Abigail_in_FL
New Member
I was t-boned on 2/28/2008 by an 83 year old man who decided it would be fun to do a u-turn in the middle of a 4 lane major road.
When I scrambled to get out of the passengers door, because mine is smashed in, the man said
"I'm so sorry I didn't see you there was ice on my windshield"
I stood there shocked and replied
"REALLY!! There was ice on my windshield this morning too but you know what I did...I waited at home for 15 min. spraying my windows with the hose, using the defrost setting and scraping the ice off before I got on the road and endangered all of the other drivers. You know why I made myself 15 min. late for work... because you are not supposed to drive a car if you can't see out of it!"
The officer arrived on scene and determined that he was at fault. The man gave the officer his license, registration and insurance; actually I had to find the mans License and remove it from his wallet because he had "old man shakes" and could not grab and pull it out of his wallet on his own. It was not until more than 24 hours later that I found out he didn't have insurance at all. They had started a policy and than once they got their cards they called and canceled it on 4/27/2007.
This man has been driving without insurance for 10months! It is not like his policy accidentally lapsed right before the accident he knew he didn't have insurance for almost a whole year and just kept driving.
He was found at fault for an accident back on 10/01/2007 and he didn't have insurance at that time either. Yet here he is on the road every day driving without insurance not paying attention and hitting people. Why was his license not suspended? Why are people allowed to break the law and screw up innocent peoples lives without a second thought? He received a ticket for Failure to Yeild to oncomming traffic for my accident and he received a ticket for inpropper lane change when meeting oncoming traffic back in October.
I am not hurt badly just a little sore in my neck, back, shoulder and wrist. I told the officer I was hurting and I told my insurance company also but I have not had time to go to the Dr. yet.
My car has a little over $3000 worth of damages and it will cost $1820 for the rental car while it is being repaired, extra $25 a day because I am only 22. I have lost $216, to date, worth of work since the accident so my totals exceed the $5000 max for small claims court.
Can I sue him for the actual price to fix my car? Or do I have to only sue him for the fair market value of the Jeep? 1989 Jeep Cherokee. It would be around $1200 but I have been looking and I can not find a car in equal condition to my jeep for that price. I just put a lot of money into the jeep and there was nothing mechanically wrong with it she was a sturdy reliable car. I want to be able to fix the Jeep.
I don't think I should have to deal with a crappy undependable car just because this man was not paying attention and driving a car in an unsafe condition without insurance.
I know it is insurance company policy that if the damages exceed more that 80% of the value of the car that they "total" it and give you a check for the fair market value, but remember I am not dealing with an insurance company I am dealing with an uninsured idiot.
I know you guys are going to say "...well if he didn't have insurance to begin than he probably doesn't have enough money to pay you anyways..."
I researched him online and found that he does indeed own his home and he also owns a piece of land here in town. So there would be something to put a lien against.
My Jeep is still driving today but the firewall is bent and the alignment is messed up from his truck hitting me hard enough to jump a curb and put me in a parking lot. And I have to crawl across to the passenger's door to get out because by drivers door is smashed and I can not secure my truck because the driver's window is gone.
I spoke to them last Friday and they told me to get an estimate or find a replacement car and they would pay for it but when I found a car they wanted to make payments and I said no. Than they stopped answering their phone on Monday afternoon.
I sent him a letter yesterday. Can some one please take a look at it and tell me what I can and should do?
I live in Escambia county Florida and that is where the accident occurred.
Here is the letter I sent him certified mail yesterday:
______________________
Date: 3/6/2008
To: Mr. Stall*****
Re: Property Damage Repair
Dear Mr. Stall*****:
Auto Repair Estimate: $3,796.09
Rental Car during Repairs: $1,820.38
Lost Wages: $216.00
Total amount of Payment: $5,832.47
If payment of the amount indicated above or a payment negotiation or a payment arrangement is not initiated within 7 days of the date of this letter, a county civil court suit may be filed against you forthwith and without further notice for the amount indicated above plus any additional loss incurred. Instead of personal claims court, this matter may be referred to my attorney.
I have been instructed to bring legal action against you if necessary, which may result in liens against your property or other assets.
You can avoid the unnecessary inconvenience and added expenses of a lawsuit by contacting me within 7 days of the date of this letter about payment for the damages incurred from the accident that you were found at fault for by Failure to Yield - to oncoming traffic when making left turn on 2/28/2008.
I hope to hear from you soon, you can reach me at
850-***-****to discuss how you would like to resolve this issue.
Sincerely,
Abigail A******
_________________________
*deleted for privacy
__________________________
I let my boyfriend read it after I sent it and he was worried that they would not be able to understand what it said because they did not seem extremely intelligent.
When I scrambled to get out of the passengers door, because mine is smashed in, the man said
"I'm so sorry I didn't see you there was ice on my windshield"
I stood there shocked and replied
"REALLY!! There was ice on my windshield this morning too but you know what I did...I waited at home for 15 min. spraying my windows with the hose, using the defrost setting and scraping the ice off before I got on the road and endangered all of the other drivers. You know why I made myself 15 min. late for work... because you are not supposed to drive a car if you can't see out of it!"
The officer arrived on scene and determined that he was at fault. The man gave the officer his license, registration and insurance; actually I had to find the mans License and remove it from his wallet because he had "old man shakes" and could not grab and pull it out of his wallet on his own. It was not until more than 24 hours later that I found out he didn't have insurance at all. They had started a policy and than once they got their cards they called and canceled it on 4/27/2007.
This man has been driving without insurance for 10months! It is not like his policy accidentally lapsed right before the accident he knew he didn't have insurance for almost a whole year and just kept driving.
He was found at fault for an accident back on 10/01/2007 and he didn't have insurance at that time either. Yet here he is on the road every day driving without insurance not paying attention and hitting people. Why was his license not suspended? Why are people allowed to break the law and screw up innocent peoples lives without a second thought? He received a ticket for Failure to Yeild to oncomming traffic for my accident and he received a ticket for inpropper lane change when meeting oncoming traffic back in October.
I am not hurt badly just a little sore in my neck, back, shoulder and wrist. I told the officer I was hurting and I told my insurance company also but I have not had time to go to the Dr. yet.
My car has a little over $3000 worth of damages and it will cost $1820 for the rental car while it is being repaired, extra $25 a day because I am only 22. I have lost $216, to date, worth of work since the accident so my totals exceed the $5000 max for small claims court.
Can I sue him for the actual price to fix my car? Or do I have to only sue him for the fair market value of the Jeep? 1989 Jeep Cherokee. It would be around $1200 but I have been looking and I can not find a car in equal condition to my jeep for that price. I just put a lot of money into the jeep and there was nothing mechanically wrong with it she was a sturdy reliable car. I want to be able to fix the Jeep.
I don't think I should have to deal with a crappy undependable car just because this man was not paying attention and driving a car in an unsafe condition without insurance.
I know it is insurance company policy that if the damages exceed more that 80% of the value of the car that they "total" it and give you a check for the fair market value, but remember I am not dealing with an insurance company I am dealing with an uninsured idiot.
I know you guys are going to say "...well if he didn't have insurance to begin than he probably doesn't have enough money to pay you anyways..."
I researched him online and found that he does indeed own his home and he also owns a piece of land here in town. So there would be something to put a lien against.
My Jeep is still driving today but the firewall is bent and the alignment is messed up from his truck hitting me hard enough to jump a curb and put me in a parking lot. And I have to crawl across to the passenger's door to get out because by drivers door is smashed and I can not secure my truck because the driver's window is gone.
I spoke to them last Friday and they told me to get an estimate or find a replacement car and they would pay for it but when I found a car they wanted to make payments and I said no. Than they stopped answering their phone on Monday afternoon.
I sent him a letter yesterday. Can some one please take a look at it and tell me what I can and should do?
I live in Escambia county Florida and that is where the accident occurred.
Here is the letter I sent him certified mail yesterday:
______________________
Date: 3/6/2008
To: Mr. Stall*****
Re: Property Damage Repair
Dear Mr. Stall*****:
Auto Repair Estimate: $3,796.09
Rental Car during Repairs: $1,820.38
Lost Wages: $216.00
Total amount of Payment: $5,832.47
If payment of the amount indicated above or a payment negotiation or a payment arrangement is not initiated within 7 days of the date of this letter, a county civil court suit may be filed against you forthwith and without further notice for the amount indicated above plus any additional loss incurred. Instead of personal claims court, this matter may be referred to my attorney.
I have been instructed to bring legal action against you if necessary, which may result in liens against your property or other assets.
You can avoid the unnecessary inconvenience and added expenses of a lawsuit by contacting me within 7 days of the date of this letter about payment for the damages incurred from the accident that you were found at fault for by Failure to Yield - to oncoming traffic when making left turn on 2/28/2008.
I hope to hear from you soon, you can reach me at
850-***-****to discuss how you would like to resolve this issue.
Sincerely,
Abigail A******
_________________________
*deleted for privacy
__________________________
I let my boyfriend read it after I sent it and he was worried that they would not be able to understand what it said because they did not seem extremely intelligent.
