View Full Version : ADVICE please: Rear-ended...possible hit & run..got the plates


balajc
11-09-2003, 09:50 AM
Our BMW got rear ended earlier around 1230am...this might get long

We were coming home from NJ into NY tonite. We were in the middle of that traffic debacle on the GWB at midnight. They were doing construction so that only one lane was open.

We were at (near) the toll-booth right before the GWB (95N). Traffic was crazy and everyone was juggling for position. We were stopped. We felt a slight motion. I thought I might have had my foot off the brake a little so the car lurched a bit. But I also thought the guy behine me might have tapped me.

The problem was that I did not get out of the car right away because everyone was just forcing their way in. And the traffic condition simply will not allow me to get out of the car and get info. I looked at the guy in the rear mirror and it seemed like he knew what he did.

The guy was behine me for a good stretch. After all the crazy traffic merging, he ended up in front of me. (I kinda let him get in front of me so I could get his plates and car model). Once the traffic opens up, I thought he might stop and then he took the first exit off 95N (I think Harlem River Parkway?) I was not 100% sure he had hit me and I was not going to follow him into Bronx at 1am in the morning with my wife on the car.

I finally got home at 2am and when I checked the rear bumper cover, there were indeed 3 dings there. It is not serious but it is a brand new car!!! I knew for sure he had tapped me. I had written down his NYS plate, his car (old Volvo 850) and the description of the people inside.

I called the cops but when they arrived at my house, they informed me since that the incident occured in the NJ side, they have no jurisdiction and I have to call NJ state police.

I called them and they told me to call Port Authority instead. I called them and the guy told me I have to come down there in person to make the report It is only a 20 miles drive, but with traffic that could be a couple hours on the 95 and the cross bronx!!!

Do you guys have advice on what I should do? Did the fact that I did not get out the car and stop him in the middle of traffic void my credibility. Besides there was a clear sign near the toll booth that you should stay inside at all times and with all the cars and trucks merging like mad men, I probably would have gotten run over.

I have his plate, car model, description of passengers, approximate time of the event, and an almost accurate location (Right in front or near the toll booth)

Help???

Priscoj
11-09-2003, 04:50 PM
you have to file the police report. It sucks, but you gotta do it. Then you get a copy of the report and find out his insurance information. Inform the insurance company of what happened and get your money.

As for the hit and run, you might want to police to contact the guy instead of you. They will want him to come to the station as well, and "you did a hit and run, and we will arrest you if you don't come down" is a good way to get his ass there

balajc
11-09-2003, 09:21 PM
got it all settled at the PD...the police called up the guy. The officer initially thought my story was fishy because of the fact that I did not get out the car

The guy turned out to be a lawyer too...of all the people. He initially denied it and later started to make offer to me. The officer told me since it is just very minor dings, he suggested we just work something out and he would rather not fill out a report since our car would have an accident on record and hurting its value.

And with no-fault insurance in NY, he suggested not to get insurance involved.

In the end, he agreed to pay me some cash and being a lawyer, he will be mailing me a "release form" so I would not hold him against any future crap.

The officer told me if he tried to do anything fishy, let him know and he will be filing an accident report which will be very detrimental to him...

The moral of the story is that whenever there is a collision, get out of the car (the cop told me if you get out and stop the car, you have shifted all blames on the guy)! Even if it means stopping traffic on the GWB bridge....

o well...I will see if everything will end smoothly