Car crash - what to do

[pqkdzrwt]

When you say "judge really give it to one of these undesirables" are you talking about the guy who accidentally went through a red light, or the guy who was driving without a license?

[whitetiger]

I was referring to the guy who ran the red light, in a scenario where he sues the guy with no license. The guy driving without a license is not trying to sue the other driver. They both screwed up and are not entitled to a large sum of cash. Way too many people get away with ridiculous lawsuits.

[sandman]

Is it possible that it would automatically be Rob's fault, just because he doesn't have a license?

No. That's treated separately. He'll get fined for it, but it won't attribute blame.

[urodacus]

get a friend with a licence to front up to the cops and say that someone who ran a red light hit him while your friend was driving your car, then buggered off. there was no point stopping as there was no one there.

[jimipresley]

get a friend with a licence to front up to the cops and say that someone who ran a red light hit him while your friend was driving your car, then buggered off. there was no point stopping as there was no one there.

Don't you know that's ILLEGAL, urodacus?

God forbid we become so assimilated!

[pqkdzrwt]

get a friend with a licence to front up to the cops and say that someone who ran a red light hit him while your friend was driving your car, then buggered off. there was no point stopping as there was no one there.

Thats a pretty big risk. What if there was a fixed CCTV camera in the area, or an in car camera that captured the scene. What if the police attended and know that the person and/or bike were not in a state to "bugger off"?

This does raise for me another question which I believe is related to this thread. If someones in car camera witnesses an accident, what would you do. Wait for the police and just give them the SD card? Get the police contactact and email/send it later, or would you just drive by and send it somewhere later?

How about if you are in an incident, what do you do with the SD card? would you guard your SD card from the police to ensure it was not lost or tampered with, or would you take it home to ensure you have a copy?

[nil desperandum]

Today the police didn't even ask Rob whether or not he had a licence so that shouldn't be a problem any more. And it turns out that the other guy has a criminal record as long as your arm, including drug-dealing, injuring someone in a crash (couldn't make that up), and blackmail. So negotiations should be, er, interesting! Technically the other guy could still try to sue for a lot so we'll have to wait and see if he's willing to be reasonable.

[sandman]

Today the police didn't even ask Rob whether or not he had a licence so that shouldn't be a problem any more. And it turns out that the other guy has a criminal record as long as your arm, including drug-dealing, injuring someone in a crash (couldn't make that up), and blackmail. So negotiations should be, er, interesting! Technically the other guy could still try to sue for a lot so we'll have to wait and see if he's willing to be reasonable.

He sounds as if he's likely to be one of the most reasonable people you could hope to meet.

[tsukinodeynatsu]

Often negotiations with weirdos are about being the most aggressive and loudest one in the room.

Say you have CCTV footage even if you don't have it. Negotiations come before a case is brought or you even get fined for driving without a licence; it only goes over to the police if negotiations fail (which is when they'll conduct an investigation and fine you for driving without a licence). So the footage will only come into it if it gets to the police, which if you scare them enough it won't.

As soon as they start declaring what you must pay you slap a CD down on the table and tell them that this is CCTV footage, showing them clearly running a red light and crashing into you. Then add pictures of the car damage on top. For wasting your time and being rude to you, you want $XXX. For the car damage, you need $XXX. Wave the CD around a lot when he argues and argue back that it's their fault, and you're willing to let the police decide and cop the licence fine (if they know about the licence bit). Be louder and more unreasonable than they are. A lot of these people get their own way purely because they are the loudest, so be louder.

If they start to calm down or look a bit scared, say 'Listen, $XXXX is a lot of money and I should have stayed to make sure you were all right, I was just worried/cultural differences/had to go to work/had an exam/(bullshit excuse goes here). Just pay $XXX for the damages and I'll be fine with it.' or 'Look, I understand your family situation isn't good (if you know it's not). It's OK, the damage isn't much anyway.'

Make them sign a contract saying that the matter is closed and they have no recourse to more money and neither do you.

I have no idea what to do if they're truly crazy and call your bluff, but I doubt they will.

[Tempo Gain]

I have no idea what to do if they're truly crazy and call your bluff, but I doubt they will.

That is a definite weakness in your strategy.