[Evil_WalksII]

Man, what a mess I'm in. Sang Run, I don't think I'll be needing those running boards you offered after all..

Sheesh, typical insomnia so I decide to take a late nite drive. I was just poking along the nearest rural gravel roads and came up on a county road so I sped up to 45-50mph. Three deer (maybe more) run out right in front of me and my anti-lock brakes locked solid, I tried and tried to recover and ended up shooting across a deep culvert and slamming into an enbankment. If not for my seatbelt I think I'd have gone right through the windshield, I hit HARD! I ended up pretty far up into a rural neighbors lawn, trashed it pretty good. It was pitch black but he heard the accident and came out to check on the situation. I was pretty beat up but intact.

Here's where it gets tricky. I promised to repair the turf damage, told him I had AAA to get a tow and he was cool with everything. He asked what I wanted to do and all I could think of was I wanted to go home. He drove me home and I called my girlfriend. She came and picked me up intent on taking me to the hospital. The county sheriff's office called for me after I left and my Dad told them I went to the hospital. That's all he told me, so I don't know if they plan to ticket me or what. Nothing was said at the hospital about cops, that was fine by me as I really don't have much use for them. A couple of cracked ribs and some serious bruising from the seatbelt, should heal up soon. It's a real bummer though, my truck was my livelyhood. Being a self-employed one man operation requires a truck in my line of work. My truck appears to be completely hosed, bent frame and some messed up front panels/bumper.

Just curious, do you fellas think I'm going to get cited for anything? I did leave the scene but calling the cops and squad would have taken forever (one of rural life's inconveniences) and the neighbor was fine with my leaving the vehicle overnite and taking me home. A deputy stopped by while I was getting towed out and never mentioned taking a report, just commented on the bent up front end.

The situation is bad enough, I'm temporarily unable to work, limited finances, and now... no truck. Now I'm afraid some cop is gonna stop by and hammer me with some sort of ticket. What do you think? Am I just being paranoid or did I actually break the law? The truck was paid for so no need to file a claim and the guy did accept my offer to repair his lawn, I just have this horrible "gut feeling" that law enforcement is going to take a dim view of not calling them immediately...:bawling:

 

[sks_hunter]

up here in maine, it's illegal to leave the scene of an accident when, I believe, there is more than $500.00 damage, or personal injury has occuered. I'm only guessing on that one, though... the most important part is that you're ok... it could have been alot worse. I would think that if the cops do want to see you, it would probably be be a minimal fine... but that's just how they do it here... hope all goes well, and keep us posted.

 

[Triangle 66]

If you left to go to the hospital , (I h-o-p-e you wentto the hospital) you should be alright. Leaving an accident scene to go to the hospital should be a reasonable excuse for ' leaving the scene of an accident' .

From the sounds of it the only real damage was to you and your truck.If that is the case then they may not cite you at all.

This all depends on how much damage / how pissed the farmer was / how pissed the cops were / etc.

Good luck , hopefully everything turns out alright.

 

[Evil_WalksII]

Thanks guys. Well, the trip to the hospital was inevitable considering a concerned female was involved...


Nothing major, just temporary discomfort. Best excuse to do nothing I've had in a long time! One thing I should point out (and my error cost me bigtime), NEVER IGNORE YOUR ABS LIGHT! All the idiot lights in the old girl come on from time to time and I just ignored them. I can tell you for a fact my brakes remained locked well after I took my foot off the pedal. I've had a few hairy rides in my life but this one took the cake.

On a slightly brighter note my best friend works for a body shop and thinks he can fix it relatively cheap through the "back door". I'm gonna have her towed in and looked at before attempting to finance something else. I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed. One things for sure, things like this are a huge reality check, you can't help but be thankful for the good things you have in life. Friends and family are everything. As much as I disagree with seatbelt laws I'm glad I was wearing mine.

 

[hotbarrel]

If you have not heard from the cops yet you may not, HOWEVER i definatly would call or go see the homeowner and reashure him you will take care of his property damage. the cop may have a differant attitude if a homeowner calls wondering when his lawn will get fixed.
Afew years ago I sild off the road in a ice storm. I wend into the snow bank and the car floated up and setteled onto a fence made from 4x4's and phone pole. if the wrecker pulled the car out it would have pulled the wheel off or bent stuff up BAD. the home owner alowed me to cut the fence ,, even loaned me an ax. soon as the banks melted I was their with NEW 4x4's and fixed it. He came out and said he was supprized I showed up. it was way cheaper than fixing my car or haveing him get the cops involved thinking I was not comming or delaying too long.
in other words it is in your best intrest to fix it quick or get it fixed. keep him informed. and he wont get the cops involved.

 

[Sangrun Hunter]

Glad to hear you came out okay!

I would think in a rural area leaving the scene of a one car accident is okay to go to the hospital. It might be against the law, but then again common sense prevails more often in the rural areas.

 

[Evil_WalksII]

Well, I just got back from visiting the guy. Terrible way to meet your neighbors but what super nice people! They were more concerned about me than the damage, I caused far less than I thought I had. I'm still stiff and beat up but I'm thankful to have walked away. I haven't heard from the sheriff so I'm guessing it's going to be fine. Since I didn't have collision insurance it keeps the greedy insurance company from hiking my rates, that is a huge relief.


I was supposed to be helping a disabled friend move today, I feel bad because I know he was counting on me but considering the circumstances I'm sure he understands. Sang Run, that ABS light post was for you in particular since you drive roughly the same truck as mine, your luck has been pretty rough lately as it is. I just figured the idiot light was out of sync, checked the brakes and fluid and everything looked good... Well, to a non-mechanical person like me. Now I understand the ABS system relies on sensors to control brake fluid, etc. Never again will I ignore the "idiot lights" since it turned out to make me an idiot myself. I haven't gone deer hunting for years, I'm thinking about seeking revenge this year though!!:fal:

 

[Sangrun Hunter]

Thanks Evil,

My luck has been terrible this past week to say the least.

I just zapped the new DVD player I put in the wife's minivan yesterday. That's another $200 down the drain.

I ruined the rear trunion on my 63 kit the other night.

There are a few other things I've broken this past week too, I'm just having terrible luck and the whole health thing. My wife is really irked with me too, so I hope I don't break my marriage next!!!