Comments on: Dear PoP: I T-boned a Cop Car

By: CLustreet

CLustreet — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:11:11 +0000

Good luck – about a year ago I was hit head on by a city garbage truck that was driving the wrong way down the wrong side of the road. A cop showed up and was super nice, but gave us both minor moving violation citations and told me I could and in fact should contest it, but that he couldn’t just give one party a citation. I doubt this makes any sense or resembles any truth but at the time I was a little distracted because I had just been HIT HEAD ON BY A GARBAGE TRUCK THAT WAS DRIVING DOWN THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. I had a hearing and was told I had no case. Which is funny… in retrospect. Anyway, you’ll notice that the trucks no longer drive down the wrong side of the road to be closer to the trash to make their route easier. They have to circle a whole half block to be able to drive WITH the traffic to collect trash now. I like to think I’ve made a difference.

By: Original Poster

Original Poster — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:00:47 +0000

Hey AND ALSO, email me, I’m the guy who wrote the Dear PoP –

mgv4232@gmail.com

By: Eric B

Eric B — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:00:39 +0000

@Pennywise, Don: Sorry, I meant U-turning from a parking spot. As for general, mid-block U-turners, I would actually prefer if people could try to do that when no one is right behind you? It’s a little disconcerting when the car traveling in front of you veers right, like they’re grabbing a parking spot, then chops the wheel to the left to spin around in front of you. People seem to think that U-turns are best executed as fast as possible, when actually the opposite is true.

Thanks for looking up the law!

By: Pennywise

Pennywise — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:59:50 +0000

Just a thought on the lawyer, while lawyers may not want to take on the Unitarded Secret Service, many love to take on MPD as its a revolving door of cash payouts, especially with Nickle’s involved. Check out Gregory Lattimer, the Rawlings family lawyer, though your case might be too small time for him.

By: ogden

ogden — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:46:48 +0000

As Angela K mentioned, insurance companies have attorneys on staff (or contracted) to handle legal disputes. It is a process called subrogation.

You might want to check with your insurance company before you go out and hire your own attorney. Otherwise you could end up paying legal fees yourself for something the insurance company would have paid anyway.

By: Angela K

Angela K — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:21:45 +0000

Sorry, dude, but you’re out of luck. Last year, this same exact thing happened to me. I t-boned a Uniformed Secret Service cruiser in an intersection in NW. I had the green light; he was not using lights or siren and blew through his red light responding to a call. My car was totaled. We were both ok but my hands were busted up, and he was cool and used his first aid kit to stop the bleeding.

At the time, I had no idea this was the secret service; I was too distracted and flustered and assumed it was MPD, and didn’t know until I got the accident report who I’d actually collided with. Neither one of us were issued a ticket, and I was not found at fault by the police investigation.

My insurance covered my car, minus the deductible. I was told that the claim was in subrogation and I would be refunded the deductible if that was ever resolved. It’s been almost two years, and I don’t ever expect to get ever see that money.

I did speak with a lawyer at the time, and considering I had no money to pay for a lawsuit, it wasn’t worth pursuing. However, the biggest problem that came out of this was with my insurance. Because the insurance company had to place fault on someone, it fell on me. I was told that when the claim was finally closed and the insurance company received money, I would be cleared of all responsibility. In the meantime, I’m paying for it.

I’m really sorry this happened to you! It sucks, but at least you’re ok. No injury is ever worth a big settlement.

Angela

By: Pennywise

Pennywise — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:16:05 +0000

Thanks Don.

By: Pennywise

Pennywise — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:14:52 +0000

The poster needs to get a lawyer, who will salivate at the chance for a payday from MPD.

Eric B: I think mid-block u-turns in DC are legal. I do them all the time in front of a police station, which doesn’t mean squat of course but I am sure they are legal. Any idea what / where the law is on this?

By: Don

Don — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:13:02 +0000

It’s not against the law. From the DC Driver’s Manual (http://dmv.dc.gov/info/forms/dcdmv_manual_pdf.shtm):

U-Turn
You can not make a U-turn on a curve or a hill where the vehicle cannot be seen at least 500 feet away by the driver of another vehicle proceeding in either direction. U-turns are prohibited in the District of Columbia at intersections controlled by traffic lights or police officer, or on a crosswalk adjacent to such an intersection.

By: Let's be honest

Let's be honest — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:10:08 +0000

Are you black? No? Then this city will never come close to cooperating, let alone actually acknowledge fault or remunerate you. Get a lawyer.

Yes? Call the Washington Post and have them run a front page, 300 word story + photo essay on the accident and how MPD is racist.