Past coworkers, car accidents, manhunts, oh my...

Relic · #1 06-15-2010, 07:08 AM

Had a friend contact me on FB last night to ask for help and/or advice, but this one threw me a little.
Background - She and I had worked together a few years back at the same employer who I am still with at present, she is not.
Anyway, out of the blue last night she sends me a message on FB that somebody had rear-ended her car recently. This particular guy begged her not to get the police and insurance companies involved and that he would simply pay to get her damages fixed. Well as can potentially happen when you do things that way, once he found out that the damage was over $900 he stopped returning her calls...
now, the "cool" part - this particular guy just so happens to work at the same company as she did, and I do now. She's asking for my help in tracking him down to confront him in person.
That's a bad move all around as not only can I get in trouble for disclosing this goofus's work info, but she can also get in trouble for being on site uninvited trying to track somebody down. Actually, I think that she's hoping that I pay him a quick visit on her behalf..

My best advice to her is to call the police regardless and explain the situation. Maybe they can do something, maybe not. Other than that, maybe the only recourse is to lawyer up.
So my question is - have any of you ever run into a similar situation (I mean with not reporting an accident and trying to settle off the books, not the work-related stuff) and what did you do about it?

Yerf Dog · #2 06-15-2010, 07:45 AM

She should let her insurance company handle it.

MakiSupaStar · #3 06-15-2010, 09:03 AM

You tapped her, didn't you.

MJ5150 · #4 06-15-2010, 09:16 AM

I tried this once too, and the guy disappeared on me. I found out he worked at a local Taco Bell so I started visiting him at work until I got my money.

-Mike

Relic · #5 06-15-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

She should let her insurance company handle it.

You need to file a police report before you can file a claim with the insurance company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

You tapped her, didn't you.

bassteban · #6 06-15-2010, 09:24 AM

It's complicated, but if you did not violate any laws in happening to know where the guy can be located pretty easily, I'd maybe report what you know to the man. Mind you, when the girl(whom I'm also trusting that you at the very least made a tappage request of

)left the scene of an accident w/o notifying the authoritahs, she may have become an accomplice to something illegal. Might be lawyer time.

MakiSupaStar · #7 06-15-2010, 09:32 AM

She needs to provide payment or services to at least make this interesting enough to get involved.

No pics, no formerly tapped chick.

buzzbass · #8 06-15-2010, 10:54 AM

No way. ALWAYS get the 5-0 involved. If the other person is suggesting otherwise, you know they are shady. The po-po is the best way to cover your butt, just in case the other party flakes later on.

Ground Pounder · #9 06-15-2010, 11:16 AM

Tell her another tap is all you require to help out.

Post-tap, stop returning her calls...

Stu L. · #10 06-15-2010, 11:22 AM

I say she turn in the claim. Yeah, there's going to be questions like why wasn't it turned in before now, but they'll take care of it. The company will try and get in touch with him, and maybe he has insurance to cover the liability. If she has to meet a collision deductible, then her company will subrogate against him and or his company, on her behalf.

Ground Pounder · #11 06-15-2010, 11:25 AM

Edit - pic gone

MatticusMania · #12 06-15-2010, 11:25 AM

edit: whats up with that ^

Tell your previously tapped ex-coworker not to be so naive as to not get the insurance company involved. ANY TIME you get in an accident its best to notify your insurance agency, thats what you pay them for.

Relic · #13 06-15-2010, 12:28 PM

Just got off the phone with her, and gave this guy a quick cordial call. It should be taken care of in a few days. I figured that he'd not recognize my number and pick up his phone.

BTW - why is everyone assuming that I tapped that?? Just because she's my age, petite, cute and Asian it automatically means that I as a member of TB, had to automatically tap that?

several times, baby

EBodious · #14 06-15-2010, 12:41 PM

good deal. when i lived in new york, it was fairly common to not involve the police/insurance companies. the mechanics would usually give you a break as well if you explained the situation AND paid in cash. worked for me a couple of times.

also, my understanding is that you don't have to call the police to file an accident claim (it just helps if there is disagreement). you also don't have to file right away. if things don't work out, she can still call her insurance co. they won't accuse her of being an accomplice; they will file her claim and take care of it. that is, as long as it is within a reasonable time frame.

p.s. does ms. relic know you cute, formerly tapped, co-worker is calling you?!

Relic · #15 06-15-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBodious

good deal. when i lived in new york, it was fairly common to not involve the police/insurance companies. the mechanics would usually give you a break as well if you explained the situation AND paid in cash. worked for me a couple of times.

also, my understanding is that you don't have to call the police to file an accident claim (it just helps if there is disagreement). you also don't have to file right away. if things don't work out, she can still call her insurance co. they won't accuse her of being an accomplice; they will file her claim and take care of it. that is, as long as it is within a reasonable time frame.

p.s. does ms. relic know you cute, formerly tapped, co-worker is calling you?!

It's not uncommon here in Jersey as well. If you can settle it up on your own without the police and insurance co's getting involved, in some instances you're much better off. This guy backed into her car so he can potentially end up with a ticket, points, raised insurance prices etc. He's getting off easy with just paying her repairs.

In regards to calling the police - I had thought that the insurance companies here wont accept the claim unless there's a police report. I'm pretty sure about that but as always I could be wrong.

shhhh!!

EBodious · #16 06-15-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

In regards to calling the police - I had thought that the insurance companies here wont accept the claim unless there's a police report. I'm pretty sure about that but as always I could be wrong.

yeah, i don't know for sure. i hear that jersey has the highest insurance rates in the country. does that mean also the most uptight rules? having lived in ny and california, iowa is waaaay laid back when it comes to all things litigious. i pay about half for car insurance compared to cali. i think around here you are still expected to take care of yourself.

although we now have a "no texting while driving" law.

oh, and if there is a moving violation involved, that would make a difference as well, of course.

MakiSupaStar · #17 06-15-2010, 01:58 PM

Well I'm glad to see this worked out alright for her. Often this is not the case. You're much nicer than me. If I looked down at my phone and saw that 'uh oh' was calling me, then I wouldn't answered.

no pics no petite asian chick our age. pm will be accepted. But wait until I get around to renewing my account. Right now my PM's are full.

tycobb73 · #18 06-15-2010, 02:04 PM

Someone rear ended me. didn't look like any damage so we didn't call the police. I'm driving for a little while and ntoice the alignment is off. I take it to a shop and its $2000. My insurance paid it but because I didn't have a police report I was stuck with thedeductable. Otherwise his insurance would have had to pay the deductable.

MatticusMania · #19 06-15-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Right now my PM's are full. [/size]

You know you can delete the old ones, yes?

MatticusMania · #20 06-15-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tycobb73

Someone rear ended me. didn't look like any damage so we didn't call the police. I'm driving for a little while and ntoice the alignment is off. I take it to a shop and its $2000. My insurance paid it but because I didn't have a police report I was stuck with thedeductable. Otherwise his insurance would have had to pay the deductable.

All you would have needed was the other drivers insurance info. You report it to your insurance, give them the other drivers info (license #, insurer, policy #) and they usually handle all that stuff. At least thats how it works in Ca. I know technically the DMV states that youre supposed to file a police report when the damage is above, I believe $750 (but how are you to know beforehand?).

My car was t-boned by a dude who ran a red light. The police showed up because I called and wanted a report. The guy had asked me not to report it, I told him sorry, but my ass needs to be covered. 4 police cars and a fire truck showed up. The police said a report wasnt necessary, just exchange info and have the insurance handle it. The police (all 4 of them) stuck around BSing even after my car had been towed. I got a call from the drivers insurance saying that a police report HAD been filed, and I told them no, the police refused to do so. We went to the sheriff's office to get a copy of this so called report... they wouldnt give it to me - my name wasnt on it. Turns out the guy got into another accident earlier the same day.