CA traffic law, after an accident

[look 171]

After an accident, do I have show the other party my lic.? I do not want to let people know what I live. Especially this bone head. What is it that I am suppose to show the other party, or the cop for that matter. What exactly is on the police report? My address and other personal info?

Here's what happened. I was driving back from lunch going from one freeway onto another. As I come onto traffic, this dumb aZZ comes flying from the number one lane onto the number three lane which I just about to enter doing 60. He pins me in and refuse to budge. The concrete barrier was about 40 feet ahead with no room to stop at 60 mph. His bumper was right near the back of my driver side door doing about 75. I had to run into him or else I will be kissing the concrete. I crush his right fender and ripped off his bumper with the rear side of my truck. I tell you, it feels pretty good doing it. finally he backed off. We pulled over, he was pissed screaming from the top of his voice yelling every racial, gay, and God know what else at me. He threaten to kill me. But, he did refuse to give me his dr. lic. or any insurance papers. He was one of those shaved head, goat-tee, dark sunglasses, gang looking type. Yeah, he did drive a new-ish Chryser 300. I did not want to give him any info about my resident. I call the cops, these dicks came and said it was a civil matter. they took my both our lic. and ran it. I told then he threaten to kill me. still, they got into their car and drove away. Thankfully I wasn't hurt. What do you guys think?

[slodave]

Read this...

EXCHANGE INFORMATION

If you are involved in an accident in California, you are required to provide certain information to the other parties involved. Likewise, fellow motorists, passengers or pedestrians involved in the accident must share similar information with you. This information will be needed if you are required to file a Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California. Also, it is often wise to ask for the information of witnesses to the accident just in case you need to have them testify at a later date. The key information to exchange in the aftermath of an accident includes:

Name, address and contact details
Driver license number
License plate number of the vehicles involved
Auto insurance or other evidence of financial responsibility for the motorists involved.

Car Accident Information for California | DMV

In the few fender benders I've been in, I've always exchanged info and never had the CHP involved.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by slodave

Read this...



Car Accident Information for California | DMV

In the few fender benders I've been in, I've always exchanged info and never had the CHP involved.

I would exchange info with any normally people. this guy, I will not trust with your worst enemy's address. I called the cops because he refuse to give me any info. I thought he was going to hit me. I am surprise he stuck around for a few minutes. The cops (LAPD) came fast this time.

[rnln]

You are both entering a lane, and your rear vs his front? Plus, the way he changed lane, aggressive driving style. I think you are on the win side. Have you consult your insurance? Sorry for the accident happend to you. Too many azz drivers around here. He deserve the damage :lol:
On exchanging info., I always did, but in situation like this, I would feel the same way you do. Let's hear what lawyers in here will say.

[slodave]

If it is your rear and his front, you have a very good chance. Get on the phone to your ins. co. They have good lawyers too.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

You are both entering a lane, and your rear vs his front? Plus, the way he changed lane, aggressive driving style. I think you are on the win side. Have you consult your insurance? Sorry for the accident happend to you. Too many azz drivers around here. He deserve the damage :lol:
On exchanging info., I always did, but in situation like this, I would feel the same way you do. Let's hear what lawyers in here will say.

this dude looks like one of those guys on those jail shows on National Geographic. No, not the cops. who know what kind of crap he will pull. I have a wife and 2 young kids at home all the time.

[slodave]

At this point, it doesn't matter. You need to talk with your ins. co. in the AM.

Actually, you should have been in contact with them already.

[rnln]

You can't change through more than 1 lanes at once. I surprise the cops didn't give him a ticket for that.
I am not sure how it is your fault, but your rear vs his front while both are entering the same lane is giving me the picture that it's his fault.
I agree with slodave

[look 171]

Originally Posted by rnln

You can't change through more than 1 lanes at once. I surprise the cops didn't give him a ticket for that.
I am not sure how it is your fault, but your rear vs his front while both are entering the same lane is giving me the picture that it's his fault.
I agree with slodave

the cops weren't there at the time of accident. Its my word only at this point. I had a talk with my insurance already as soon as I got home.

I just read through the link from Dave. By law, you have to exchange address? You know, If I got into an accident with a cop, we both know he not giving me his address.

Jeff

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I hope you don't have Progressive...

Sorry to hear about it. If it goes to a trial or hearing I'd tend to think that a "faux tough guy" individual like you describe will automatically lose points with a judge but anyone's guess.

I don't miss all the "my-dick-is-bigger-than-yours" attitudes on the Kalifornia roadways, that's for sure. I'm glad it ended without anyone throwing punches (or worse). There are an awful lot of nuts out there, many of them awash in their own machismo and obsessed with their "tough" image so it could have gone south quickly.

Think this asshat learned anything and/or will change his driving habits as a result of this? Nope. Not a chance. I'm sure he's telling everyone how it wasn't his fault and wasn't the aggressor.

[krystar]

i doubt u need to give him your actual address.

driver name, license #, phone number, insurance company, policy number. that's all that the insurance company needs.

but...i think it's your fault.

[LakeCleElum]

That's why I use a Post Office Box address on my license and all vehicle registrations.....Best of luck on this

[Tobra]

How did he know you were gay?

Originally Posted by rnln

You can't change through more than 1 lanes at once.

this is not accurate

Contact information is a phone number and DLN, not address

Should use PO box or office address for that sort of stuff

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Tobra

How did he know you were gay?


this is not accurate

Contact information is a phone number and DLN, not address

Should use PO box or office address for that sort of stuff

LOL, it is physically impossible to change more than one lane at a time

[daepp]

Dollars to donuts he has no insurance - even if he presented proof. The card doesn't prove they kept paying for it. Typically these will fall under your uninsured motorist policy.

[vash]

you couldnt get hard on the brakes?

this is a tough call. and i cant believe the cops didnt do more.

somewhere, on some douche forum, there is a guy with a new thread..."this guy coming on the freeway hit me!"

good luck with everything.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Sure you can:

Let's assume you're in the middle lane of a 3-lane freeway. The lanes are 9' wide and your car is 16' long or so. You initiate a spin causing the vehicle to rotate about its center of mass which for sake of argument we'll say is the exact center of the vehicle and coincidentally the center of the lane. As the vehicle rotates, the front and back corners cross the dotted lines at precisely the same instant before the vehicle gets totally perpendicular to its direction of travel. Voila! You've now changed two lanes at a time (and are actually occupying three lanes at the same time for as long as you keep the sideways slide going).

OK, ridiculous? Sure. But not impossible.

It's Friday and I've got a wicked caffeine high going, so excuse my lunacy for now.

[rnln]

I might not saying it correctly. What I meant was if you are on lane 1 and want to be on lane 3, you have to have a pause on lane 2 before you change lane again. If you make one straight line from lane 1 through lane 2 to lane 3, your fault. Try our luck and do that in front of a cop.

Originally Posted by Tobra

How did he know you were gay?


this is not accurate

Contact information is a phone number and DLN, not address

Should use PO box or office address for that sort of stuff

[Revvin 911S]

All someone really needs in order for the insurance companies to resolve it is your full name, insurance company, and your policy number. If someone is concerned you are unlicensed I would show them your license, but in this day and age I would not be giving out my DL number to anyone not wearing a uniform and badge. If someone wants an address, a PO box or work address is fine. Your insurance company has all of your information so as long as the other party has your insurance info, they can pass that on to their insurance company. In these cases the insurance companies will fight it out, thats why you pay them every month.

Unfortunately, unless there are witnesses most of these cases turn into the other insurance company paying for the other party and your insurance company paying for you. Sort of a "everyone is responsible for themselves" situation. Best that you can hope for is to not be found at fault for the whole deal.

If nobody is going to the hospital, most police departments in CA will not take a report. They will show up and verify that everyone has insurance and a valid license, however. The officer was correct in saying it is a civil matter, but its too bad the other guy was being a jerk. Best of luck.

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

That's why I use a Post Office Box address on my license and all vehicle registrations.....Best of luck on this

how do you do that? the state no longer allows registration to poboxes