Did I just get scammed for 400$ ?

[Goritoes]

You paid him, which implied you were at fault which mean you paid to repair his damages. That is not how it supposed to work.

This is assuming a 'no fault' state.

Let us say that both cars suffered several thousands of damages. Your insurance company will pay to repair your car. The other insurance company will pay to repair the Other Guy's car. The goal is to get both cars running again as soon as possible.

But in this case, somehow you were convinced to bypass the insurance companies and paid him. You could have used that $400 to repair your own car, and he could have used his money to repair his car. But somehow he convinced you to pay him, so now you are out $400 plus whatever to repair your car.

Thank god my car did not get damage except some paint and scratches, yes it would still take money but i can drive perfectly fine . My only concern is that he does not do anything else, or file claim as @jhungary is telling me. Its a risk to assume he is nice guy and won't do anything, but if he does I won't have anything on me to show anything.

 

[jhungary]

Well my opinion which can be totally wrong was this, copy pasting florida statute about turn lanes isn't helping solve the problem.
Guy made a mistake in my opinion, he should take it as a lesson and move on in life.
Trying to make a point as 11 year cop is really not needed, cops are high school graduates with 60 day training, will I trust one? Haha...

Dude, do you have something for ex-cop?

I quote the statue to put forward what I understand the situation AS PER MY OPINION. At no point I told him this is legally binding advice, in fact, I said that from the beginning it isn't.

And then my advice is that he should go to the police and file a MTA report and seek legal help, so what's wrong with that advice?? Or you are saying handling it under the table is better? Well, wasn't this is the exact reason why he posted his situation here to begin with?

Talk to a lawyer, he/she will tell you whether or not it's your fault (or what he/she think) and then he/she will try to limit the damage, and that is my advice, go talk to a lawyer......

Are police stations opened 24/7 ? its 2:30 am would it be open right now ? now you have said it I wont be able to sleep unless i am have that peace of mind,

Yes, it does, but you probably don't need to, if I remember correctly there are some Hotline for that in Florida, you can probably just call them and make a report that way.

 

[jhungary]

Thank god my car did not get damage except some paint and scratches, yes it would still take money but i can drive perfectly fine . My only concern is that he does not do anything else, or file claim as @jhungary is telling me. Its a risk to assume he is nice guy and won't do anything, but if he does I won't have anything on me to show anything.

That is the dilemma here as far as I see.

If you are satisfy that he wouldn't do anything, then you can do nothing and forget about it had happened, but if you are scare that he may be using this as a scam (as you raise the issue here) then it would be better for you to seek actual legal advice and report that incident to the cops.

Do you have any free legal-aide you can talk to? They usually have them in the community or in college or place like that you can get free advice from a lawyer. You will probably better off asking them what you should do instead of us.

 

[Gripen9]

If you get hit from behind it is automatically that drivers fault. Plus always get a police report.

 

[jhungary]

As your wife would say, don't..you might be misdirecting claiming your cop experience.
Nothing against cops, worked with them in Baltimore for training given the situation there, part of the training was to understand being a servant, not a leader much worse a dictator to locals.
Never throw your credentials to make a point leading to escalate.
Remember your training..

So I can't tell him to go file a report and go get legal advice??

Because that was my opinion, cop or no cop.

 

[jhungary]

Lets move on, its about him, not you or me.

Thanks!

I am saying that I was a cop for 11 years, that's where I have my involvement in MTA, I am not saying that on a "Authority" Position, I am just letting him know why I ask those question (The 4 question I asked in that post I said I was a cop for 11 years) that may not be considered if you have not dealt with these situation before, so it might have been weird if you were asked those question, because those were the question a cop would ask. I am just saying it upfront.

Also, he had already assumed himself to be the guilty party, which is not right and he shouldn't do it, but that's what or why he pay the $400 would suggest, which make any opinion moot, because well, if he wasn't ,he is now, because he paid $400 and took responsibility.

As for whether or not I should say anything, well, again, this is about him, so let him decide what he want to do.

 

[EasyNow]

Yes it was his fault and if you went through insurance you would probably have won - so he may not even have made a claim. But it depends on the person.

if you hadn't settled in cash you would have ended up informing your insurance anyway - just in case he makes a claim. So you might have lost your excess regardless. There's too many possibilities, the fact that you ended the matter there and then is best. Don't listen to know it all friends.

$400 in the face of what could have happened to either driver or car is nothing.

 

[fatman17]

Similar incident happened to me long time ago except the other car was not insured. I reported it to my insurance company who repaired my car (side door) and got the licence suspended of the driver of the other car for 6 months and l think there was a fine too (in california). Cops dont help much especially if there is no injury.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Can anyone tell me if Police stations are open 24/7?

o lallu......police stations r open 24/7 anywhere in the world!

 

[Mav3rick]

So today I was coming home, it was raining a little bit so roads were bit slippery, At an exit I gave the indicator and a car from behind hit back of my car, and my car spin 3 times before going off road to grass, because of rain the Grass with water (I think) save me and my car from flipping over, I came out side quickly to check on other drive to make sure they are ok, a cop showed up and he ask us if we both are ok and need any medical attention, I was just panic and shocked and processing the situation cause this is the first time I was dealing with a accident and Cop, Cop asked us both to get our Registration and license, I get it but cop ask us if we don't want to file a report than we can go through insurance or settle it among us, he help push my car out of grass and he was on his way. The Guy and I was talking about and he said if I pay him cash than there is no need for insurance companies to get involved, he told me that would take my insurance go up and I had a 500 deductible which I would have to pay anyway, so he asked for money and I ended up giving him 400$ through cash app, my car was not damage just Rubbed off, his fender was damage and bumper was damage to and Rubbed as well. When I get home my room mates told me that I should not have done that, he did took Pics of my License and registration but upon transaction he did delete and he went on his way, now after talking to my friends they told me that I should've filed the report and he probably did not have insurance.

What I don't understand that I told cop that I am new here and this is first time dealing with this kind of situation and yet Cop did not seems to be helpful, he just bailout super quick. Now my friends told me that, guy can still file a claim from Insurance although there was no police report done so Is it possible ? they also told me he can try recover picture from deleted Pics but if there is no report can he do that ? I hope he do not do anything because I paid him because I thought it's easier and more reliable way as even the cop suggested that before he left.

Did I make a Mistake ?
What can I do better next time ?
If the guy try to do anything else what else I can do ?


@gambit @F-22Raptor @Hamartia Antidote @SQ8 @KAL-EL @JamD

I don't understand something, why did you pay when you were the one hit from behind? Unless you reversed your car into the car behind you, the other driver should have apologized and paid for your damage.

I recall a similar incident happened to me in Dubai. I was there for about 2 months and had received delivery of my vehicle the earlier evening and so it was the first time I was driving the vehicle to my office and out of nowhere this Indian pulls out of the parking and hits my right side tyre and rear fender; damaged my read fender, the rim and tyre. We both pull to the side and he comes over and inspects the damage to my vehicle which was not very much but the fender of his 7-series along with his bonnet, headlight, bumper, windshield etc., were severely damaged.

So it happens, he owns a mega store from where he was pulling out and seeing the commotion, his brother also pops out. The brother asks me if I had insurance and that nothing was going to happen to me as my insurance would cover the cost, the driver of the beemer also put his input here and there. After listening to them patiently, I asked them if they were out of their mind and to explain why my insurance would bear the cost for the mistake of the other driver. Anyway in about 15 minutes the police arrived and determined the fault of the other driver in an instant; gave him a red docket, handed me a green docket. They also fined him 2000 Dirhams which they eventually waived as the Driver started pleading and crying.

 

[waz]

So today I was coming home, it was raining a little bit so roads were bit slippery, At an exit I gave the indicator and a car from behind hit back of my car, and my car spin 3 times before going off road to grass, because of rain the Grass with water (I think) save me and my car from flipping over, I came out side quickly to check on other drive to make sure they are ok, a cop showed up and he ask us if we both are ok and need any medical attention, I was just panic and shocked and processing the situation cause this is the first time I was dealing with a accident and Cop, Cop asked us both to get our Registration and license, I get it but cop ask us if we don't want to file a report than we can go through insurance or settle it among us, he help push my car out of grass and he was on his way. The Guy and I was talking about and he said if I pay him cash than there is no need for insurance companies to get involved, he told me that would take my insurance go up and I had a 500 deductible which I would have to pay anyway, so he asked for money and I ended up giving him 400$ through cash app, my car was not damage just Rubbed off, his fender was damage and bumper was damage to and Rubbed as well. When I get home my room mates told me that I should not have done that, he did took Pics of my License and registration but upon transaction he did delete and he went on his way, now after talking to my friends they told me that I should've filed the report and he probably did not have insurance.

What I don't understand that I told cop that I am new here and this is first time dealing with this kind of situation and yet Cop did not seems to be helpful, he just bailout super quick. Now my friends told me that, guy can still file a claim from Insurance although there was no police report done so Is it possible ? they also told me he can try recover picture from deleted Pics but if there is no report can he do that ? I hope he do not do anything because I paid him because I thought it's easier and more reliable way as even the cop suggested that before he left.

Did I make a Mistake ?
What can I do better next time ?
If the guy try to do anything else what else I can do ?


@gambit @F-22Raptor @Hamartia Antidote @SQ8 @KAL-EL @JamD

Bro sadly you should NEVER hand over cash and record or photo the scene with immediate effect.
Cops even in the U.K. which is known the world over for being a polite and helpful force won’t get involved in civil dispute, unless a road rage fight erupts, it’s a case of dangerous driving etc.
It’s a $400 hit move on head up.

 

[KAL-EL]

@Goritoes

You've received some sound input from a few members here.

I just wanted to add that of course you were probably in shock and unsure of what to do at that present time.

Nobody could blame you. I wish I personally had a magic one-size-fits-all answer about getting your money back.

 

[TNT]

So he hit u from behind and then he convinces u not to call insurance and on top convinces to pay him 400$ . I hope u dont run into a nigerian prince.

 

[Azadkashmir]

you made a mistake. now go buy front and back camera, a good one like the 400 dollars you give away. this will help you in the future. did the p ig give you a contact number or that idiot who hit you from behind you got his details?

 

[313ghazi]

@Goritoes Firstly relax, be thankful you are physically ok, money comes and goes.

Did you get scammed? Maybe. As nearly everyone has mentioned, if you get hit from behind, it's 99% the fault of the person who hit you. As a driver you are responsible for keeping a safe distance from the car ahead of you and of being aware of changes ahead of you. However, if you merged lanes, and the person hit you immediately afterwards, ie within 1-2 seconds, then you are likely responsible, as you will have turned into that lane without allowing safe distance. It all depends on the timeline. Do you remember how long you were in the lane before you got hit?

The advice given by @jhungary is valid in my opinion from a legal perspective.

The fact this guy agreed to take $400 and then left the scene, suggested he was likely speeding or was unaware of what was happening ahead of him when he shunted you.

In the future, have a forward and rear dash cam fitted, take more care when changing lanes, and always take details of the other car/driver if you are in an accident.