What is the name of your state? PA
Hello,
I was in an auto accident a few weeks ago, here are the particulars...
I was coming off a highway ramp and I stopped at the Stop sign which is at the intersection. There is a Stop sign but not a four way only a two way, for me and opposing traffic. I looked both ways, waited for a few cars to go by and then proceeded into the intersection when it was clear. I was almost out of the intersection, when I see in my periphal (sp?) the front of a car about to hit into the right side of my minivan. I turned my wheel to the left to avoid as much as possible, the other car's driver turned right but it really was inevitable at that point. My car took a pretty good hit. My three kids were in the van also, ages 4-7. The four year old had a booster seat and the 6 and 7 year old did not, but their seatbelts were fastened. There were four young guys in the other car, I would guess they were all under 20. There were no other witnesses. Their car had to be towed, mine did not, although there is considerable damage to the side of my van. The police came and took everyone's info. I was told by the officer in charge "It's not the Police job to find out who's at fault, it's the insurance co." and he gave me a paper with the other drivers' info. I received no citations or anything at the time. This is also in a small town, I was visiting a relative and the officer clearly knew the other driver, calling him by his nickname and what not.
So about a week later I received a citation for careless driving and one for child restraint due to not having booster seats for my older children. On the careless driving cit. it says, "Def. did enter a roadway from another roadway after stopping at a clearly posted Stop sign, before it was safe to do so causing an accident."
I was upset because the officer told me it was not their job to find fault, but according to the ticket, he found me to be at fault, at least that's my perception. I called to speak to the officer about it and was told from his "investigation" that is what he found. He got an attitude and said, "I could have charged you with reckless driving but I didn't."
So the accident happened on a Sat. evening and by Sunday morning the invesigation was complete because I received a call from the other drivers insurance Sunday about 3 pm.
I plead not guilty to the careless driving cause I believe the other car was speeding. The direction the other car came from has a bend or curve and then a straight away before you get to the intersection. I did not see him and I don't think he saw me cause he didn't try to break, there were no skid marks or anything in the road to show he tried to stop.
I spoke to a lawyer and he said to try and plead "no contest" to avoid points. I cannot afford a lawyer. How do I defend myself?
Hello,
I was in an auto accident a few weeks ago, here are the particulars...
I was coming off a highway ramp and I stopped at the Stop sign which is at the intersection. There is a Stop sign but not a four way only a two way, for me and opposing traffic. I looked both ways, waited for a few cars to go by and then proceeded into the intersection when it was clear. I was almost out of the intersection, when I see in my periphal (sp?) the front of a car about to hit into the right side of my minivan. I turned my wheel to the left to avoid as much as possible, the other car's driver turned right but it really was inevitable at that point. My car took a pretty good hit. My three kids were in the van also, ages 4-7. The four year old had a booster seat and the 6 and 7 year old did not, but their seatbelts were fastened. There were four young guys in the other car, I would guess they were all under 20. There were no other witnesses. Their car had to be towed, mine did not, although there is considerable damage to the side of my van. The police came and took everyone's info. I was told by the officer in charge "It's not the Police job to find out who's at fault, it's the insurance co." and he gave me a paper with the other drivers' info. I received no citations or anything at the time. This is also in a small town, I was visiting a relative and the officer clearly knew the other driver, calling him by his nickname and what not.
So about a week later I received a citation for careless driving and one for child restraint due to not having booster seats for my older children. On the careless driving cit. it says, "Def. did enter a roadway from another roadway after stopping at a clearly posted Stop sign, before it was safe to do so causing an accident."
I was upset because the officer told me it was not their job to find fault, but according to the ticket, he found me to be at fault, at least that's my perception. I called to speak to the officer about it and was told from his "investigation" that is what he found. He got an attitude and said, "I could have charged you with reckless driving but I didn't."
So the accident happened on a Sat. evening and by Sunday morning the invesigation was complete because I received a call from the other drivers insurance Sunday about 3 pm.
I plead not guilty to the careless driving cause I believe the other car was speeding. The direction the other car came from has a bend or curve and then a straight away before you get to the intersection. I did not see him and I don't think he saw me cause he didn't try to break, there were no skid marks or anything in the road to show he tried to stop.
I spoke to a lawyer and he said to try and plead "no contest" to avoid points. I cannot afford a lawyer. How do I defend myself?