Hi, so this is my story...
I was taking my friend to the San Francisco International Airport early in the morning at about ~8:34am. It's a 2:30 hour drive and the flight was at 12 (had to be there by about 11). The morning mist made my windshield fog up and I hit a street light post with my front bumper, falling over and cracked my front windshield. I did not have the local police department phone number and was unsure if I should contact 911. I also did not know about calling the police first.
I pondered about making a police report the local police station directly but figured if I did go my friend would miss the flight. I was also in a state of shock and stayed in the car for a bit. In the end I got off the car, moved the glasses across to the sidewalk (so other cars wont run over them), and decided that I would make a phone call to the insurance company instead.
The car was still in drivable condition so I took off, and the phone call was made around 8:40 and talked to the insurance representive to file a claim. I told the representative what happened and that I did not make a police report yet. The representative said I should as soon as possible. I told her I was dropping off my friend to the airport and asked if she knew the local police department number for my area. She said she did not have that number. I also asked if I should call 911 although it was not an emergency, or, if I should stop by the police station (which was my original plan) after I dropped off my friend. She said I should stop by the police station.
As I was driving I received a call from my father that the police contacted my permanent address (I currently live in an apartment attending college, while the vehicle was registered to my permanent address in LA) and told me the police was trying to contact me. He gave me the contact number to the police officer responsible for this case.
So promptly I made the phone call to the police officer, which was around 9:10am (not sure on the EXACT time, but it was a few minutes after hanging up with the insurance representative). The police officer said someone reported the accident. I told him that I was planning on dropping by the police station after dropping off my friend at the airport and that I already contacted the insurance company... where the insurance company would handle the costs with the city.
After dropping my friend off I visited the police office and the officer charged me with hit and run for not reporting the incident to the police. I explained my situation but told me that I should have just called 911 if I did not have the local number, and that calling the insurance company does not excuse me.
So that is my story. I was worried sick, and after about 3 months I received a mail from the district attorney. Tomorrow is my graduation, some present I got huh? My life is ruined! What should I do?
I was taking my friend to the San Francisco International Airport early in the morning at about ~8:34am. It's a 2:30 hour drive and the flight was at 12 (had to be there by about 11). The morning mist made my windshield fog up and I hit a street light post with my front bumper, falling over and cracked my front windshield. I did not have the local police department phone number and was unsure if I should contact 911. I also did not know about calling the police first.
I pondered about making a police report the local police station directly but figured if I did go my friend would miss the flight. I was also in a state of shock and stayed in the car for a bit. In the end I got off the car, moved the glasses across to the sidewalk (so other cars wont run over them), and decided that I would make a phone call to the insurance company instead.
The car was still in drivable condition so I took off, and the phone call was made around 8:40 and talked to the insurance representive to file a claim. I told the representative what happened and that I did not make a police report yet. The representative said I should as soon as possible. I told her I was dropping off my friend to the airport and asked if she knew the local police department number for my area. She said she did not have that number. I also asked if I should call 911 although it was not an emergency, or, if I should stop by the police station (which was my original plan) after I dropped off my friend. She said I should stop by the police station.
As I was driving I received a call from my father that the police contacted my permanent address (I currently live in an apartment attending college, while the vehicle was registered to my permanent address in LA) and told me the police was trying to contact me. He gave me the contact number to the police officer responsible for this case.
So promptly I made the phone call to the police officer, which was around 9:10am (not sure on the EXACT time, but it was a few minutes after hanging up with the insurance representative). The police officer said someone reported the accident. I told him that I was planning on dropping by the police station after dropping off my friend at the airport and that I already contacted the insurance company... where the insurance company would handle the costs with the city.
After dropping my friend off I visited the police office and the officer charged me with hit and run for not reporting the incident to the police. I explained my situation but told me that I should have just called 911 if I did not have the local number, and that calling the insurance company does not excuse me.
So that is my story. I was worried sick, and after about 3 months I received a mail from the district attorney. Tomorrow is my graduation, some present I got huh? My life is ruined! What should I do?
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