Dear John: While driving on the Belt Parkway in Queens, my rear left fender was struck by a woman who never stopped.
My wife, a passenger, called 911 and reported the accident. We gave them the make, model and the license plate number of the car that hit me. We followed the driver for six miles and called 911 again.
The operator advised me to stop following her, exit the parkway and wait for the patrol officer she was sending and report the accident.
When the officer appeared, he said that even though my fender showed that I had been struck, he couldn’t do anything as we had left the scene of the accident.
He said the other driver could deny everything. He reluctantly gave me an accident form to fill out and report to my insurance company.
Was I properly advised by the 911 operator and the police officer? Why should I have to go through my insurance company? Joe
Dear Joe: Following a driver who doesn’t want to be caught creates a dangerous situation. You might crash. She might crash. And over a two-bit accident.
Did the cop advise you correctly? Who knows. Maybe he was working on a whole lot of more important things that day.
My advice here is this: Notify your insurance company that you were involved in a hit-and-run accident. (Be incensed. Your insurance company doesn’t want to pay.)
Since you were hit near the rear of your car, there is no way you can be blamed.
Your insurance company will probably track down the insurance company of the other driver and it will drive her crazy. She will be punished enough just by her rates going up.
And if she has other offenses — like DUIs or tickets — this could be far worse for her than actually staying at the accident scene and taking her medicine would have been.
You can bet your policy will be flagged and the accusation of a hit-and-run will stay with her for a long time.
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