NRR: legal advice after I hit someone's car while running

Not that I'm saying your honesty is bad...but I always figured if I ever was in a situation like this, it would be pretty easy to say that you were bracing yourself as you were cut off, since you did have the right of way its very easy to assume you thought they saw you so when you braced yourself against the car so suddenly you must have left a dent....

That sort of thing is going to be state-specific, so at a minimum we're going to need to know what state you live in.

Your story explains why it is always better to slap a car - make your point without damaging the car.

Free advice: Keep your mouth shut next time.

It is actually quite running related too.

I am in NY.

Yes, I should have slapped instead of punched. Yes, I should have had a better story to tell the cops. But I was tired and caught off guard. Plus most importantly I was standing in front of my house. Have you ever had someone talk shit to you, or do something to you like throw something at you, from their front porch? The few times it has happened to me my immediate reaction is always "I know where you live, and I will come back." One time I did go back, and I caused quite a bit of damage. The person whose car I hit was there and for all I know they are less stable than I and - had I lied - could potentially come back causing much more damage and frustration than my honesty will cost me. Not to say that I went through that thought process at the moment I was speaking to the police, but in retrospect it seems reasonable. I'm also trying to justify the fact that I'm about to throw away a lot of money.

So, sumbiotch nearly kills you, you put a small dent in his car in response and you are the one up a creek? wtf. and everyone knows to shut your piehole.

I agree, but I don't know if there is any true legal value for my side of the story. Saying she almost killed me isn't quite enough (I don't think) and since I didn't shut my mouth I came here to ask for the thoughts of many and see if I have any real options.

No advice, but for what it's worth, I slapped a car yesterday too. I was running on the sidewalk, the car came from behind me and pulled into a parking lot whose entrance I was in the process of crossing. They told me to watch where I'm going.

vig wrote:

I agree, but I don't know if there is any true legal value for my side of the story. Saying she almost killed me isn't quite enough (I don't think) and since I didn't shut my mouth I came here to ask for the thoughts of many and see if I have any real options.

The driver almost killed you, you were trying to get out of the way of the car, and you told the cop it was your fault for attacking the car??????

Ah, so the driver was a female. Why didn't you just tell the cops that? He would have realised the grave danger your life was in and sympathized with your reaction.

Three estimates is just an insurance company practice and not a legal requirement. Insurance companies and people get three estimates to prevent fraud (inflated estimate and kickback).

You should take a good look at your behavior historically. Does this happen often? When it does, do you get mad? Mad to the point where you (want to) lash out physically?

Now take a deep breath, and understand that you are just a prick. Probably a lot like the cuunt who cut you off. Two of many ass-holes in this world of ass-holes.

So it was a female. Was it Becky Gelke? Was she soooooo good looking?

I wouldn't of run home if I was being followed, I would take a series runs through the park, trails, cut throughs, alleys, to a friends house possibly, maybe even to the police station and tell them THEY nearly hit you and are following you.

Lets keep in mind that if you caused a dent in her car for upwards of $500, you really pounded her car. I mean, I slap cars a good amount and never cause any damage.

Did she purposely try to hit you? Why were you so mad at her?

So you told the cop you did it. He is not a judge and you still don't have any sort of court order telling you to pay anything. Let them come in with their estimate. Then give them around 60% or so. It will be a huge pain in the ass for them to legally pursue you for the rest, they will probably not bother. Hopefully all their info (name/address phone) will be on the estimate they provide so you will have that handy if things get ugly from there.

Pizzaguy wrote:

I wouldn't of run home if I was being followed, I would take a series runs through the park, trails, cut throughs, alleys, to a friends house possibly, maybe even to the police station and tell them THEY nearly hit you and are following you.

^This. I once ran along RR tracks to avoid being followed.

In the future: Deny, deny, deny!!!