife and I were in Ralph's or Publix I don't remember which. After being in there for while I could not believe what I was seeing, I thought I had gone to Mexico or at least southern Texas. There was a Mexican or two or more on every isle. If they were here legally, paying there share of what I have to pay for roads, law enforcement, government perks, yahta,yahta, yahta, more power to them, I hope the best for them. But I have a sneeky suspension, that"s not the case. Maybe I am wrong and just thinking wrong. I wish.

There is something very disturbing about this post. What gave you the impression that they were here illegally? The fact that they were from Mexico? (And my guess is that you don't actually know they are from Mexico but are making a generalization -- which goes back to the old "They all look the same to me" statement that has been applied to any group that you don't care enough to really notice.) I would caution you to get more information before jumping to the conclusion that they are here illegally.

And while I'm on my soapbox please save your disgust for the people who are bringing them here illegally so that they can do their work much cheaper -- and bypass paying taxes on their salaries. Could you really say that if your family was desperate for money you wouldn't do whatever it takes to get them fed????

(Stepping off soapbox for now)

 

[Smiling JOe]

My calling the sheriff's department was to get the vehicle and the unlicensed, uninsured driver off the road, and to protect myself in case I needed to file a claim, that's all.

FYI- I do believe it is against the law to not report an accident. You always want to file a police report, because even if it increases your insurance rates, it beats the heck out of spending time when they charge you for hit and run, which the other driver could file, even if they look like a nice guy when you pull over and talk to them.

 

[NoHall]

FYI- I do believe it is against the law to not report an accident. You always want to file a police report, because even if it increases your insurance rates, it beats the heck out of spending time when they charge you for hit and run, which the other driver could file, even if they look like a nice guy when you pull over and talk to them.

Does that vary from state to state? From what I understand, it's legal here to pull over and swap insurance information. I've even heard it encouraged in rush-hour situations to prevent subsequent/rubberneck accidents while people are waiting on police.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm not sure, but I would think that it is a State law, since driving laws seem to vary state to state.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Does that vary from state to state? From what I understand, it's legal here to pull over and swap insurance information. I've even heard it encouraged in rush-hour situations to prevent subsequent/rubberneck accidents while people are waiting on police.

When I had a fender bender in Clearwater about 10 yrs. ago, the police told me to exchange info and said not to call the police unless it's a major accident. I thought that was bizaar.

 

[NoHall]

When I had a fender bender in Clearwater about 10 yrs. ago, the police told me to exchange info and said not to call the police unless it's a major accident. I thought that was bizaar.

The last time I was in a fender-bender was in rush hour in the big city of Gainesville (Georgia.) I was in my big ol' truck, and I gave a camaro a little love tap--it was raining and she slammed on the brakes. I hit her at about 2 mph. She didn't even want to move out of the road and insisted on calling the police.

I later found out that she was using the accident as an excuse to fix everything that was wrong with her car. The impact wasn't enough to even spill my drink in the truck, but she showed up with a neck collar at State Farm and wanted all kinds of things fixed.

Makes me wonder if insurance is a great idea which has had its day. (Then again, I reckon that there will always be people who will find ways to take advantage of a good system.)

 

[Smiling JOe]

I'm still wondering why every car produced doesn't have a scan code, where police could access info such as vehicle ownership, insurance policy, licensed driver info of operator, and mechanics or even you can access info such as repair history, oil and filter changes, gas mileage, tire history, etc. Curious cops would zap a car's scan bar from inside their own car, while driving down the road. Oh, but wait, that would be a living hell, wouldn't it? Can you say POLICE STATE?

 

[Rudyjohn]

The last time I was in a fender-bender was in rush hour in the big city of Gainesville (Georgia.) I was in my big ol' truck, and I gave a camaro a little love tap--it was raining and she slammed on the brakes. I hit her at about 2 mph. She didn't even want to move out of the road and insisted on calling the police.

I later found out that she was using the accident as an excuse to fix everything that was wrong with her car. The impact wasn't enough to even spill my drink in the truck, but she showed up with a neck collar at State Farm and wanted all kinds of things fixed.

Makes me wonder if insurance is a great idea which has had its day. (Then again, I reckon that there will always be people who will find ways to take advantage of a good system.)

Exactly. That's what I was afraid would happen to me too. But the police refused to come. It was mid-morning, mid-week, light traffic. And then on the other side of the coin, I got stopped for speeding this week. I got popped for $115 for going 38 in a 30 mph zone.

 

[scooterbug44]

I guess I don't find it odd that 17 year olds drive to pick up their paychecks. How else do they get them?

Direct deposit, the mail, handed out at work.........

I was thinking more in terms that "17 year olds" should have been in school.


ALWAYS call the cops when you get in an accident! Amazing how often a minor tap that was completely someone else's fault can end up with a neck brace and suit against you. :roll: