Was in an accident, Please help.

[jtrageser]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania.

On friday morning just after midnight, my roomate and I went to the store and on the way back we hit a parked car that was parked in a no parking zone (right in my neighborhood). It was dark and no street lights and I did not see the car. We were going about 25 MPH and I did not see the car, therefore the accident was a total surprise and we came to a dead stop. I got wiplash and a bruised collar bone and my roomate got some bruised ribs. I lost conciousness for a minute or so and when I came to, I got out of the car and the owner of the parked car was standing there with his sister and mother (I have known the family for years since they live in the same neighborhood as me). The owner of the vehicle started flipping out on me and yelling at me and we almost got into a fight over it. Therefore, we walked to my brothers house which is right over on the next street to avoid a conflict with the owner of the other vehicle. When we got to my brothers house, my roomate and I were still in shock from the accident so we sat down for a minute to calm down before we called the police. We both ended up falling asleep as we both got up early that day and worked all day. As soon as I woke up I called the police about the incident and the officer that came started taking about Hit and Run. I said, wait a minute. I did not run from the scene, I was trying to talk to the owner but he was too upset and we almost got into a fight over this. I only left to avoid conflict and the only reason that I didn't call is because we ended up falling asleep on my brothers couch as we were both tired and shook up from the accident. Unfortunately he wasn't the officer dealing with the case, so now I need to worry about the officer that is dealing with the case charging me with hit and run. I did not think that I would get in trouble for leaving to avoid conflict. Plus, like I said, I have known the family for years and they know where me and my brother live and had all of my information. I only left because we were going to fight if I didn't leave. Plus, like I said before, he wasn't even supposed to be parked where he was in the first place. It is a neighborhood rule that there is no parking on the streets here at any time (it is a mobile home park and it is in a lease that everyone has to sign). I wanted to know if they are actually able to charge me with hit and run or if they are just trying to scare me. Also, if they do charge me with hit and run, what I could possibly be facing and what are my chances of beating it? I had no intentions of running from the scene, I just had no choice. I was trying to avoid conflict with the owner of the other vehicle and I knew that they had all of my information anyway. The officer I spoke with the next morning also was being ignorant with me and accusing me of drinking and driving. He automatically assumed that because I left. I did not drink a thing as I do not drink during work nights. I told him I only left because the owner of the other vehicle was trying to fight me, but he did not believe me. Hopefully the officer handling the case does believe me as I can not afford to be charged with hit and run. I just can't believe they are making this like it is my fault when his car was parked in a no parking zone where there are no street lights. Any advice on the situation is greatly appreciated. I am afraid that I am going to be arrested and go to jail because I was trying to avoid a fight and left. Thank you for reading this and thanks in advance for any advice on this situation.

James

 

[racer72]

It is your fault. It is not legal to run into vehicles, whether illegally parked or not. As the operator of a motor vehicle, it is your responsibility of avoid all road hazards. The claims of hit and run sounds legitimate. You left the scene of an accident without notifying the police. All your other excuses are about as lame as they come. You need a good attorney, hire one soon. And if you get a chance in the near future, please obtain some education on grammar and compostion, your post is extremely painful to read. Remember, paragraphs are your friend.

 

[Curt581]

On friday morning just after midnight, my roomate and I went to the store and on the way back we hit a parked car that was parked in a no parking zone (right in my neighborhood).

Okay... it's Friday night... after midnight... and you hit a parked car... okay... As a police officer, my first thought is this has "drunk driver" written all over it.

It was dark and no street lights and I did not see the car. We were going about 25 MPH and I did not see the car, therefore the accident was a total surprise and we came to a dead stop. I got whiplash and a bruised collar bone and my roomate got some bruised ribs. I lost conciousness for a minute or so

You each got some semi-serious injuries. Loss of consiousness is serious business. It usually indicates a head injury. Sounds to me like, either you weren't wearing seat belts, or you were going faster than you think. Or both.

and when I came to, I got out of the car and the owner of the parked car was standing there with his sister and mother (I have known the family for years since they live in the same neighborhood as me). The owner of the vehicle started flipping out on me and yelling at me and we almost got into a fight over it.

As well he might. I'm sure you'd be pretty hacked off if some knucklehead ran into your car. Improperly parked or not.

Therefore, we walked to my brothers house which is right over on the next street to avoid a conflict with the owner of the other vehicle.

Bad idea. Leaving the scene qualifies as Hit & Run. It could be construed as Hit & Run Causing Injury, for your friend's messed up ribs. That's a felony in most states.

When we got to my brothers house, my roomate and I were still in shock from the accident so we sat down for a minute to calm down before we called the police. We both ended up falling asleep as we both got up early that day and worked all day.

Let me get this straight. You're both injured, and both seriously shook up from both the accident, and the verbal confrontation with the vehicle owner, adrenaline pumpin, pulses racing, yadda yadda... and yet... YOU BOTH MANAGE TO FALL ASLEEP IMMEDIATELY AFTER SITTING DOWN ? !

Sorry, I'm calling BS on that one. If any part of this story screamed DRUNK DRIVER, that's it.

I did not think that I would get in trouble for leaving to avoid conflict.

It might not have been, IF you had called the cops immediately when you got home. The rule of thumb is:
Whoever calls 911 first, is the victim.

Plus, like I said before, he wasn't even supposed to be parked where he was in the first place.

That's not a free pass to hit it. He may share a small measure of civil culpability, but never forget that you were the one driving, and you were the one that hit his car. This one's nearly all yours.

It is a neighborhood rule that there is no parking on the streets here at any time (it is a mobile home park and it is in a lease that everyone has to sign).

A neighborhood rule is not the same as a law or local ordnance. Breaking a rule is not illegal. And that is all a court judge will be concerned about.

I wanted to know if they are actually able to charge me with hit and run or if they are just trying to scare me.

The short answer is: Yes, they can. Whether they will or not is something else. Only the cop handling the case can answer that.

Also, if they do charge me with hit and run, what I could possibly be facing and what are my chances of beating it?

That one is PA specific. Anybody?

I had no intentions of running from the scene, I just had no choice. I was trying to avoid conflict with the owner of the other vehicle and I knew that they had all of my information anyway.

Whether the owner knew you or not is irrelevant. You should have stayed at the scene, or not waited until morning to call the cops.

The officer I spoke with the next morning also was being ignorant with me and accusing me of drinking and driving. He automatically assumed that because I left. I did not drink a thing as I do not drink during work nights.

That was the most logical explanation. Sorry. It's doubtful that he'd be able to get a DUI charge, since no BAC level was obtained, but that is why 99.999 % of drivers who leave a nighttime accident scene do so.

I just can't believe they are making this like it is my fault when his car was parked in a no parking zone where there are no street lights.

It was your fault. Your car was the only one moving, and you were driving it. His car was stationary, even if it was improperly (not illegally) parked.

Any advice on the situation is greatly appreciated. I am afraid that I am going to be arrested and go to jail because I was trying to avoid a fight and left

My advise? Hire the best attorney you can afford, even if you have to borrow the money.

 

[jtrageser]

I seriously was not drinking guys. I only left because we were about to fight. I thought that as long as I give them my information and told them where I was going that the police could come talk to me there. I guess they didn't hear me when I told them I was going right over to my brothers house (which is basically right across from their house on the next street over in the park). Therefore, the police didn't ever talk to me that night (by the way, it was a thursday night and I had work the next morning and I don't drink on work nights). I ended up falling asleep and when I got up in the morning I called the police to report it. The officer that came then asked me some questions and I answered them. He did ask me if I was drinking and I told him no. I really didn't know it was against the law to leave as long as I talked with the owner of the vehicle and they had my information. Plus, I did tell them where I was going. I'm just really afriad of this situation. I have been doing really good and staying out of trouble and I have a good job. I can't afford to go to jail right now. I'm doing so good.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

There has GOT to be a trailer somewhere in this story!

IAAL

 

[Curt581]

My response:

There has GOT to be a trailer somewhere in this story!

IAAL

(it is a mobile home park and it is in a lease that everyone has to sign).

Missed that part, huh?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

I guess I did. But, I knew - - I mean I knew it, from the sound of this writer's story, I knew this guy was trailer trash. I could smell it!

Thanks for the confirmation.

IAAL

 

[jtrageser]

My response:

I guess I did. But, I knew - - I mean I knew it, from the sound of this writer's story, I knew this guy was trailer trash. I could smell it!

Thanks for the confirmation.

IAAL

Ok, I live in a trailer park but I am not trailer trash. I was not born in a trailer and I was not raised in one. I was born in baltimore maryland and raised in New York. My parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them. Perhaps you are the one that is trash. Due to your ignorant and immature response I can only assume that you are a childish piece of white trash. Grow up A**hole.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Ok, I live in a trailer park but I am not trailer trash. I was not born in a trailer and I was not raised in one. I was born in baltimore maryland and raised in New York. My parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them. Perhaps you are the one that is trash. Due to your ignorant and immature response I can only assume that you are a childish piece of white trash. Grow up A**hole.

My response:

Oh, pal - - there's nothing you can say to alleviate your trashiness. Of course, I believe that your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them", yet you opted for the trailer!

And, of course your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them" which is why you've come to a free advice site, and can't afford your own attorney.

And, of course your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them" which is why you and your friends run into parked cars in the trailer court.

Yep, trailer trash is written ALL over this one!


IAAL

 

[jtrageser]

My response:

Oh, pal - - there's nothing you can say to alleviate your trashiness. Of course, I believe that your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them", yet you opted for the trailer!

And, of course your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them" which is why you've come to a free advice site, and can't afford your own attorney.

And, of course your "parents own a multi-million dollar company and I have been raised very well by them" which is why you and your friends run into parked cars in the trailer court.

Yep, trailer trash is written ALL over this one!


IAAL

Like I said... My parents are rich... Not me. I no longer ask them for help.

Anyway, someone as childish and errogant as yourself should be banned from these forums. You have nothing intelligent to say and from the way it sounds, you have no intelligence at all. You sound like someone who has no life and likes to put others down to make your own trash mouth, ignorant, and probably ugly self feel better. Go find something better to do than to put people down. I came here for advice, not to be called names by some immature ******* who probably beats off to child porn in front of his computer. Get a life *******.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Like I said... My parents are rich... Not me. I no longer ask them for help.

My response:

So, then what was the point of telling me that your parents are rich? Did you just NEED to say that for no apparent reason?

Obviously, your parents have played a terrible trick on you, and turned you into a drunken, hit and run, piece of trailer trash!

IAAL

 

[jtrageser]

My response:

So, then what was the point of telling me that your parents are rich? Did you just NEED to say that for no apparent reason?

IAAL

Because trailer trash is not from a rich family you f.u.c.k.i.n.g moron. Not to mention, my trailer was $75,000 and I have about $100,000+ of electronics and computer equipment in it. I own two home based businesses and work a full time job that pays well. If that is trash... then what does that make you? I would say, a loser that has no life and sits on this site all day calling people names like a little child. Go get a f-u-c-k-i-n-g life you a-s-s-h-o-l-e! Don't ever post in one of my threads again. You have nothing intelligent to say and I don't think you ever will. May you rott in hell you worthless piece of s-h-i-t.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Because trailer trash is not from a rich family you f.u.c.k.i.n.g moron. Not to mention, my trailer was $75,000 and I have about $100,000+ of electronics and computer equipment in it. I own two home based businesses and work a full time job that pays well. If that is trash... then what does that make you? I would say, a loser that has no life and sits on this site all day calling people names like a little child. Go get a f-u-c-k-i-n-g life you a-s-s-h-o-l-e! Don't ever post in one of my threads again. You have nothing intelligent to say and I don't think you ever will. May you rott in hell you worthless piece of s-h-i-t.

My response:

Tsk, tsk, tsk little felon boy! Do you French kiss Grandma with that mouth?

Look, here's the bottom line - - you're going to jail. Who's going watch your trailer when you're gone?

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!

IAAL

 

[Bravo8]

As amusing as I find this little thread, I must interupt the fun.

If you provided the owner of the other car with your information, including anme, address, registration number, and insurance info, you are in the clear. From the sound of it, you did not give them this information.

Alternately, you would have been in the clear had you left the scene to avoid a confrontation and IMMEDIATELY contacted the police. You fell asleep....too bad then. Personally, I think you're full of crap, but that's just me.

I'm assuming that the owner of the other car did not contact the police right away, since the cops didn't come looking for you that night.

Where was the owner of the car when you hit it? If he was in view of the car, then it could be deemed "attended" and you leaving would be a Misdemeanor punishable by jail time. If he was not in view of the car, it is therefor "unattended", and you leaving is a Summary Offense - in other words, you'll get a ticket and a fine (up to $300 plus costs).

 

[jtrageser]

As amusing as I find this little thread, I must interupt the fun.

If you provided the owner of the other car with your information, including anme, address, registration number, and insurance info, you are in the clear. From the sound of it, you did not give them this information.

Alternately, you would have been in the clear had you left the scene to avoid a confrontation and IMMEDIATELY contacted the police. You fell asleep....too bad then. Personally, I think you're full of crap, but that's just me.

I'm assuming that the owner of the other car did not contact the police right away, since the cops didn't come looking for you that night.

Where was the owner of the car when you hit it? If he was in view of the car, then it could be deemed "attended" and you leaving would be a Misdemeanor punishable by jail time. If he was not in view of the car, it is therefor "unattended", and you leaving is a Summary Offense - in other words, you'll get a ticket and a fine (up to $300 plus costs).

I did leave them my information, and I even told them where I was going to when I left. I have known the people for years and they knew who I was.

The owner of the vehicle was in his house when I hit it (the car was parked in front of his house but he was in bed sleeping). I have already spoken with the owner of the vehicle and now I am just waiting to talk to the police officer that is handling the case. I do not see how this could be considered a hit and run as I did speak with them immediately after the accident and I left my information. As for me contacting the police, I did have every intention on doing so the same night but like I said... somehow, I fell asleep on my brothers couch and did not wake till several hours later. I then contacted the police.