Parking Lot Fender Bender - Should I Have Called Cops?

[Hot4huntin]

Most police departments will not take an accident report on private property. I would probably have gotten her to write down a statement indicating it was her fault. This has worked well for some of our clients in the past, but sometimes the responsible driver is not willing to do it. You can also go to the police station and pick up the blue (now white) form, complete it and send it in to the State.

[Chew]

You can get a "blue form" for damage under $1000 and send it in to DPS yourself. Just to get the accident and your version of the incident down on an official record.

Codie...I may have worded that wrong. If a citizen demands a report on private property, our agency will give them one.

[Smart]

Don't know about Graham Codie, but in MW and W'ford, the police generally will only hand out a blue form (now white) on minor accidents on private property. But I'd call them anyway just so there is an incident number on file in case anything comes up.

Trailboss

Same in Dallas......and they won't decide on who is at fault on a non-injury accident......they basically just show up give you each a white form that has each others insurance numbers and let the insruance companies do the investigation/interviews. My last three, also all with female drivers turning into my truck have all been a handled the same way. My only concern is what could happen in the case of a lying, money hungry litigious person turning the story around.

[JHT]

If I had to guess, (no bias from the tatoos) she has a warrant or 2 out.

I witnessed that "act" before when my buddy got hit in college.

[Mike D]

I would have called it in anyway.

[Traildust]

We didn't even exchange insurance. It was her fault, and I had no damage, so I didn't see the need. The only way something could happen, is if she snuck down my license plate number without me knowing it.

I think thats what happen to me, we never exchanged any info...Be sure you let your ins. co. know what happened....ya never know

[Cajun Blake]

We didn't even exchange insurance. It was her fault, and I had no damage, so I didn't see the need. The only way something could happen, is if she snuck down my license plate number without me knowing it.

by any chance, did you write down her LP # ?

or ask anyone who was near by and witnessed the accident for their name and ph# ?

a witness in this matter may have been very valuable asset to you in case of future litigation.


best of luck in this ordeal

cb <*)))>{

[Bill]

Last time my wife did this the police told her they WON'T come out unless there are injuries, or someone who looks like they might start up injuring others.

When you call the police, tell them you're feeling a twinge in your neck, but not enough to go to the hospital right now.

[Boss Hogg]

Get the tape from WalMart just in case she gets stupid!!!!!

[huntingfanatic]

I was thinking the same thing. Walmart will have it on thier security cameras. You might ask the for the manager and find out about the tape. I would at least ask him to watch the tape so he could be a witness in case something happens to the tape

[glen]

The police fill out accident reports (ST-3) for the state of Texas(DPS). No police department will investigate a minor accident in a parking lot unless it involves a DWI driver or fatality. However you should alsways get drivers and insurance information anytime you are involved in a collision. I would call Wal-Mart and inform them that there was an accident so they can burn a copy of the incident for their records. Otherwise there system will dump the incident after a certain amount of time( usually 15 or 30 days) - I wouldnt loose any sleep over it now though

[BrianL]

I don't imagine anything will ever come of it, but I had one of those time that did. Walmarts cameras are likely digital and will record over themselves after 2-3 weeks. I would try and get a copy of it now, just in case you need it two months from now.

[TXJon]

When you call the police, tell them you're feeling a twinge in your neck, but not enough to go to the hospital right now.

Well, in our case it was my wife that went coasting through a parking lot intersection and bumped into an '85 buick of some kind. We had a newborn in the back seat, and he came unhinged. That freaked out the other driver enough that they just wanted to go away.

[Roscoe]

Unless there were witnesses or video tape from surveilance, even if you called the police, the girls could lie about what happened when they arrived.