Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

mikeyj23 · 08-02-2008, 07:54 PM

I was stopped, waiting to make a left turn onto a street in my Nissan Altima when I saw a Tahoe coming full speed toward me in my rear view mirror. I laid on the horn but he rear-ended me anyway. Out of the Tahoe stepped a 20s-year-old guy with his shorts half-way down - no shirt, and he smelled like beer. He apologized and asked to exchange information and I told him that was fine but I just had a personal policy of calling 911 if I was in an accident. I didn't want to piss him off and call him drunk since he had two of his (big) friends in the Tahoe with him. I called 911 anyway and the whole time he kept telling me that he has friends with body shops and any accident with damage under $5000 shouldn't be reported. I talked to the 911 operator and she told me that officers don't come out for fender-benders, but I kept on her and semi-asked her to send an officer out.

Buster (shirtless saggypants Tahoe-driver) said we should pull over and exchange information, so we pulled into an apartment complex right at the corner where I had planned on turning. I fiddled around in my car for a minute trying to stall until the officer arrived, but Buster came up to my window and started talking to me. He told me that he and his friends were meeting some girls and were kind of on a schedule, so if we could exchange information quickly that'd be great. I figured an officer was coming soon so I told him that was fine, but took a good long while to write down my info.

Officer Beckwith showed up while I was dilly-dallying - I already had all of Buster's information, including the fact that he was driving his dad's Tahoe (I'll bet that sucks right about now). The officer got my address and DL number, pulled his patrol car right behind the Tahoe then took Buster back to give him a FST since he, like I, smelled the alcohol. He came back a minute later and told me I could go and they had to resolve some stuff. I told him I realized that officers usually wouldn't come out for a fender-bender but since I smelled alcohol I thought it was prudent to call.

I took off, called Buster's insurance company and filed a claim, then went on with my afternoon. A few minutes ago I got a call from Officer Beckwith informing me that he was filing an accident report "considering the circumstances of the accident." He took some more information from me, and was very cordial. When we were getting off the phone he said - "By the way, just so you know, the guy that hit you is now in jail - thanks for giving us a call."

The back end of my car is toast, but the insurance adjuster is coming Monday and I'm going to insist on a free rental while my car is in the shop. No harm done to me really, so I can feel good that I put a drunk driver behind bars today.

I'll bet he hates me right now...

elderboy02 · 08-02-2008, 08:00 PM

Good job! I think that we should do what El Salvador does. Your first DUI is your last. You are executed by a firing squad.

I hate drunk drivers!

No one can give me one good reason why you have to drink and drive.

mikeyj23 · 08-02-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elderboy02

I hate drunk drivers!

No one can give me one good reason why you have to drink and drive.

Furthermore, I'd like a good reason why you have to drink and drive at 3pm. Give me a break.

I'll also point out there's a big difference between having a drink (providing you're of legal age) and driving home and being drunk and driving. I've fallen into the former category many times, which is perfectly legal and responsible, but the latter category drives me crazy and kills people.

Bruzee · 08-02-2008, 08:04 PM

Thats a cool story. I absolutely NEVER let drunk drivers go. All of them go to jail! You did the right thing, and hopefully he learns from this. If you had gone to the hospital, even to just get checked on, it would have been a felony and he could have gone to prison.

elderboy02 · 08-02-2008, 08:11 PM

Don't count on getting a free rental. I was hit on June 24 by some jerk who had Safe Auto. He caused a 4 car wreck. I was the first car he hit. Guess what, I am getting stuck with the rental car bill b/c Safe Auto is a POS company. They drug their feet for over 2 weeks trying to decide how much they were going to pay to fix my car, etc. Guess what, Safe Auto only has 10K to pay out for ALL 4 cars involved. So my insurance (Allstate) had to get involved. I am going to have to pay for 3 weeks of a rental car b/c Safe Auto drug their feet.

Sorry, rant off.

Vorb · 08-02-2008, 08:35 PM

Glad to hear you weren't injured.

I've been in my share of wrecks, and they always suck.

Way to go on using your head and insisting on the officer coming out - you could have saved someone's life by getting him off the street.

Imagine how blasted he would have been if he went on his way out & got loaded & then got back on the road...

mikeyj23 · 08-02-2008, 08:46 PM

His picture's online too

http://gisweb.cityofdenton.com/jailr....aspx?id=38914

Yitlin · 08-02-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Don't count on getting a free rental. I was hit on June 24 by some jerk who had Safe Auto. He caused a 4 car wreck. I was the first car he hit. Guess what, I am getting stuck with the rental car bill b/c Safe Auto is a POS company. They drug their feet for over 2 weeks trying to decide how much they were going to pay to fix my car, etc. Guess what, Safe Auto only has 10K to pay out for ALL 4 cars involved. So my insurance (Allstate) had to get involved. I am going to have to pay for 3 weeks of a rental car b/c Safe Auto drug their feet.

Sorry, rant off.

I don't know, sounds like it's worth a conversation with your agent. Not sure about your state's regulations, but chances are you are paying for uninsured/underinsured coverage on your policy. Sounds like this guy is underinsured if he is carrying state minimum (10k). You should'nt have to pay for being a victim of an accident. I think you may at least be able to get a bit of that rental reimbursement in your pocket, if not all of it. You pay Allstate good money, make their lawyers work for you.

newcigarz · 08-02-2008, 08:50 PM

Good Job Mike! Glad you weren't hurt Brother.

Yitlin · 08-02-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyj23

His picture's online too

http://gisweb.cityofdenton.com/jailr....aspx?id=38914

Wow, that looks like the back cover to an Emerson,Lake and Palmer album....only drunk.

BigVito · 08-02-2008, 09:20 PM

cool story, glad you weren't hurt and this jackass was dealt with, but he will be at it again

Papichulo · 08-02-2008, 09:39 PM

Thank you for sharing. I was hit by a drunk head on. He was in a full size ford pickup with large tires and I was in a little bmw 325is; needless to say, my car was totalled. After his arraignment he fled to the reservation and I had to sue my insurance company. I am still in pain. I had my complete right shoulder joint removed. My wrist was jacked up and my back is still messed up. I am rambling. I am glad you are fine and the scumbag is in jail. Best of luck.

68TriShield · 08-02-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyj23

His picture's online too

http://gisweb.cityofdenton.com/jailr....aspx?id=38914

punk ass.

b128thopen · 08-02-2008, 09:43 PM

Glad you were not hurt. Too many of these stories end with someone being killed! Way to go on sticking with it and getting an officer to the scene and getting that guy behind bars!