Hit and Run - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Hi everybody:

A close friend of mine was involved in a Hit and Run in the NW last night, and he is trying to figure out what his options are.

He did not leave a note, he simply fleed from the scene, then called the Cops this morning to fess up. Now, how does that affect insurance, etc.? He is 20 years old, and has been driving for three years, and this is his first mishap.

I was in the car as well, and had to fill out a witness statement too. I'm trying to help him figure out what the best course of action is.

Does CP have any traffic lawyers that would be able to assist?

Please help!

Thanks

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 04:53 PM

sorry, I should also mention it was a parked SUV that we hit.

metallicat · 03-01-2009, 04:54 PM

Idiot!

CMPunk · 03-01-2009, 04:55 PM

Drunk? How do you hit a parked vehicle?

4X4 · 03-01-2009, 04:55 PM

Was he drunk? WTF did he flee the scene for?

metallicat · 03-01-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Was he drunk? WTF did he flee the scene for?

I would say that's probably the reason he did. I bet he couldn't be charged with DUI the day after, and the penalty for hit and run is probably less.

peter12 · 03-01-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Gino

Hi everybody:

A close friend of mine was involved in a Hit and Run in the NW last night, and he is trying to figure out what his options are.

He did not leave a note, he simply fleed from the scene, then called the Cops this morning to fess up. Now, how does that affect insurance, etc.? He is 20 years old, and has been driving for three years, and this is his first mishap.

I was in the car as well, and had to fill out a witness statement too. I'm trying to help him figure out what the best course of action is.

Does CP have any traffic lawyers that would be able to assist?

Please help!

Thanks

I'd say, for insurance purposes, he is truly effed.

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 05:02 PM

Nah, wasn't drunk at all, it was 1 am, and he just freaked out and hurried off although I tried to get him to stop and leave some info so this whole saga would not have occurred. Are there any experts that can PM me on this issue?

hockeycop · 03-01-2009, 05:05 PM

If he makes any claim at all on insurance, it will take a big jump.

If Police lay a charge and get a conviction for "Failing to Remain" or "Driving without due care and attention" then his insurance will make a huge jump.

If no charges are filed and your friend pays out of pocket for the damage, then the incident never happened in the insurers eyes. That being said, from your description, I would think a charge is coming very soon.

I bet he was drinking.

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 05:08 PM

The Cop this morning said they were not going to "pursue criminal charges" but it will go to the insurance company. So does that mean my buddys insurance goes through the roof? If there are no criminal charges does that mean it "never happened?"

Sorry to be confused...What effect do the charges have on the insurance? What if no charges are laid?

Rathji · 03-01-2009, 05:13 PM

If the person he hit does not want to go through insurance and is willing to take cash instead, then there is no claim. Additionally, if there are no successful criminal charges or moving violations then it is likely insurance won't go up.

hockeycop · 03-01-2009, 05:15 PM

If the cop was to lay a charge, and then get a conviction, that means you were criminally at fault. This means that the insurance company will consider you high risk, as you do things that make them pay out. Speeding, no signal, running red lights, etc, all have a negative impact on their assessment of your risk.

That is good news that the cop will not charge your buddy. If the cop said it will go to insurance, perhaps he was assuming that you/your buddy were going to file a claim... The cop wouldn't just send off the report unless there is a charge. It doesn't go on a drivers abstract w/o a charge either, so there is no real record of it.

A 20 year old filing a claim is going to see a massive rate increase. I would assume that his insurance will double at a minimum. To see the negative impact, go to an online insurance company and get an online quote. They are pretty accurate. Do one with a clean driving record, and one with a claim for an at fault accident. See how much it will cost over time and judge whether or not he should file a claim, or pay out of pocket.

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Thanks for your help... the Cop did make us both fill out a witness report, and then also filled out a "collision report form" which contains the insurance information of both the vehicles involved...

Sounds like this other guy is going the insurance route...which is a major bummer for him....So even though the cop will not be pursuing criminally, there is still a chance of the rates going thru the roof?

Any specific advice you have for him?

CMPunk · 03-01-2009, 05:48 PM

So what were you doing that you managed to hit a parked car? That takes alot of talent I tell ya

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 05:51 PM

My buddy was trying to throw on the 4 wheel drive because the roads were extremely slippery, he gently pressed against the brakes and then just drifted into the vehicle on the left hand side...freak accident

BOSSY · 03-01-2009, 05:54 PM

Tell him to apoligize to the person he hit for both the damage and for leaving - gently slip in that he made a mistake and is trying to make good on it (going to the Police etc.) then basically beg the guy to get an estimate and let him pay cash...

Boblobla · 03-01-2009, 05:55 PM

I would have your friend retain a lawyer and would probably stop posting about the incident on a public forum.

Just my

macker · 03-01-2009, 05:57 PM

nm

blankall · 03-01-2009, 05:58 PM

I'm not expert on this stuff, but these kind of things happen all the time.

As for leaving the scene of an accident, I doubt he gets charged on this either, assuming he reported the accident the first thing next morning.

He may have left the scene of the accident, but there was no other driver there and it was also 1:00 am. Was he supposed to knock door to door on people's homes in order find out who owned the vehicle?

As for being drunk, I would believe him if he said he wasn't. Roads in Calgary are icy, assuming he wasn't going too fast, this is an extremely common accident.

How much damage did he do to the other vehicle. If it was low velocity impact and he only hit one or two panels it shouldn't affect his insurance too much.

Edit: like it was said above, It's never a bad idea to consult a lawyer who is an expert in the field.

Papa Gino · 03-01-2009, 06:23 PM

the rear windshield of the car we hit shattered, and I believe there may have been a dent on the side, but that is it as far as I know, but I'm sure there was some structural/body damage that is not visible.