I just cancelled the insurance on my car because it was to be sold and I made a foolish desion to just move the car to another parking spot at my apartment lot to were someone could see the sign. A woman and I smacked into eachother in the parking lot and did some damage to my car. I told her that I didn't have insurance and if she had damage that I would give her my info and pay for the damage myself because we were basically neighbors. I got out and we both looked at her car and there was nothing wrong with hers. I asked her if she wanted to call the police and make a report and she said no. So 3 days later I had a letter from the police asking to please call them back so they could get my info for the police report. Has this ever happened to anyone before?? Please be nice, I take part of the blame for not being insured but she's the one who pulled out infront of me. Thanks in advance!!
2006-12-11 11:36:39 · 9 answers · asked by COURTNEY 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Am not sure, but I've heard that things like this that happen in parking lots aren't looked at the same way it would be as if you were out on the street driving. In most states, they don't even 'assign blame' for parking lot accidents.
Also, am wondering how long it was between the time you cancelled your ins. and the time you reparked your car. Cuz if it was right afterward, same day, or near enough to when you had ins. you might have still been covered - even though you cancelled. For example, if it was a month to month thing, and your premium was already paid for the month, you might have been covered for the rest of that month, cancellation to occur the start of the next month. See what I mean? I kind of doubt that cancellation occured the very instant you asked for it. To be sure, call the ins. co and ask. And explain the situation. The worst they can tell you is that you indeed had no coverage when the incident happened, and if there was any damage to your own car, you'll have to pay to get it fixed yourself. But ask them about the possibility of coverage first, before you tell them the rest. LOL
Any witnesses? Did anyone see what happened and/or overhear the conversation between your neighbor and you? If you don't know, maybe you could ask around your apartments.
And a police report having been made doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a fine or have your license suspended, or that you'll end up in court or anything. It just means that a report has been made, and the police need info from you to complete the form. Be sure to tell the police what you've said here, that you both looked at her car and there was nothing wrong with hers, and that you asked her if she wanted to call the police and make a report and she had said no. Have them include that in the report.
Yeah... a lesson learned the hard way. :( Been there, know how it feels! I've learned never to trust what the other person says, no matter who they are and what the circumstances were. I also determined to make a police report myself, no matter how minor the incident may seem at the time. Course when I've done that, the police just take the report over the phone! lol.. go figure.. Oh, and I learned to take my own pics immediately. Cuz once a friend of mine and another person backed up at the same time in a Walmart parking lot. It was pretty darn interesting how the other car didn't have any damage at the time of the incident, but then voila! had damage a couple of weeks later. Good thing my friend had taken pics, cuz it's the only way she could prove that damage wasn't done when they bumped into each other at Walmart!
And about the ins... yeah.. been there, done that too.. LOL.. see? you're not all alone in not thinking about stuff beforehand. I learned not to cancel my ins. until AFTER the car is sold, and the money is in my hands. Take the license plates off your car before you sell it, cuz that will force the other person to go to DMV right away and get their own. ;) They won't be able to 'float' for months or so until the registration sticker expires. And call DMV yourself to report the sale of your car, and have it removed from being in your name. All the things a person gets to learn.. hehe
.
2006-12-11 12:59:30 · answer #1 · answered by Myst 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this happens all the time. She just had second thoughts and got a police report to document that it happened, in case you decided to give her a hard time paying for the damage. Or she called her insurance co. and they told her to get one.
You won't get any fines and your license won't get suspended unless you got a ticket and didn't pay it, or didn't show for a required court date. It sounds like the accident was in the parking lot, so no tickets should have been issued bc it's private property.
Everything after the police report is a civil matter.
2006-12-11 11:56:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me it sounds like your neighbor must have called the police. I have never been caught without insurance, but I know it's a pretty serious thing, especially if the car is still registered in your name. If it's your first time, maybe you can get away with a fine of several hundred dollars, but it's my guess that you will lose your license for 90 days or so.
2006-12-11 11:58:26 · answer #3 · answered by Trevor K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not positive that your license will be suspended. But you may get fined for not being insured. In most states there are ways of registering a care inop, which makes it legal to not carry insurance on the vehicle. However, you won't be able to drive it during this time. Once the care is sold, the new owner will have to re-register it into their name anyhow.
You will have to call the police back. They won't just let it go. Best to just call them and get it over with. Consider this a learning experience. We all have them, there's nothing to be ashamed of.
2006-12-11 11:46:03 · answer #4 · answered by Mary J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure. I work for 911 and it happens all the time. She changed her mind when she got home, or she took it to the dealership or her husband yelled at her for not making a report.. ususally at least here in Florida, they do a short form called a drivers exchange when it occurs on private property in a parking lot. No matter what it is all civil and you wouldn't be charged with anything.
2006-12-11 12:24:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call them and tell then exactly what you told us here, that you told her the situation and offered to make her whole by paying for any damages, and she said there were no damages and that she wasn't going to make a report.
They will hopefully go back and remind her of that, and that might be the end of it for you. If not, ask for a detailed list of damages and the cost, and pay for any documented damage.
2006-12-11 11:53:44 · answer #6 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they didn't ticket you on the spot I don't think they can get you now plus the incident being in a parking lot is hope for you... The lady might be trying to get something out of you she doesn't deserve...
2006-12-11 11:46:20 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Driving without insurance is cause for revocation of your driver's license in many, if not all states.
2006-12-11 12:17:25 · answer #8 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of states, lots of countries, lots of laws. One commonality - you probably need a lawyer to minimize the pain from this.
2016-05-23 07:03:45 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋