i got in my first car accident today. it was on a road where traffic was moving steadily (about 40 mph). while both lane where still moving, the car in front of me suddenly stopped. i couldn't stop in time and hit his car. his car doesn't look like it even got dent but my front is totally crushed. he didn't even pause to think before driving after with the quickness. this is my very first accident. i'm 20 years old and have been driving since i was 17. i have really good record because i've never once gotten a ticket before. how will this effect my insurance?

btw, a lady saw what happened and drive next to the car/truck and told them to go back but they didn't. she got their license plate number for me. she describe them as hispanic so they probably drove off because they didn't have any paperwork (sorry for assuming, even the police officer assume this). when i talked to police, i was told i would get a citation for driving too close (i know, my fault) but i won't be put at fault which i don't quite understand much either.

does anyone have similar experience? i'm freaking out because i'm so scare of what this can do to my record.



//edit
if i go to the court date, will it help any on my part?




moved so ppl can read update easier

UPDATE

ho ho ho
my police officer gave the case to his superior
& that officer gave me a call yesterday
he told me the other van isn't register
(they can't find the car) and is probably a fake tag
he asked me if i want to pursue the search for that car
it didn't matter to me much so i told him no
than he asked if i got a ticket or just a warning
i told him ticket (citation)
he told me i should definitely go to court
if i explain my case, and because of the situation
the judge will probably write it off
oiii ~~~~ i'm so happy
the new officer that was dealing with my case was soooo much nicer
i think he was asian too cause he sounded asian plus his last name was lee

so yup yup
i'm going to court
and it'll probably be written off




btw. i just got a new car today (kinda new)
a 2008 honda civic lx
32k miles / 7 year 100k FULL warranty
took 5 hours to browse and deal with them tho -.,-

What an odd situation. I would have assumed that you'd be relieved that the guy ran off when you were the one that hit them. Most people don't want to bother with insurance (and having it on their record) or having to pay the person to fix their car...

I mean, if it was the other way around i'd totally understand but you hit him. Rofl. I honestly would have left it alone and fixed the car myself considering it was my fault.

You most likely won't be declared at fault because the other person fled. Under normal conditions, if he had stayed, you would be at fault.

I don't think it would help to go to court, but that's just me. If you plead, you may be cut a little slack since it is your first ticket with a clean 3 year record.

so the guy fled after u rear ended him? if thats the case, you are super lucky. don't report it. both of you guys will get in trouble if you report it. rear ending someone is always the person behind's fault. he probably doesn't have insurance, and you are at fault for the accident. just pay up to fix your car or get a new one if its totaled.

lol you should be happy he fled. i would have just fixed it with my own money and not told the insurance company anything.

A couple of years ago a buddy of mine got into an accident. He was CLEARLY at fault. However, the guy he hit did not have any insurance. In the end, my buddy was the one that was collecting the money from the other guy.

Also, you're cute. I think if you just explain yourself then they will let you off. At the most, you'd probably have to take traffic school... but I highly doubt it.

Wow your HELLA lucky, under normal condition your at fault and for tailgating too. I suggest talking with your insurance agent ( assuming your have a good relationship with them) and ask for their opinion. How bad is the damage to your car? Did your airbags go off?

I rear-ended a car before except the damages was pretty small. We just got ugly scratches on our cars. At first she pulled over but then later just waved her hand and drove off without ever getting out the her car. I was so relieved when she did this.

Your insurance may not increase since the police told you you won't be put at fault but that citation probably will.

wow... that was the dumbest mini cooper ever to call the cops and tell them about it.

you have insurance just pay your deductible and get your car fixed...

and if the frame isn't damaged then you could just go to a local certifit or junkyard and get the parts for your car.

my car was tow cause i couldn't drive it
the whole front was crush
my mouth was bleeding and has a cut. today its just swollen
lol, i think most of you guys think this was a minor accident...
and i didn't call the police, i'm guessing the lady who got the tag number did for me
if i could, i rather did it done on my own
but really, it was a busy road and one car is struck there
of course thats going to cause attention



i know i'm technically at fault
but what reason did the truck in front of me had to stop in the middle of moving cars?
if his car wasn't working, he shouldn't have been on the road
and even so, he should have his lights on to indicate that
and than to drive off right away, how shady is that?
i got the lady numbers that got the tag number for me
she has it was a sudden stop and is willing to go to my court date with me as a witness


anyways, i'm getting a new car so yay~ haha




edit//
btw, when i said the truck didn't have paperwork
i meant ANY paperwork...
as in insurance, drivers license, green card...

Your suppose to maintain control of your vehicle at all times and if you end up hitting him then you were wayy to close in the first place. People do stupid crap just to screw people over.

You probably should write up a police report for this accident. If the other car really didn't have any insurance or any paperwork then go file a claim and go to court. Tho you really can't assume they have no paperwork, even for running away like that unless you really can prove it and its a unregistered vehicle when you look it up with the DMV. Good thing you have a witness as it will help your case. Best of luck to finding the person.

be glad he/she fled after the hit.

so what ?

u would of had to pay for their damage so be glad they drove off


and plus if u didnt call the cops u wouldn't have gotten a ticket.


all u would have to do is call ur insurance for a towtruck, tow your junk back to your house.

part out everything that is still salvageable and sell it.


and then buy a new car, or u could of just paid deductible..



what a n00b..

^are you always this much of a troll?
you keep telling me how stupid i am, but did you even read what i wrote? (i'll space it out to make it easier)

i DIDN"T CALL the police, someone else did cause it was blocking traffic.

i don't know who, i just know that they came.

& the truck didn't get much damage except for the scratches on the bumper.

also, i called my mom first to get the number of the car repair place i usually go to cause they had a tow truck.

my repair place were the one to tow my car but the police came first.

anyways, thanks for your helpful reply.

haha the dude fled, you're safe.

Don't worry about any ticket or citation, the court aren't gonna find you responsible when the dude just freaking drive off.

Even if you manage to find out who he is and drag him to court, you may lose the case but you could sue him for not having any insurance or whatever, and his ass would go straight to jail and end up paying you back.

It's like a hit and run with except you hit him and he ran off lol.

Fiesty. I like.

You're in luck that he fled. Seriously, I know some people are crazy drivers. You will experience that a lot. I've been driving for 10 years and thankfully I've never had an accident, even a minor one, not even a speeding ticket. That's why you have to drive defensively, always on alert.

I'm glad you're OK now. But I'll make sure to have a full check-up a month after the accident. Sometimes it won't react (body aches and broken joints) for a month or two. I know, I have friends who experienced it.

ooh ditto!
Pain from accidents always seem to appear alot after the actual incident.

LOOOOOOOOL wow this is the first time hearing this.

Consider yourself REALLY lucky because no matter how you look at it, you were at fault. So just let it go, it reeally depends on what insurance company you have. I have mercury insurance and the last time I got into an accident that was my fault my insurance went up by $25 a month. Then again I'm 26 and well you're 20 so age would definitely play a role on how much the insurance will increase.

it sounds kinda odd and i must admit, i can't stop laughing when i first saw the title.

anyway, the problem - i think - isn't about the police record since he fled. but the main problem is the dent on your car, right?

well, let's just hope and pray that the insurance will shoulder everything. but i think they will good luck!

Any updates on the situation or what your going to do?

UPDATE

ho ho ho
my police officer gave the case to his superior
& that officer gave me a call yesterday
he told me the other van isn't register
(they can't find the car) and is probably a fake tag
he asked me if i want to pursue the search for that car
it didn't matter to me much so i told him no
than he asked if i got a ticket or just a warning
i told him ticket (citation)
he told me i should definitely go to court
if i explain my case, and because of the situation
the judge will probably write it off
oiii ~~~~ i'm so happy
the new officer that was dealing with my case was soooo much nicer
i think he was asian too cause he sounded asian plus his last name was lee

so yup yup
i'm going to court
and it'll probably be written off




btw. i just got a new car today (kinda new)
a 2008 honda civic lx
32k miles / 7 year 100k FULL warranty
took 5 hours to browse and deal with them tho -.,-