Second Opinion

[bfarrelliv]

New York State (Cayuga County)

I need a second opinion on my situation. After work one day, some co-workers and I went bowling. After bowling ended, I was nice enough to give one of the co-workers a ride home. He wanted to be dropped off at a bar down the road from his house. Anyways, while doing this, we got in an argument. We were outside of the car getting in each others faces and when I turned to get back into the car, I was jumped by the co-worker. When I came to, I saw that my antenna on my car was purposely bent. I knew where he lived so I went to his house to confront him about the antenna and to try to find out why he jumped me over a stupid argument. When I arrived at his house and got out of the car, he jumped off his porch, exposed himself, and was getting up in my face again. I just got back in my car and I started to back out of his driveway. I was just about in the main road when he jumped on the hood of my car. I went from reverse into drive and started heading back into his driveway. He was blocking my view of sight and he fell off the car right before I clipped his porch. Well, there was two eyewitnesses(an 8-year old that should have been in school and a guy) and they said that I ran him over, but he went underneath the front of my vehicle and that was it. Because of the eyewitnesses stating what they saw, he was air-lifted to University hospital instead of the community hospital that was around 1 mile away. He was released from the hospital after about 2 hours and no injuries. I was told by people who live by him that when he got home, he went to the bar and went to work the next day. I was charged with reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, both misdemeanors. The lawyer that I retained said that I will probably have to do jailtime, unless we threaten to go to trial. He said then maybe they will settle. I am the only income provider in my family. I have a wife and three kids. Please give me advice. I need a second opinion on this.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by bfarrelliv

New York State (Cayuga County)

I need a second opinion on my situation. After work one day, some co-workers and I went bowling. After bowling ended, I was nice enough to give one of the co-workers a ride home. He wanted to be dropped off at a bar down the road from his house. Anyways, while doing this, we got in an argument. We were outside of the car getting in each others faces and when I turned to get back into the car, I was jumped by the co-worker. When I came to, I saw that my antenna on my car was purposely bent. I knew where he lived so I went to his house to confront him about the antenna and to try to find out why he jumped me over a stupid argument. When I arrived at his house and got out of the car, he jumped off his porch, exposed himself, and was getting up in my face again. I just got back in my car and I started to back out of his driveway. I was just about in the main road when he jumped on the hood of my car. I went from reverse into drive and started heading back into his driveway. He was blocking my view of sight and he fell off the car right before I clipped his porch. Well, there was two eyewitnesses(an 8-year old that should have been in school and a guy) and they said that I ran him over, but he went underneath the front of my vehicle and that was it. Because of the eyewitnesses stating what they saw, he was air-lifted to University hospital instead of the community hospital that was around 1 mile away. He was released from the hospital after about 2 hours and no injuries. I was told by people who live by him that when he got home, he went to the bar and went to work the next day. I was charged with reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, both misdemeanors. The lawyer that I retained said that I will probably have to do jailtime, unless we threaten to go to trial. He said then maybe they will settle. I am the only income provider in my family. I have a wife and three kids. Please give me advice. I need a second opinion on this.

Q: The lawyer that I retained said that I will probably have to do jailtime, unless we threaten to go to trial. He said then maybe they will settle.

A: I agree with your lawyer. But I have to ask: WHO are you wanting to settle with and WHAT is it you want to settle? (It sounds like you are mixing up the criminal charge with a civil case.)

[judge425]

should have gone to the police and not to his house.. that was your mistake there. Unfortunately, the law requires that individuals allow law enforcement to handle such matters so that situations like yours do not happen. Next time instead of looking for revenge, be a wussy and call the cops.. being a wussy is much more beneficial to your pocket and overall well being.