Post: #1

So I had a lot on my mind that morning 4 days ago -

Had family flying in from far away, had an intern assigned to me, and I forgot my phone, and I decided to hit a super crowded highway at rush hour.

So, stop and go traffic.

I see the car in front of the car in front of me starts moving. I expect the car in front of me to start moving, take foot off break, then realize I forgot my phone at home (today of all days when I had family coming), and sure enough I touch the car in front of me (at 1-2mph).

She pulls over, so I do too.

Fat bitch was on the phone and didnt pick the speed up fast enough. I assume her husband was on the phone with her and then he called the cops.

No damage to my car, slight dent/scratch to her 2017 SUV. No airbags deployed.

Cop comes - "First thing - is everyone alright?" We both say/nod yes. No ambulance ever called. Cop said this so minor "you really want to report this?" Fatty says yes.

Take report, exchange info, numbers. She was perfectly fine, in all senses etc.

Her husband shows up. Thanks me for sticking around.

Cop gives me $150 ticket and we all head off our separate ways. She drives off herself.

I have 50 body injury, 25property.

Now, the dent should be 3-4k at most.

However, next day she claims she has bodily injury as well (didnt specify what). WTF?

My insurance company calls me and records my statement. My agent hears all this and says "yeah, we will be contesting this for sure"

I am a bit worried as to how this is going to play out. Everyone around me is saying to not sweat it, and I will be fine.

But any experts here?

Post: #2

There's nothing to worry about. The fact that this is going through your insurance means they'll be the ones playing ball. Most likely they'll laugh at the bitch and contest it.

At worst, your insurance may go up when you renew. But if you've never been in an accident before, they might let it slide.

Post: #3

Lol I raised the rates myself in a way - I was in state minimum and raised it to the "recommended" level. I am 24 and frankly a bit shook after this.

Post: #4

It's fine. You're over thinking it (understandable, first real accident).

Honestly, driving was far more stressful as a teenager. As an adult, it's much easier to just let the insurance companies duke it over.

First accident, stop and go, at 24 is totally fine. If you're really worried, call your agent up and ask what you can expect in terms of a rise in your premium. They're doing the job the insurance company was paid to do.

Post: #5

My irrational fears had me worried that she will make up BS Whiplash PandS claims etc, have medical bills over 50K then go after my personal money...

Post: #6

Don't worry about that, your insurance company is handling everything, you'll have nothing to pay - worst case, they'll slightly hike your premium next year, but not much - and I'm sure they'll be contesting this. I used to work for a car insurance company and I can tell you you got nothing to worry about.

Post: #7

Nothing to worry about.

Worked in insurance for a few years. Minor accident.

Post: #8

As far as I know (from my driving experience), cars touching at 2mph causes no damage whatsoever. But you two not only stopped over but called the police as well? That just blows my mind.

If such incident happened in Europe, people would just continue driving like nothing happened.

Post: #9

I've investigated hundreds of crashes and seen every dumb situation you can imagine. First, good job having insurance and for stopping. A lot of shitbirds just flee or don't have insurance, they are also kind of people that have these crashes regularly. I would look into getting better insurance though.

One crash I handled involved two cars and five people. Kid and three friends were driving and saw deer standing in ditch, so he decided to drive left of center instead of just slowing down. As he does that a grandma in a newer SUV comes over the hill and they collide head-on. Car with four people was old cheap rice burner so it ends up in cornfield with three occupants entrapped. The SUV goes into ditch, and as lady gets out the freaking car falls on her, it was like something from final destination.

They ended up flying four of the five occupants in life flights. All five had what I would consider catastrophic injuries. Life flights in the state I'm in run about $50,000 a pop. That's $200,000 before they got to hospital. It was a million dollar crash at least, and the at fault kid had no insurance.

Post: #10

My old man was a a traffic cop. He told me about a case like this that he had to testify in. The cops and other specialist were able to prove that it was physically impossible for the "victim" to have sustained those types of injuries due to the low speed. Don't stress too much about it man.

Post: #11

Interesting thread. I'll share about mine.

I was a couple years out of high school earning cash to pay for college.So, I was doing a courier job that required me to drive a van for about 6 hours from one state to another every night. In the beginning it didn't seem all that bad, but then winter time came and things changed....

I had little experience driving in winter weather, but things never got too hairy; it would snow but only bad enough to somewhat hamper visibility. When, snow would be heavier, I'd just turn on my warning lights and coast along slower and I thought I had winter driving down pat.

However, this night, I was a little angry about having to work. I can't remember why, but there was some snow and freezing rain occurring and I don't think I wanted to deal with it.

Anyways, I begrudgingly hop in the van and start heading down the highway fuming about the crappy driving conditions. Then, as I'm cruising along at 55/65 mph, it happens...

I hit some black ice spot on. I fruitlessly make an effort at trying to correct course as I slowly realize I'm about to wreck, but I end up overcorrecting. Then, before I fully realize it, my van is already on it's side sliding down the highway. At this point, I fully realize what's happening and that I have zero control over the situation now and I start to ask myself when the pain is going to come with questions like "will I break both my legs?", "will I slam my head really hard?", "will I careen through a barrier and die from the fall off a chasm?"

As it turns out, none of the above. The van eventually slides off the highway into a grassy ditch. I sit for a minute oriented like I'm lying over and mulling over how bad I've screwed up and then fumble to push the passenger door up to climb out of the car.

It's freezing cold and I can't think straight for nothing. I then notice some passerbys running over and yelling to ask if I'm ok and then I start thinking about movies again and I wonder, "what if these guys wanna kill me?" Then I see one of them fall and bust his butt on the ground and then quickly forget that thought. We talk a little about what they saw and then I tell them I'm ok and then they tell me they called 911 for me and then they leave

After that, emergency services came and another courier came to transfer my load to their van. I then went back to my job and got a drug test for the wreck and then quickly made the realization I wasn't going to be dealing with this risk for $10/hr and a couple months later I quit.

Post: #12

Judging by name of this thread I thought it would be about the first car accident somewhere in 19th century.

Turns out it's just someone panicking and seeing his little accident as the beginning and end of the world.

What a disappointment.

Post: #13

I was in 4 accidents and hit a bicyclist before I was 25. Shits gonna be fine dude!

Insurance is there for a reason.

Post: #14

You're way too worried about this.

Other driver is clearly lying about the extent of her injuries.

The only way something bad would happen to you is if didn't pay the ticket. This nothing to lose sleep over.

Post: #15

Since you hit her from behind you're considered 100% at fault. However since you have insurance, it's their job to make sure the other party isn't trying to scam them with phony injury claims. So the only penalty you have to deal with is however your insurance company chooses to raise your rates.

I'm curious exactly what you got ticketed for though, last time I checked it isn't illegal to get into an accident.

Post: #16

(06-03-2017 01:17 PM)BortimusPrime Wrote:  Since you hit her from behind you're considered 100% at fault. However since you have insurance, it's their job to make sure the other party isn't trying to scam them with phony injury claims. So the only penalty you have to deal with is however your insurance company chooses to raise your rates.

I'm curious exactly what you got ticketed for though, last time I checked it isn't illegal to get into an accident.

He got ticketed for either assured clear distance ahead or improper starting. Every crash has an at fault party(or animal) there is no such thing as an "accident" in a legal sense.

Post: #17

Tha's a new one for me. You hit her but blame her for not picking up speed enough. By this cool new standard anyone can rear end anyone at any speed and blame the car in front for not picking up speed. Better yet we could turn highways into trains by pushing all the cars ahead.

Does anyone have the blank IRT photo and can make the meme using the fat bitch disnt pick up speed line.

Newly classic.

Post: #18

(06-03-2017 03:08 PM)Off The Reservation Wrote:  Tha's a new one for me. You hit her but blame her for not picking up speed enough. By this cool new standard anyone can rear end anyone at any speed and blame the car in front for not picking up speed. Better yet we could turn highways into trains by pushing all the cars ahead.

Does anyone have the blank IRT photo and can make the meme using the fat bitch disnt pick up speed line.

Newly classic.

Re: the bolded, LOL. But they can also blame him, which is what happened, for not paying attention and failing to notice the car directly ahead wasn't moving before he accelerated. I think that that's the more salient point. The person behind should be aware of the car immediately in front of them. It's common sense.

Based on the story he's clearly at fault. In my state, NY, he would've gotten ticketed for reckless driving, tailgating or a general moving violation depending on the officer since our traffic statues are so vaguely written (listed in descending order of monetary fine).

Post: #19

(06-03-2017 02:12 PM)Number one bummer Wrote:  

(06-03-2017 01:17 PM)BortimusPrime Wrote:  Since you hit her from behind you're considered 100% at fault. However since you have insurance, it's their job to make sure the other party isn't trying to scam them with phony injury claims. So the only penalty you have to deal with is however your insurance company chooses to raise your rates.

I'm curious exactly what you got ticketed for though, last time I checked it isn't illegal to get into an accident.

He got ticketed for either assured clear distance ahead or improper starting. Every crash has an at fault party(or animal) there is no such thing as an "accident" in a legal sense.

Well for the insurance sure there's always some distribution of fault, but the ticket sounds like bullshit to me. Although given that cities and states treat traffic violations as a revenue stream instead of their original intent as deterrent against bad driving, I'm not surprised. Think about it this way, the dude's already got a ding on his insurance for being at fault in an accident aka a deterrent, the government just needs a taste of the action too apparently.

Post: #20

(06-03-2017 04:13 PM)BortimusPrime Wrote:  

(06-03-2017 02:12 PM)Number one bummer Wrote:  

(06-03-2017 01:17 PM)BortimusPrime Wrote:  Since you hit her from behind you're considered 100% at fault. However since you have insurance, it's their job to make sure the other party isn't trying to scam them with phony injury claims. So the only penalty you have to deal with is however your insurance company chooses to raise your rates.

I'm curious exactly what you got ticketed for though, last time I checked it isn't illegal to get into an accident.

He got ticketed for either assured clear distance ahead or improper starting. Every crash has an at fault party(or animal) there is no such thing as an "accident" in a legal sense.

Well for the insurance sure there's always some distribution of fault, but the ticket sounds like bullshit to me. Although given that cities and states treat traffic violations as a revenue stream instead of their original intent as deterrent against bad driving, I'm not surprised. Think about it this way, the dude's already got a ding on his insurance for being at fault in an accident aka a deterrent, the government just needs a taste of the action too apparently.

There is always a money factor but there are variety of benefits to enforcement actions. One, a ticket puts points on a person's license which lets insurance companies identify bad drivers and fix their rates accordingly. Two, it designates fault in the court of law which can help if the case goes to civil court. Three, it allows for some manner of restitution(in some states) if other the driver doesn't have insurance for example the judge can have them pay up to certain amount(deductible usually). Four, deterrence from continuing to drive stupid if you are close to losing license.

I've seen plenty of people(mostly women) who lost their license based solely on crashing into people. In my state it takes 6 at fault crashes in two years. Those people shouldn't be driving giant pieces of metal until they can go more than four months without hitting someone.

Post: #21

So should I just pay off the ticket now even though my insurance people will likely be muddling with her and her insurance people? I only fear that I would be straight up admitting fault if I paid the ticket. Or should I wait till the deadline (June 16th)?

Post: #22

Did you mention to insurance or on scene officer she was on her cell phone?

Post: #23

Call a ticket lawyer and get the ticket thrown out in court. Your driving record will not have any marks on it that way.


It is usually cheaper to justspeak to the woman before the cops are called and offer money to fix the accident. Say to her something like "I don't want to get insurance involved because both of our rates will go up, will you take $$$?"

Once the insurance companies are called you'll end up being billed for everything wrong with the car, including cup holders and you could end up paying 'medical bills,' which are potentially infinite. "Back Pain" can end up costing your insurance company a fortune. (Which you'll eventually feel in higher rates).

Post: #24

You're fine--minor accident, no major damage to the car. She'll perhaps go to the doctor, he'll say there is "soft tissue damage" or something like that, and she'll try to get your insurance to pay for medical + "pain and suffering" or something. Insurance companies will negotiate/fight/contest, the case will be settled, and in all likelihood you will have a SMALL (if any) increase in your premium.

As far as the ticket, as other have said you hit her from behind so you're at fault. You can speak with your insurance company if you want, but you'll most likely have to pay it. Contesting it under "she didn't pick up speed fast enough" will get you a laugh from the judge and sent straight to the cashier to pay the ticket.

Post: #25

(06-05-2017 11:03 AM)Rotten Wrote:  Call a ticket lawyer and get the ticket thrown out in court. Your driving record will not have any marks on it that way.


It is usually cheaper to justspeak to the woman before the cops are called and offer money to fix the accident. Say to her something like "I don't want to get insurance involved because both of our rates will go up, will you take $$$?"

Once the insurance companies are called you'll end up being billed for everything wrong with the car, including cup holders and you could end up paying 'medical bills,' which are potentially infinite. "Back Pain" can end up costing your insurance company a fortune. (Which you'll eventually feel in higher rates).

Respectfully: this is all wrong....

You COULD get a lawyer...and spend way more than $150 (plus likely the $150 ticket anyway--how is OP getting out of this one--he rear-ended her in stop and go traffic?). It's a minor accident--not a huge deal (and certainly not lawyer worthy). If OP has no other marks on his record, he'll be fine.

Just offer her money on the spot? How much does he have on him? Not likely to work.

The insurance company absolutely will not pay for "everything wrong with the car, including cupholders." Insurance companies aren't in the business of "paying for everything." They, and their attorneys, will negotiate, contest, and make sure they pay the absolute smallest amount possible. As far as medical bills, again, the insurance company will negotiate that down as low as possible (and they certainly are not "infinite"--the insurance company has formulas for determining payment for virtually every injury/medical claim). Yes, OP may see higher rates--but likely not by too much.