P-Car rear ended! Lady won't acknowledge?

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

I was rear ended on Easter sunday on the GG Bridge (SF). I was at the toll booth paying the toll booth person and after she gave me change, I was hit from behind and pushed several feet forward. I got out of my car and asked the lady in the Lexus SUV to exchange liscense numbers with me. The toll booth person said to pull ahead on the side of the road and handle it there. It was dark and raining so speaking to her out there was difficult, especially since the cars usually test out their best 0-60 times from the toll booth.

I asked the lady for her liscense number again on the side of the road and she said "why, I didn't hit you", I said "what? Why won't you acknowledge that you hit me?" she said "because I didn't hit you" At that point I didn't understand her thinking so I just said, "I'll deal with this later, goodnight."

As I got in my car, I wrote down her liscense plate number and drove away, called my insurance the next day and made a claim.

The damage: Since she was in an SUV, her car hit my engine hood and made a dent and some scratches, one of my large rubber bumpers is torn, the Porsche script reflector has noticeable cracks, the right rear turn lens is cracked.

Question: I have an adjuster calling me tomorrow, any insight on how this will play out?

Any advice?
TIA,

K. Roman

Az911 · 03-29-2005, 04:37 PM

Why were the cops not called?

kaisen · 03-29-2005, 04:47 PM

A big honkin' redneck pickup with mud tires rolled gently backwards into me at a stop sign while he was 'clutching' to go. He didn't realize he hit me and drove away. Because it was taller (as most pickups and SUV's are) the bumper over-rode my HOOD and the receiver hitch punched a hole in my grille. It was expensive, but I paid for it rather than having it go on my insurance. Good luck.

E

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

If I remember correctly, cops in California don't show up for an accident unless some is seriously injured (or, in this case, if someone NEEDS to be seriously injured.

) Just kidding!!!

Randy

KevinP73 · 03-29-2005, 04:53 PM

You should have gotten a supporting statement from the toll booth operator. Otherwise your insurance company is likely to call upon your "uninsured motorist" clause of your policy.

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

I do have the toll-booth operators employee number on my reciept. I want to use it and maybe get her as a witness.

id10t · 03-29-2005, 05:27 PM

Do it now, at least get contact info and possibly a statement of some sort. Also, take lots of pics, etc. again, sooner is better. Would it be possibly worth somehow getting an address for her (via the plate #) and some digital pics of her damage before she has it fixed?

Don Ro · 03-29-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by id10t
Would it be possibly worth somehow getting an address for her (via the plate #) ...

I'd like to know how to do that, my own self.
Last year, I asked this of a motorcycle-riding buddy - Superior Court Judge, Santa Clara County - his response, "No, no, no. No way."
.
That "lady" do got balls, eh?

I'd say she's been around.
.
Good luck.

TimT · 03-29-2005, 06:25 PM

doesnt the GG bridge authority have there own police?

you should never have left without getting a police report... , call 911 report the accident and wait.. if they ask if there are injuries say you dont THINK SO.. response will be post haste

The bridges here in NY have a police cruiser or two, and a number of officers manning toll traffic in each direction
she hit you in the rear.. you should never have pulled out of the toll both

trapping her

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

Thanks, but I'm not going to call 911. I will go down tomorrow morning to 850 bryant (sf Police building) and have a report written. It may be a hit and run?:O

id10t · 03-29-2005, 08:01 PM

Dunno about in California, but in Florida failure to stop after an accident is a sorta big no-no.

(ianal nor do i play one on tv or the internet)

911pcars · 03-29-2005, 10:16 PM

"Dunno about in California, but in Florida failure to stop after an accident is a sorta big no-no."

She hit you, didn't ID herself, then left the scene. Sounds like hit and run doesn't it? I bet some of your paint is still on her bumper. Call the cops. Your neck does hurt a little doesn't it? Better see a doctor. Demand complete respray with all new parts. Maybe internal gearbox damage too. You see, bad karma is not good.

Probably stereotyping, but why does this sound so typical of SUV owners?

Sherwood

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

Yeah, I couldn't believe it...felt like a Jedi mind trick. And it was Easter for Chrissakes!!
I just hope the claim adjuster understands that Porsche parts are Forking expensive!!!

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by TimT
doesnt the GG bridge authority have there own police?

you should never have left without getting a police report... , call 911 report the accident and wait.. if they ask if there are injuries say you dont THINK SO.. response will be post haste

The bridges here in NY have a police cruiser or two, and a number of officers manning toll traffic in each direction
she hit you in the rear.. you should never have pulled out of the toll both

trapping her

He'd still be waiting for them to show up...ya gotta be bleeding before they will respond....

SteveStromberg · 03-29-2005, 11:43 PM

Never move yor car untill after you take pictures with the throw away camera that you keep in the glove box.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 03-30-2005, 06:25 AM

I wish you the best of luck. Woman ran into my truck, like an idiot I tried to avoid the accident and moved left. Yep, I hit guard rail on the left and she hit my bumper on the right. She stopped, I got her license plate number before she took off. I should have followed and called 911. I called the cops, they took my statement and she got away completely free. Reason: She stated I was never driving that day.

911pcars · 03-30-2005, 10:26 AM

Bad karma can result in baggie filled with used brake fluid heaved from passing car onto offender's SUV. That was in a revenge book I read somewhere.

I didn't say that.

Sherwood

mikester · 03-30-2005, 10:26 AM

File a police report ASAP.

In CA the cops won't respond to an accident unless someone is injured. It's lame because it makes holding someone accountable very hard. If you can't resolve it that day - going to the police station and filing a report is your only option.

Wrecked944 · 03-30-2005, 10:52 AM

I am very sorry to hear about the accident. I had an almost identical situation a few years ago. Lady backed a pick up into my porsche at a gas station. Gave me a false name and took off. I got the license plate but she refused to acknowledge the accident to my insurance company or even reply to their letters. So I got a witness report from the gas station attendent and mailed it in. Very simple. Just a form and a stamp. And since the perp never replied to the letters from my insurance company VOILA! I won by default. So get the toll booth operator to write up a report. RIGHT NOW. It is easier than you think.

amity914 · 03-30-2005, 11:02 AM

Is there any security cameras at the toll booth site that may have this on tape???