FL, Tampa, Hillsborough county
My son is 21 y/o living at home and recently had the misfortune (stupidity) of hitting another car and fleeing the scene. He glanced off her car as they slowed for a toll booth.
His license was recorded as suspended (due to paid speeding ticket, Pasco), but he has proof that he had taken care of that earlier this year. He was not aware that he needed to re-instate his license nor that it was suspended.
The greatest misfortune, other than his poor decision making, is that the driver of the car was a the mother of an off-duty county sheriff's deputy who (according the the traffic deputy who arrived at our house looking for our son) was following her son somewhere.
The traffic deputy arrived at our home looking for our son that night and said that our son was responsible for a hit and run with injuries. He said that the driver of the car had followed our son to a parking lot and written down his license number. (my first response: Injured but could drive? That doesn't go together!) The deputy assured me she had declined EMS and that it was no doubt a protective complaint, no doubt fed by the indignation of being a victim of a hit and run.
My son tried stopping by her house on Sunday to apologize (her address is on the citation), but she was not home. He left a hand-written note describing himself as the "idiot" to hit her and asking her to please call him. She has not called, but did follow up one day later with the damage claim and two days later with an injury claim with the insurance company. (citing stiffness)
Son reported to us that he had hoped there was no damage and thought the impact was slight enough that no one had noticed and that he hoped perhaps he had glanced off a highway abutment rather than another car (going through a toll booth on Veterans). He said he left because he panicked. In other minor accidents in the past, he has always remained at the scene, panicked, but responsible.
Another reason he left is that he has recently gotten the dream job of a 21y/o and hoped to escape the consequences - not wanting to lose the job.
Son is diagnosed and medicated as bi-polar manic-depressive. Having just started the "dream job" a month ago, he has no medical coverage to pay for the extremely expensive, but more effective medication that controls his anxiety swings. He is relying on a previous, less expensive previous prescription to offer some control. He's really rather normal if there are no extremely emotional events at this time.
Originally, when he went to the Clerk of Court to set the court date the Tuesday following the Saturday night of the accident, the charges were misdemeanor, including the hit and run citation.
On Thursday, we received a letter from the insurance company that the complainant had filed injury claims, that the insurance company would do their best to settle, but as owners of the car my son was driving, we might be subject to further lawsuits from the complainant.
Friday, he received a letter from the Traffic Clerk saying his court date is canceled as the citation was converted to felony and that the Felony court would notify him of the court date by mail.
I don't get it.
Please tell us what we should do? Is this something where he can go to court and plead with the judge himself?
We are in a financial bind - we are in the middle of selling our home in New Tampa (no equity, possible short sale, poor market), I am not employed and we are practically out of savings. We are in the middle of a planned move out of state. I do not wish to leave my son to deal with it on his own, but I have a job (income) waiting for me to begin at the first of January. The cash/credit we currently have on hand is for moving and setting up new living arrangements 3000 miles away!
The car my son was driving and the insurance are both in my name. (ERG!) It has 100/300/50 coverage.
My son will have no money if he loses his license and cannot work.
My son is 21 y/o living at home and recently had the misfortune (stupidity) of hitting another car and fleeing the scene. He glanced off her car as they slowed for a toll booth.
His license was recorded as suspended (due to paid speeding ticket, Pasco), but he has proof that he had taken care of that earlier this year. He was not aware that he needed to re-instate his license nor that it was suspended.
The greatest misfortune, other than his poor decision making, is that the driver of the car was a the mother of an off-duty county sheriff's deputy who (according the the traffic deputy who arrived at our house looking for our son) was following her son somewhere.
The traffic deputy arrived at our home looking for our son that night and said that our son was responsible for a hit and run with injuries. He said that the driver of the car had followed our son to a parking lot and written down his license number. (my first response: Injured but could drive? That doesn't go together!) The deputy assured me she had declined EMS and that it was no doubt a protective complaint, no doubt fed by the indignation of being a victim of a hit and run.
My son tried stopping by her house on Sunday to apologize (her address is on the citation), but she was not home. He left a hand-written note describing himself as the "idiot" to hit her and asking her to please call him. She has not called, but did follow up one day later with the damage claim and two days later with an injury claim with the insurance company. (citing stiffness)
Son reported to us that he had hoped there was no damage and thought the impact was slight enough that no one had noticed and that he hoped perhaps he had glanced off a highway abutment rather than another car (going through a toll booth on Veterans). He said he left because he panicked. In other minor accidents in the past, he has always remained at the scene, panicked, but responsible.
Another reason he left is that he has recently gotten the dream job of a 21y/o and hoped to escape the consequences - not wanting to lose the job.
Son is diagnosed and medicated as bi-polar manic-depressive. Having just started the "dream job" a month ago, he has no medical coverage to pay for the extremely expensive, but more effective medication that controls his anxiety swings. He is relying on a previous, less expensive previous prescription to offer some control. He's really rather normal if there are no extremely emotional events at this time.
Originally, when he went to the Clerk of Court to set the court date the Tuesday following the Saturday night of the accident, the charges were misdemeanor, including the hit and run citation.
On Thursday, we received a letter from the insurance company that the complainant had filed injury claims, that the insurance company would do their best to settle, but as owners of the car my son was driving, we might be subject to further lawsuits from the complainant.
Friday, he received a letter from the Traffic Clerk saying his court date is canceled as the citation was converted to felony and that the Felony court would notify him of the court date by mail.
I don't get it.
Please tell us what we should do? Is this something where he can go to court and plead with the judge himself?
We are in a financial bind - we are in the middle of selling our home in New Tampa (no equity, possible short sale, poor market), I am not employed and we are practically out of savings. We are in the middle of a planned move out of state. I do not wish to leave my son to deal with it on his own, but I have a job (income) waiting for me to begin at the first of January. The cash/credit we currently have on hand is for moving and setting up new living arrangements 3000 miles away!
The car my son was driving and the insurance are both in my name. (ERG!) It has 100/300/50 coverage.
My son will have no money if he loses his license and cannot work.
