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Been off awhile....and now I need advice!
Hey guys.
Sorry I haven't been posted in forever...I know I have a lot to catch up on. My life has been CRAZY lately. But I could desperately use some "legal" advice...and I didn't know where else to do. Below is the whole story...pretty much I panicked, made a rash decision and now.....stress. (it's copied and pasted from a message I sent to someone so ignore the rough sentence structure and what not).
On my way home from work on a busy street, a traffic light was out so it was necessary to treat it like a four way stop. I was going straight and a car to my left was also going straight on what was now an intersection. Not sure whose "fault'" it was for not paying attention or going too soon or whatever. It more than likely was me and my lack of paying attention but whatever.. The front of the vehicle on my left "hit" (more so bumped) the driver side back tire area of my car.It wasn't very hard but it was obvious contact.Now here's where I did the stupidest thing: instead of pulling off to the side to assess the damage and meet with the other driver, I kept driving. Dumb, dumb, dumb, I know, I know. I'm aware that excuses mean nothing but I was scared and not thinking clearly. I know our cars made contact but it didn't seem bad enough to cause much damage. That's all I can really say so please don't lecture me about being a stupid moron as I already feel terrible about it and clearly need to work on my thinking in pressure situations.
When I returned home, I inspected my car. No dings, scraps, dents, nothing. Just a few black tire marks near the wheel.
I feel very terrible and freaked out about the whole thing, as I should be. Now my question is: what steps do I need to do to make this situation right or get on the right path to dealing with this? I realize that I can't go back and time and stop after the incident or prevent it. I have no idea if there was damage to the other driver, if they got my license plate number or whatnot. (I imagine they more than likely did but I can't say for sure.) I know what I did was wrong and nothing can take it back. I just don't want to ignore the problem and let it get worse. I live in Michigan if that helps with laws and policies and whatnot. Answers free of judgement would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Also, I would like to add that I'm not even sure if the other car made an effort to stop or whatnot. Since in my panic I didn't bother to look in my review mirror or anything. I thought I saw a similar vehicle turning into the left turn lane, like they had pulled to the side, but once again,, I'm not positive. Once again, I feel stupid, terrible and ashamed of the whole incident. I would just like to be the adult and take responsibility and make it right if there was damage to the other car.
I am so petrified that a police officer is going to show up at my door. I realize I may have to take some points on my license as well. I just don't know what steps to take or what to do.
I know that was the STUPIDEST POSSIBLE thing to do. I guess all I really can do is reach out for advice and do what is best.
Thanks guys. I promise I'll most more good things later!
01.21.2012---> I married a redhead I'm crazy about.
04.2016: IT'S A BOY! Elias Alan is due!
WDW trips: 05/14 (1st trip! Art of Animation; Little Mermaid), 05/15 (Pop Century!). DL Trips: 12/15
Re: Been off awhile....and now I need advice!
Thank you to both of you for your responses. I am going to go to the Police Department directly tomorrow (because I do not currently have access to a car at this moment.) and explain the situation and basically "turn myself in." I guess I would rather deal with the consequences of not stopping and "leaving the scene" then doing all that then covering it up or not reporting it. I feel that going in directly will be better in some way. I know that I should have gone right there after the incident or I should go as soon as I can. Can't get there without a car though.
I really like what Jean9ds said: whether there was damage or not to the other car, if they know it was me or not, I have to let them know. It's just the right thing to do. Like I said, I realize in a moment of panic, unclear thinking and rash decision making, I made the totally wrong decision and I want to make it right. Even if that means paying fines or getting points on my license. I'd rather not "wait and see and maybe it'll go away."
01.21.2012---> I married a redhead I'm crazy about.
04.2016: IT'S A BOY! Elias Alan is due!
WDW trips: 05/14 (1st trip! Art of Animation; Little Mermaid), 05/15 (Pop Century!). DL Trips: 12/15
I'm sure if you say you know you panicked and were wrong, the fact that you "turn yourself in" will be the important thing. It all depends on if the other person wants to press chargers, was hurt (doesn't seem that way), or car damage. I had a girl hit and run my car in high school. It was parked in the parking lot, she tried to park, hit my car, decided to drive away and park somewhere else. Luckily I had a friend who saw and recognized my car. They told the office, and school policy was to call the police. They went to pick her up, and the only reason she stayed at the police office overnight is because her mom left her there because the mom felt like she deserved it. We didn't press charges because it was an old Lincoln Town Car that my parents purposely had me drive for situations like this in a high school parking lot. Nothing ever came of it. She was released. That was that.
I don't believe it was hard enough to injury someone. Even if they weren't wearing their seat belt. It felt more like bumper cars and I didn't hear any metal bending or glass shattering. That doesn't mean it didn't happen, I know. There is no damage to my car, but once again that doesn't necessarily mean there isn't some, even very little to the other car.
Like I said, I'm just going to come clean and deal with it. I"m not worried about the insurance aspect of it. I was more worried about the "hit and run." Even though they really hit me...but that's beside the point. There was an accident, even if was just a minor one, and I didn't stop. If they want to slap fines on me because of it, so be it. At least I tried to handle it in the adult way.
Once again, I really appreciate the advice and listening to my ramblings about this whole incident. This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me, even just an accident of some sort. Needless to say, I will take it as a learning experience on what NOT to do in the future.
01.21.2012---> I married a redhead I'm crazy about.
04.2016: IT'S A BOY! Elias Alan is due!
WDW trips: 05/14 (1st trip! Art of Animation; Little Mermaid), 05/15 (Pop Century!). DL Trips: 12/15
I hope you get this worked out and everything is fine.
I've missed you around here. How have you been? You should post again on a regular basis.
Married the love of my life on 1-21-12. Our princess arrived on 5-28-13.
We do miss you, and I wish you didn't have to come back under these circumstances.
I agree with everyone else on going to the police department, although the way you describe it, it really doesn't seem like your fault, and they might actually have been happy you drove away....
Regardless, I am glad that you want to do the right thing now, and usually, they are understanding. I hope that you get it all worked out in the end.
I'm a bit late to the post but totally agree with what everyone else said about just going in and explaining what happened. We all have moments of panic. Hugs!!!