Hit from behind by another car, and then being summoned to court after charges were made.?
Hey everyone, here’s the story.
I was driving down a fairly busy road during the day. When a traffic light had turn red, the 10-15 odd so cars in front of me slowed down to a stop, and so did I. After being stopped for about close to 4-5 seconds, me and my passenger heard a car honk half a second before a car hit me from behind. Obviously this is not my fault whatsoever, the woman who hit me from behind was charged and her insurance covered my car’s damages (close to 7 thousand) haha yeah… hit me pretty hard.
About a month later, the police officer who handled the accident called to inform me that I have a court hearing in 2 months involving the issue. The woman is taking this case to court to lessen the charges. I’m 17 years old and slightly worried about the hearing.
Should I be worried about this? I have two witnesses to this accident. One being my friend who sat in the passenger seat next to me, and the other which is a Tow truck driver who saw the entire thing. I sent the car to the auto body shop right there and then after the police came. And it’s good as new now. I’m wondering whether or not I would need to do anything to prepare for this hearing?
Would I need to bring my friend, or contact the tow truck driver? My parents may have to work that day, so I may be alone at the court. Do I need to prepare anything to say?
If I do attend, is there any chance that the charges will be reverse and the blame be put on me?
Thank you very much everyone.
4 Responses
fire4511
16 Feb 2010
boogie_4wheel
16 Feb 2010
To lessen what charges? She hit you, simple as that. Maybe it has nothing to do with you, but you are being called in because you were involved.
Get a copy of the police report and bring it with you, or have the officer get both yours and her written statements from the accident and submit them in court if necessary. You can also have the court bring in the tow truck driver that saw the accident, and if he did not leave the scene, should also have a written statement. These items will keep you in the clear.
There is no telling what the lady is up to till you get in to the court room.
tree8588
16 Feb 2010
Dress nice, use "yes sir and no sir" when talking to someone. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Your friend wouldn’t do you any good, besides, the cops should have had him and the tow driver do a statement at the scene. Go to the office that handled the accident, police or sheriff’s dept or whoever and take a copy of the report with you.
Sounds like she’s trying to keep the accident off her record by reducing the charge, keeps insurance rates down.
Kizzy
16 Feb 2010
Trust no one….this may be a case of her trying to say that you made an unsafe lane change in front of her. Remember, police reports are heresay, they do not determine fault.
I would definitely ask both of your witnesses to appear with you, take the police report and anything else that will help including your estimate and photograph’s of your vehicle if their available.
Could be it’s exactly what the others are saying and she’s only trying to save herself, yet one never knows about the things people do these days.
Relax.
You are not being charged with any crime or wrongdoing. You are being summoned as a witness / victim of the incident. All you will have to do is tell what happened, just as you did here. Just by you showing up, she might be convinced to plead guilty.
In any court case, the person charged has the right to have the case against them proven. This means that any witnesses or victims have to come to court to testify about what happened. In many cases, the defendant is betting that the witness will not show up, and that the case will be dismissed.
I have been called into court more times than I can count, as a witness to an auto accident or other crime. Just be calm and relax, you are not in any trouble, and can not be blamed for the accident.