QuestionQUESTION: Today my friend Stephen and I were in the parking lot of a supermarket. He usually backs into the spot but today he pulled into the spot, but two seconds later he realized he was pressed for time so he started to back out slowly. Another car backed out behind him at the same time.
The two women got out of the car. The mother (not driving) started in about the bumper having black soot on it. I said "Dont worry about it, there is nothing there, nothing happened, lets just go our separate ways". So I thought they were going to listen to me because they both got back into their car and started to pull away.
So my friend Stephen started to pull away as well. As my friend Stephen was about to leave the young girl stopped and came over to Stephen and asked for his phone number because it was her fathers car. He said "No" and we drove away.
There was absolutely nothing on her car except black soot. Stephen never really even touched the car.
I told Stephen he was smart not to give his phone number to her because her father would trump up some problem where he would wind up paying for.
They saw soot on the back of their bumper, yet our cars backed out and never touched, so how is this possible that Stephens car damaged hers if our cars never touched? How would it be possible that our cars gently wound up next to each other if our bumpers were supposed to be neck and neck. This would be impossible because if our bumpers were neck and neck and we backed out further like we did to wind up next to one another we would have damaged our cars really bad.
Also Stephen pulled away as soon as she started to pull away. He only stopped when she stopped and then came over.
ANSWER: Debbie,
Depending on the State where this occurred, it may be illegal for your friend to refuse to give his contact information after an accident.
Conflicting statements are a way of life for parking lot accidents. Unfortunately, it is rare that two parties agree about how an accident occurs. Frankly, unless you can prove your side of the story, there is nothing you can do if the other person wants to fabricate a claim. Simply tell the truth if an insurance company or official investigates and have faith that the right thing will happen.
Finally, I would have to say that there is something more to this story. I think the the cars hit each other, even if it were very minor. I say that because it doesn't make sense you would even address someone that is making up a story about an accident if there was not an accident. If I didn't hit somebody, but they got out of their car and tried to pretend I did, I certainly wouldn't say "Don't worry about it, let's go our separate ways". With no accident, I would would have either not acknowldeged them, or said something like, "don't even try it lady, and then left". By stopping and discussing the matter with them, you guys seem to admit by your actions that something more than just nearly having an accident occurred.
I tell it like it is. I hope this helps.
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QUESTION: First of all they started to pull away first. THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO THIS STORY YOU JUST DONT READ AND NO YOU DONT TELL IT LIKE IT IS. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT FIRST
THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. SHE JUST SAW OUR CARS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE THAT IS ALL. STEPHEN LOOKED AND SAW THE SAME THING HE WAS JUST TOO CLOSE THAT IS ALL. I DONT AGREE THAT GIVING ONE ANOTHER INFO WOULD DO ANY GOOD IN THIS CASE. THAT SOOT COULD HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE WE BECAME CLOSE. AND IF HE GAVE INFO THEN THE FATHER WOULD HAVE SUED AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE HEADACHES. OUR CARS WERE IN PERFECT SHAPE.
NO THE CARS DID NOT TOUCH BECAUSE IF THEY DID THERE WOULD BE NO WAY THEY WOULD HAVE WOUND UP IN THE POSITIONS THEY DID. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A BACK-TO-BACK COLLISION OTHERWISE.
Stephen would not have been able to leave if she didnt start to take off.
She then stopped and got out of car and I suspect because her mother must have given her hell in the car. So he did not leave the scene of an accident. And what accident, just two cars being close.
They didnt take down anything. And we didnt even touch one another. I mean the soot was on the back of their bumper. Stephen backed out towards his right and she backed out towards her left. All we did was come dangerously close. That black stuff could have been on their car already.
I mean if we had hit each other from behind there would be no way our cars would have wound up in the positions they did - just next to one another dangerously close.
And she only wanted his phone number because she was afraid of getting into trouble with dad. I am glad Stephen did not give his phone number. I bet my bottom dollar if he did the dad would have sued for some trumped up charge.
Unless the cars are damaged in a really bad way I dont think any info should be shared. This would only cause more harm then good.
This was absolutely nothing. ANy one else would have just said "Good nothing happened" and drive away.
ANSWER: What are you worried about if there was no collision? What would the people sue for? I've been handling claims for a long time. Your reaction to this is typical of someone who had a minor accident and is mad that the other people won't let it go. This may not be the case, I wasn't there. By the way, you don't even have a question. What are you looking for from me?
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QUESTION: That Stephen was smart not to give his phone number for this particular case because the father would have sued for some trumped up charge. All this was was a girl terrified of her dad. The girl started to drive away but stopped because her mother must have given her hell in the car so she came out and asked for Stephens phone number and said she wanted Stephens phone number because it was her dads car.
If there was a collision then yes he should give all info but there was nothing we just were side by side dangerously close. If we backed out further then there would have been damage to the cars. Stephens car had no damage and neither did they. And when cars are dangerously close it is normal for the drivers to come and out see their cars.
AnswerNo matter how you spin it, it is not normal to get out of your vehicle if no collision occurred. If vehicles are dangerously close, then one person should stop and either honk or pull back in their parking space so as to avoid a collision.
I cannot tell you if your friend was smart, because I cannot ever say that breaking the law is smart. You did see that it is illegal not to give out your info, right? There are laws about that in almost every State, including in the UK. You'd have to look it up, or disclose exactly where this occurred. If there was no collision, then I don't see how the other person could make a "trumped up" charge. You could simply show that your vehicle suffered no damages at all and that would likely be the end of it.
Also, if it makes you feel any better, you are right, when damages are severely minor, then no official report is needed, and I agree with you that no insurance should really be involved. But think about this, if you caused $250.00 damage (scratched a bumper cover), would you just pay for the damages on the spot? Could you? Would you just "go your separate ways" for $250.00?
JP
