What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?Florida
Early this past December, my mother was backing out of a parking spot at a local college campus while another car was coming down the lane, and they connected. Only my mother's car was damaged, and she was asking the other driver what she wanted to do about this (settle w/out insurance, etc). The girl in the other car took my mom's tag info, and drove off. My mother tried to follow her in her car to get the tag info, but the driver evaded her.
My mother, not thinking, starts to try to call me, and our neighbor (who is the police lieutenant in one of the local cities), but neither of us were at our phones. Thinking that she didn't have any options, since she didn't have a tag number, and couldn't even remember the type of car the girl had, she left the college campus, and went to her car dealership to get an estimate on the damage. She did not call the police, which is where the issue arises.
Long story short, she gets a call from the campus police a few hours later after she arrives at home. The policeman says she did a hit and run, and that the other car was at the scene when he arrived (Apparently, she went back after my mom left. Can you believe it?!?!) Since she didn't call the police, she has no proof, and must now go to court over this thing. Furthermore, we just found out today that the police officer is charging her with a felony. I don't know too much about these things, but my mother's lawyer has told her that if she is found guilty, she could serve over 1 year sentence.
Let me restate that there was NO damage to the other car. My mom's bumper has a small corner dent. We think the policeman and the girl that was in the other car may be friends, because of a cell phone call the girl made while she and my mother were talking. My ?'s:
1. What are the chances that this ridiculous, lying girl can actually win this case?
2. Since she has no vehicular damage, what can the girl be trying to gain from this? could she be hoping to settle out of court for $?
3. My mother has not involved her insurance company, as she figured she would cover her damage out of pocket. Is there any reason to involve them?
Please advise. Thanks.
Early this past December, my mother was backing out of a parking spot at a local college campus while another car was coming down the lane, and they connected. Only my mother's car was damaged, and she was asking the other driver what she wanted to do about this (settle w/out insurance, etc). The girl in the other car took my mom's tag info, and drove off. My mother tried to follow her in her car to get the tag info, but the driver evaded her.
My mother, not thinking, starts to try to call me, and our neighbor (who is the police lieutenant in one of the local cities), but neither of us were at our phones. Thinking that she didn't have any options, since she didn't have a tag number, and couldn't even remember the type of car the girl had, she left the college campus, and went to her car dealership to get an estimate on the damage. She did not call the police, which is where the issue arises.
Long story short, she gets a call from the campus police a few hours later after she arrives at home. The policeman says she did a hit and run, and that the other car was at the scene when he arrived (Apparently, she went back after my mom left. Can you believe it?!?!) Since she didn't call the police, she has no proof, and must now go to court over this thing. Furthermore, we just found out today that the police officer is charging her with a felony. I don't know too much about these things, but my mother's lawyer has told her that if she is found guilty, she could serve over 1 year sentence.
Let me restate that there was NO damage to the other car. My mom's bumper has a small corner dent. We think the policeman and the girl that was in the other car may be friends, because of a cell phone call the girl made while she and my mother were talking. My ?'s:
1. What are the chances that this ridiculous, lying girl can actually win this case?
2. Since she has no vehicular damage, what can the girl be trying to gain from this? could she be hoping to settle out of court for $?
3. My mother has not involved her insurance company, as she figured she would cover her damage out of pocket. Is there any reason to involve them?
Please advise. Thanks.