This morning while driving for work, I was coming up a hill and almost completly through my green light, when CRASH! A patrole car with no sirens, only lights, runs the red light and smashes into my rear end passenger side. She rushes out of the car (never asks if i am okay, just says GIVE ME YOUR INFORMATION!) I, on the other hand, a litttle frustrated and shooken, questioned her rush...and said "Aren't you supposed to...slow down...before running your red lights?!" Her response was a simple "EXCUSE ME?!?!" with lots of attitude. I, even more mad said "AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE RUNNING A RED LIGHT?!!?" and she cockily said back "I am in pursuit of an armed robbery and THATS much more important."
What in the world do i do now?!
2006-11-17 09:19:47 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
You should have said "owww...my neck hurts...I can't move...get an ambulance...UGGGGH!" that would have got her attitude under control (and assured that you had no insurance probs afterwards).
2006-11-17 09:22:19 · answer #1 · answered by rosbif 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sure, you should have looked but the trucker shouldn't have been running a red light either. Since his insurance company is being a$$holes, let them know that while your neck didn't hurt at first, it has started hurting and is getting worse. (Incidentally, often times such injuries don't hurt as first but show up several days later.) Let them know that while you don't really want to, you will hire an accident lawyer if you need to. Those ambulance chasers will be frothing at the mouth when they find out that poor little you is being jerked around by a national or multinational insurance company. If the insurance company has any sense at all, they'll know replacing your bike will be a token amount compared to what a medical liability suit will cost them. There's plenty of low life lawyers who will coach people on how to moan and groan in pain. Since they work on a percentage of the settlement, they want you to be in as much pain as possible so they can get the biggest settlement. The thing about neck and back pain is that it can be impossible to find an actual cause like a fractured vertebrae because some injuries simply don't show up on Xrays. Yes, it may be blackmail but they're the ones trying to screw you over. If the guy was driving for a trucking company, that outfit is liable to be willing to replace your bike to keep their driving record accident free. When they have claims, their insurance rates go up and it might be less expensive to pay for your bike than to pay higher premiums for some time.
2016-05-21 23:33:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you do? Get a lawyer!!! Your at fault as the officer had lights. You should yield right of way. Although the officer is to slow down before entering a red light and check for traffic. Be sure you won't win any argument if you don't get the cop to say she was in pursuit without sirens or a lawyer
2006-11-17 11:30:16 · answer #3 · answered by jeff h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few choices.
Contact your insurance agent and hope they've had experience with something similar and can tell you what will work best.
Contact the city attorney. Calmly tell your basic story (policeman crashed into my car) without accusing the cop of bad behavior or complaining about the cop. Don't get into "fault". Chances are they'll pay for the damage to your car with little fuss. Unless you make them mad with an attitude.
Get a lawyer. Maybe you'll get more money. Maybe the lawyer will cost so much in money and time that it won't be worth it.
2006-11-17 09:33:43 · answer #4 · answered by Bob 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
file a complaint with her department, the county and state's D.A.'s office.
Had she actually been in pursuit, she would have had her sirens on. It sounds to me like she is/was hiding behind a badge and gun.
In answer to your first question, she is at fault, BUT the systems in most towns are set up to protect the badge.
You can easily verify her "story" with the local newspaper, AND the department's dispatch. (if they will give you the information)
If they do not "wish" to give you the information, Get a copy of your states freedom of information act, and use it to your advantage. If the states act is vague, use the federal act.
Regardless of any armed robbery, the cop was wrong in not checking the lane.
Fire Departments now have to check up before speeding through a busy intersection, a cop is no different.
You will do well to get a lawyer and if they refuse to co-operate with you, the lawyer can use the freedom of information act to get her disciplinary file and car cam (if equipped)
Good Luck!
2006-11-17 09:41:03 · answer #5 · answered by wi_saint 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, as a police officer, the officer is at fault. She has a responsibility called "Due Care". Try talking with the Department, city/county. If they don't resolve your problem, contact an attorney. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU FAKE AN INJURY. When you get caught, (and yes you will get caught because they will have someone follow you around, we have all seen those TV shows were the guy claims an injury and is video taped playing golf) it could lead to jail time and negate any valid claim you might have had.
2006-11-17 20:22:43 · answer #6 · answered by crashguy351 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not so sure about the laws where you are, but in the UK the police are not supposed to run red lights without sirens on - and also emergency vehicles including police cars don't have automatic right of way, you don't legally HAVE to move over for them. Report her. She should lose her job or at least face disciplinary action.
2006-11-17 22:36:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
File a complaint with the police department and against that officer for breaking a policy. If the officer was in pursuit, they have to use their lights and sirens and they HAVE to stop at red lights no matter what so something like this does not happen.
2006-11-17 09:27:49 · answer #8 · answered by ironchain15 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Retired Police Officer,
It is the cops fault, they have the responsibility to public safety no matter what they are doing. Even with siren and lights on, they are at fault if they cause an accident.
2006-11-17 09:30:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some of the advice here is very good, and I'm going to add one thing: the last thing you need to do is fake any injury. It not only would be unethical, but you could end up being caught. However, appropriate action should be taken.
2006-11-17 09:50:18 · answer #10 · answered by amg503 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say you have a good case against them. I'm no lawyer, but instinct tells me you could win big. No siren means you have right of way, and they must yield if you don't see or hear them.
(my opinion)
2006-11-17 12:24:20 · answer #11 · answered by Trump 2020 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋