Saddlepoint
08-27-2005, 07:40 PM
So about two weeks ago, I got into my first car accident.
It went down like this. I was pulling into a really tight and uncomfortable parking lot behind a convenience store, a car started pulling out right in front of me, and it was the kind of lot where he wouldn't have been able to get out if I hadn't moved. So I switch into reverse, and right as I start backing up, I collide with a car pulling out of a space behind me.
So I'm like "owned," and I point to my hat. I pull up a few feet and park, turn off The Smiths, and get out. I check to see whether the guy could take me in a fight (yes, not close). He seemed mildly irritated, but I mean I imagine that's normal for this kind of a situation. There's a small dent in his rear bumper, and in mine. The paint is a barely scratched on my car, I don't notice anything on his. I'm in an SUV and he's in like a Jeep or something, what looks like a nicer car.
I try to stay calm, and I tell him I'm going to get my information, so I hand him my license and registration and stuff (which I think from TV is what I'm supposed to do), and he asks for my address/phone number, and writes his information down on a little card and hands it to me. Then he shows me a badge and says (I'm paraphrasing), "I'm on duty right now, so I'd really rather we not get the cops involved. It's minor as hell, and nobody wants their insurance to go up, so let's just handle it between us." While I felt I handled it pretty well, he figured out pretty quickly that this was my first accident and I actually think tried to be comforting.
Here's the thing. I haven't actually been driving for a long time. I don't really feel comfortable yet. And, this guy, besides being much older, was a cop. And I can afford a few thousand dollars to pay for everybody's damages (thanks 2+2!). So I had just assumed that it was my fault and I was going to take responsibility and just get it over with.
It's been like two weeks now and he hasn't called me. Someone more worldy than I am, maybe who just knows more about situations like these: should I call him? Should I forget about it? I mean obviously I'm paying for my own car, but could he show up in like a month claiming I never paid him? We never filled out a police report or notified the insurance companies, as far as I know. I'm not really sure what to do.
And then this morning, my mom pointed out that he was moving too and never honked, so maybe he assumed that it wasn't totally my fault, and is paying for his own car. I really don't know.
Any flaming appreciated.
It went down like this. I was pulling into a really tight and uncomfortable parking lot behind a convenience store, a car started pulling out right in front of me, and it was the kind of lot where he wouldn't have been able to get out if I hadn't moved. So I switch into reverse, and right as I start backing up, I collide with a car pulling out of a space behind me.
So I'm like "owned," and I point to my hat. I pull up a few feet and park, turn off The Smiths, and get out. I check to see whether the guy could take me in a fight (yes, not close). He seemed mildly irritated, but I mean I imagine that's normal for this kind of a situation. There's a small dent in his rear bumper, and in mine. The paint is a barely scratched on my car, I don't notice anything on his. I'm in an SUV and he's in like a Jeep or something, what looks like a nicer car.
I try to stay calm, and I tell him I'm going to get my information, so I hand him my license and registration and stuff (which I think from TV is what I'm supposed to do), and he asks for my address/phone number, and writes his information down on a little card and hands it to me. Then he shows me a badge and says (I'm paraphrasing), "I'm on duty right now, so I'd really rather we not get the cops involved. It's minor as hell, and nobody wants their insurance to go up, so let's just handle it between us." While I felt I handled it pretty well, he figured out pretty quickly that this was my first accident and I actually think tried to be comforting.
Here's the thing. I haven't actually been driving for a long time. I don't really feel comfortable yet. And, this guy, besides being much older, was a cop. And I can afford a few thousand dollars to pay for everybody's damages (thanks 2+2!). So I had just assumed that it was my fault and I was going to take responsibility and just get it over with.
It's been like two weeks now and he hasn't called me. Someone more worldy than I am, maybe who just knows more about situations like these: should I call him? Should I forget about it? I mean obviously I'm paying for my own car, but could he show up in like a month claiming I never paid him? We never filled out a police report or notified the insurance companies, as far as I know. I'm not really sure what to do.
And then this morning, my mom pointed out that he was moving too and never honked, so maybe he assumed that it wasn't totally my fault, and is paying for his own car. I really don't know.
Any flaming appreciated.