Unfortunately, earlier today I got into my first accident. I was hit by another driver.
She was very uncooperative and actually claimed, at one point, that I scared her. This despite the age and size difference -- me much younger and shorter. I'll admit that I was a little hyper (/excited), but I was not aggressive. I was assertive, I wasn't going to allow her to pass this off on me, but at no point did I disrespect her.
Anyway, after 30-40 minutes of BSing (I didn't want to leave until she did, afraid she was going to try to claim a hit and run) she ultimately called the police and two cars responded and then they both got onto her because she had refused to give me her address and telephone number. I had provided her with both though I did later scratch out my phone number when she said she wasn't going to give me hers.
They had us fill out these forms providing each other with everything. But, they didn't file an accident report. Was this because we both have insurance?
My car suffered no immediately obvious damages -- though later, after a closer inspection, I noticed that my entire front bumper seems misaligned and parts of it is slightly cracked, on the passenger side. I have no idea of any additional structural damages, at this time. My front license plate (& the frame) was also bent inward/crumpled -- I'm assuming that's where she hit me and it's probably what buffered me from more severe/obvious damage.
Her car, on the other hand, has a HUGE dent, probably 6-8 inches wide and it's as deep as 2-3 inches in one corner (apparently where we impacted) shaped like a triangle. It's on her driver-side door, 3-4 inches below the door handle on the back panel (though, strangely, not on the door itself).
I told both officers my version of the incident and they agreed that it is perfectly legal to be out in the middle of a median (where people make U-turns, etc.) so long as I'm not blocking traffic.
OK, I crossed to the middle after the South Bound traffic cleared. I was then waiting in the center until the North Bound traffic cleared, to merge with them. I was headed North.
Meanwhile, the North Bound people who needed to make a U-turn or cross to the other side of the street (West) were able to do so, behind me. I was slanted almost completely sideways to make sure I was out of everyones way, including South Bound people needing to make a U-turn.
Well, this woman was going North Bound but evidently decided she wanted to turn left (not right) there too except that she had already passed the line of (4-6) cars making U-turns. She choose instead to attempt to go around me, since I was just sitting there and I guess she figured it was a way to not have to wait behind all of the other people turning from off the North Bound side. That's when we collided.
We met with a noticeable thump -- I knew something had hit me -- but never having been in an accident I didn't think something that seemingly minor could be anything serious.
Immediately, she storms out of her vehicle (in the middle of the road) asking me what was I thinking. I'm stunned for all of 5 seconds, shocked that this is actually happening and horrified when I see the dent in the side of her car. Certain that if her car looks like that mine most look something similar.
However, I refused to get out and discuss anything in the median, directing her to instead cross over (as she was intent on doing anyway) into the parking lot on the West side of the street. (I think this is what frightened her because I kind of commanded her to go over there, which was rude but I didn't feel much like risking my life.)
This is the same parking lot that I had initially came from, a gas station.
Anyway, probably too late to bore you but I wanted some opinions, please. My greatest fear right now is that she's going to claim she wasn't attempting a turn and that I instead drove out into traffic, hitting her. Except I think it'll be hard to explain why we were both in the median. Right?
We were both there because she came over there, attempting a turn. I wasn't paying much attention to her because I assumed, when she passed me, she was going straight, plus I was still waiting for the traffic to clear on the North Bound side.
Unfortunately, no witnesses came forward, though everyone was looking (especially when she tried to stand in the middle of the road). This was during lunch hour so that's slightly understandable but I do wish someone, anyone, would have pulled over. I knew from go (when she asked what was I thinking) that she was full of it.
Additionally, the huge dent in her car seems inexplicable, to me. I just can't determine what on my car could have caused that, considering that my license plate is pretty flat and low, and my bumper is even lower. The dent on her car is so high I just don't see how my car managed it. Plus the dent is only deep in one corner. Wouldn't something pointy or small and blunt have to cause that?
My real concern is that she already had this HUGE dent and she's simply trying to scapegoat me. I didn't see any other dents but then there weren't any on mine either. Is this typical? For there to be no visible damages? And/or for there to be more apparent damages on one vehicle? Is this used to determine fault?
I did take pics on my cellphone but there's no way to get them off without submitting to another 2-years with Sprint, and I'm just not that desperate yet. :-)
But, I will attach a MSN Map image of the median, so you all can get an idea of just how I managed to be out there and not blocking traffic. :-)

Also, here's a car like hers: http://ivo.nu/photos/thunderbird/AUT_8808 (Her dent is above that line below the door handle though not on the door at all, only on the door panel -- it's flush to the crack of her door. My insurance agent pointed this out.)
And mine: http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicle...e/overview.jsp (I think my tires are 16 inches but I don't think that raises my bumper high enough to hit her above that line.)
The officers didn't side with either of us, that I could tell, though the lady seemed a little ticked that the officers were nice to me. I think she expected them to come and beat me up. Can they serve as witnesses, in anyway, despite that there wasn't a report? They were discussing, with each other, what likely happened and they didn't seem to blame me.
I also wanted to mention we waited another 20-25 minutes after the officers had settled the issue to leave because, apparently, she still didn't want to leave. Though, if she honestly did get that dent today I can understand her devastation. My eyes were pretty watery until I actually looked to see my damages. Though I am still really anxious and worried about this. I hope it won't increase my insurance rate, I hope it doesn't negatively effect me in any way.
This all just feels like a nightmare, and all because someone decided their time was more valuable than another person. This could have easily ended worse. I started to ask her what would she have done if I were pregnant? Or if I had a kid in the car??? Not that me alone shouldn't matter.
She was very uncooperative and actually claimed, at one point, that I scared her. This despite the age and size difference -- me much younger and shorter. I'll admit that I was a little hyper (/excited), but I was not aggressive. I was assertive, I wasn't going to allow her to pass this off on me, but at no point did I disrespect her.
Anyway, after 30-40 minutes of BSing (I didn't want to leave until she did, afraid she was going to try to claim a hit and run) she ultimately called the police and two cars responded and then they both got onto her because she had refused to give me her address and telephone number. I had provided her with both though I did later scratch out my phone number when she said she wasn't going to give me hers.
They had us fill out these forms providing each other with everything. But, they didn't file an accident report. Was this because we both have insurance?
My car suffered no immediately obvious damages -- though later, after a closer inspection, I noticed that my entire front bumper seems misaligned and parts of it is slightly cracked, on the passenger side. I have no idea of any additional structural damages, at this time. My front license plate (& the frame) was also bent inward/crumpled -- I'm assuming that's where she hit me and it's probably what buffered me from more severe/obvious damage.
Her car, on the other hand, has a HUGE dent, probably 6-8 inches wide and it's as deep as 2-3 inches in one corner (apparently where we impacted) shaped like a triangle. It's on her driver-side door, 3-4 inches below the door handle on the back panel (though, strangely, not on the door itself).
I told both officers my version of the incident and they agreed that it is perfectly legal to be out in the middle of a median (where people make U-turns, etc.) so long as I'm not blocking traffic.
OK, I crossed to the middle after the South Bound traffic cleared. I was then waiting in the center until the North Bound traffic cleared, to merge with them. I was headed North.
Meanwhile, the North Bound people who needed to make a U-turn or cross to the other side of the street (West) were able to do so, behind me. I was slanted almost completely sideways to make sure I was out of everyones way, including South Bound people needing to make a U-turn.
Well, this woman was going North Bound but evidently decided she wanted to turn left (not right) there too except that she had already passed the line of (4-6) cars making U-turns. She choose instead to attempt to go around me, since I was just sitting there and I guess she figured it was a way to not have to wait behind all of the other people turning from off the North Bound side. That's when we collided.
We met with a noticeable thump -- I knew something had hit me -- but never having been in an accident I didn't think something that seemingly minor could be anything serious.
Immediately, she storms out of her vehicle (in the middle of the road) asking me what was I thinking. I'm stunned for all of 5 seconds, shocked that this is actually happening and horrified when I see the dent in the side of her car. Certain that if her car looks like that mine most look something similar.
However, I refused to get out and discuss anything in the median, directing her to instead cross over (as she was intent on doing anyway) into the parking lot on the West side of the street. (I think this is what frightened her because I kind of commanded her to go over there, which was rude but I didn't feel much like risking my life.)
This is the same parking lot that I had initially came from, a gas station.
Anyway, probably too late to bore you but I wanted some opinions, please. My greatest fear right now is that she's going to claim she wasn't attempting a turn and that I instead drove out into traffic, hitting her. Except I think it'll be hard to explain why we were both in the median. Right?
We were both there because she came over there, attempting a turn. I wasn't paying much attention to her because I assumed, when she passed me, she was going straight, plus I was still waiting for the traffic to clear on the North Bound side.
Unfortunately, no witnesses came forward, though everyone was looking (especially when she tried to stand in the middle of the road). This was during lunch hour so that's slightly understandable but I do wish someone, anyone, would have pulled over. I knew from go (when she asked what was I thinking) that she was full of it.
Additionally, the huge dent in her car seems inexplicable, to me. I just can't determine what on my car could have caused that, considering that my license plate is pretty flat and low, and my bumper is even lower. The dent on her car is so high I just don't see how my car managed it. Plus the dent is only deep in one corner. Wouldn't something pointy or small and blunt have to cause that?
My real concern is that she already had this HUGE dent and she's simply trying to scapegoat me. I didn't see any other dents but then there weren't any on mine either. Is this typical? For there to be no visible damages? And/or for there to be more apparent damages on one vehicle? Is this used to determine fault?
I did take pics on my cellphone but there's no way to get them off without submitting to another 2-years with Sprint, and I'm just not that desperate yet. :-)
But, I will attach a MSN Map image of the median, so you all can get an idea of just how I managed to be out there and not blocking traffic. :-)

Also, here's a car like hers: http://ivo.nu/photos/thunderbird/AUT_8808 (Her dent is above that line below the door handle though not on the door at all, only on the door panel -- it's flush to the crack of her door. My insurance agent pointed this out.)
And mine: http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicle...e/overview.jsp (I think my tires are 16 inches but I don't think that raises my bumper high enough to hit her above that line.)
The officers didn't side with either of us, that I could tell, though the lady seemed a little ticked that the officers were nice to me. I think she expected them to come and beat me up. Can they serve as witnesses, in anyway, despite that there wasn't a report? They were discussing, with each other, what likely happened and they didn't seem to blame me.
I also wanted to mention we waited another 20-25 minutes after the officers had settled the issue to leave because, apparently, she still didn't want to leave. Though, if she honestly did get that dent today I can understand her devastation. My eyes were pretty watery until I actually looked to see my damages. Though I am still really anxious and worried about this. I hope it won't increase my insurance rate, I hope it doesn't negatively effect me in any way.
This all just feels like a nightmare, and all because someone decided their time was more valuable than another person. This could have easily ended worse. I started to ask her what would she have done if I were pregnant? Or if I had a kid in the car??? Not that me alone shouldn't matter.
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