The story is my husband and I were gone camping when we got a call from my 18 year old that our van was on fire. We left everything at the camp site and headed home only to find the van in our drive burn to the ground, windows broken the paint bubbled and the shutters melted on our home. The detective just called saying they have 4 suspects 3 adult boy and one juvenile. One of the parents said that they would like to pay us for all the damages that we already turned into our insurance company for us to not file charges.
What does everyone think we should do. Nothing like this has ever happen to us before and we are at a total loss.
Thanks for helping
2007-09-05 10:22:55 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The involved said they throw a smoke bomb in the van to just mess up my sons stuff. They didn't think it would burn the whole van. Still press charges????
2007-09-05 11:41:42 · update #1
File charges. Tell the police that the parents attempted to bribe you. You do no one any favors by letting them get off. If they have the money to pay, a judge will make sure you get it.
2007-09-05 10:27:31 · answer #1 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Until you cash the check from the insurance company, you should be able to drop the claim without any consequences. If you let the parents pay for the damages and the boy does something else in the future, did you do anyone a favor? If the boy has no repercussions for his bad acts, then why should he stop with your van?
And how will you make the parents pay after you drop the claim and they decide to back out?
Most insurance companies will require charges to be filed when it is a violation of the law!
2007-09-05 10:35:32 · answer #2 · answered by hungry man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tough questions...Does filing charges get the point accross to the youth that their choices do have consequince? Will putting them in the system help them or hurt them? I can't answer that for you that is a personal choice. But for me I would have a hard time not filing charges. This is a pretty serious crime, Someone could have gotten seriously injured or even killed.
I would probably press charges and not get into the whole issue of them oweing you money and possible never paying up.
2007-09-05 10:32:26 · answer #3 · answered by I got 2 points for this answer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely press charges. If you don't, you're telling the individuals who did this that they don't have to pay the consequences for their actions. You're also telling them its okay to bribe people to avoid those consequences. Their parents might think its okay but YOU know better. Also, by going through your insurance company, you have a better idea of exactly what the damages will cost you and you have a better chance of getting the payment you deserve. Make sure your attorney, the judge, insurance agent, etc. knows that the parents tried to buy you off. Obviously, these people can't be trusted...but they certainly seem to think they can afford to pay for the damages!
2007-09-05 10:35:21 · answer #4 · answered by colleen_71286 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was in your situation I would press charges. What if the fire had spread to your house and you lost everything you owned and not just a van? People could have died. If charges are not pressed against these individuals what is to stop them from doing this again to someone else's property and what is the lesson learned? Actions have consequences.
2007-09-05 10:32:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like anyone else, they should face ALL the consequences for their deeds. Handling vandals and such between families is part of what has bred this inability to "take responsibility" in our youth. Now that you know who the perps are you should also turn them into your insurance company too. I'd turn the parents in for extortion/ bribery or whatever. It's no wonder they are out vandalizing others property. Mom and Dad will bail them out.
Even though it might be easier to turn the other cheek, it does nothing to prevent it from happening again.
Lots-o-luck on your tough choice.
2007-09-05 10:40:34 · answer #6 · answered by R M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
find out some thing about the boys
have they ever been arrested before (not always there if no one brings up charges)
do they do drugs, were they on drugs at the time.
which boys parent wants to pay for everything. the youngest?
you also have to remember their ages, but something this advanced in juvinile crime is pretty over the top.
why did they targe you?
you should really have a paper trail, these kids probably won't stop with just you.
however, you also need to realize if there are any of them innocent. were they not really involved just going along to see what would happen, never been in trouble before type of thing.
you can also tell by their demeanor, if they are cocky, spoiled, they have done it before and will do it again.
protect yourself, also take some advice from the arresting officers.
2007-09-05 10:30:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I admire your forgiving spirit. You have to get something in writing that would hold up in court to ensure that they will pay for the damages. You just don't know how good their spoken word is and I wouldn't be so naive as to believe it. Get some legal advice. But don't accept just an empty promise. Actions have consequences and I think you are being more than fair to ensure that they pay up.
2007-09-05 10:33:10 · answer #8 · answered by Nikolas M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would press charges. You stated, one of the parents said, they would pay for damages, that would mean the other boys would get off free. They are adults except for one, they need to pay the consequences, for their actions.
2007-09-05 10:33:31 · answer #9 · answered by Seahorse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would! They are old enough to know right from wrong and they still did that to your property. You should not be the one feeling guilty. If you do not press charges they may think that they can continue with that type of behavior.
2007-09-05 10:32:13 · answer #10 · answered by tootnuts 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋