Car hit by drunk driver in parking lot at work, Did I mention I've only had my GTO for 6 weeks? Options

[2000Z-71]

Well I had a craptacular afternoon. Our building engineer walked up to my desk to tell me that my car had been hit in the parking lot. He also told me that it was the developer who works in the office directly below ours. I ran out to the parking lot to survey the damage. Crunched passenger side rear quarter panel, caved in front bumper on the driver's side of the Suburban parked next to me. Did I mention that it's all reserved and assigned covered parking at my office building? Did I mention that the dufus devloper is assigned the spot nest to mine? Did I mention that I've only had my GTO for 6 weeks?!

I went into to the developer's office. The door was open and the lights were out. I looked around and called out and assumed no one was there. I walked across the parking lot to the Scottsdale PD substation at DC Ranch. Told the desk officer what had happened and she dispatched an officer to take the report.

A reserve officer shows up. She starts to take the initial report and then calls for regular officers when she realized that the driver was possibly still in the vicinity. Two regular officers show up, they did a building search of the developer's office and found him passed out unconcious on the floor underneath his desk.

They escort him out to the parking lot, realize that he's drunk and call their supervisor. Their supervisor shows up, realizes that there are witnesses and they can place him in the car at the time of the incident. He then calls the training unit for a field sobriety test.

The driver fails the sobriety test and is arrested for DUI at over twice the legal limit and this is over an hour after the incident. I gotta' say watching the sobriety test and seeing them place him in handcuffs was more satisfying than anything I could have imagined happening to him. It only got better seeing the tow truck show up to impound his 'burb. Did I mention that his insurance has expired?

DID I MENTION THAT I'VE ONLY HAD MY GTO FOR 6 WEEKS!

This is one of those things that could only happen to me.

DID I MENTION THAT I'VE ONLY HAD MY GTO FOR 6 WEEKS!


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This post has been edited by 2000Z-71: Jun 15 2007, 05:39 AM

[CJ-TA]

Man.. that sucks ass!

Good thing you have insurance! Your insurance co will go after him for payment.. and if you are lucky, you will recover your deductible.

[ws6transam]

Hopefully Mr. Beerman (Or is it Jack Daniels?) doesn't owe more than the suburban is worth.
If he's got enough equity in the suburban to cover the inevitable judgement, you'll be okay.

Nice to see some Justice once and a while. Good thing you restrained yourself! He wouldn't have felt your punches anyway.

[JKnight]

I was thinking about this driving to work this AM. Did the guy go out for happy hour then come back to work sloshed? Was he drinking at work? We have beer on the back lawn from time to time (work sponsored) but nobody gets .16 bac from it.

And you'd think he'd have the decency to hit you in the front fender, which is much more easily replaced. That really sucks.

Jason

[CMC #37]

OMG what a retard! Drunk guy needs professional help. You have a right to be angry and get your satisfaction in court. Don't, however, let the anger continue on too long as that will be a point for Mr. Drunk Guy. So sorry to hear.

[rmackintosh]

Now that just sucks.....sounds like you got a good start on "making it right" however....most guys would have a smashed up car and not a CLUE who did it, or have a way to get any sort of retribution......

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[slowTA]

Wow, so let me get this part straight. You're telling us that you not only have an assigned parking spot but its covered too! Someone here is important (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)

Seriously though, it sucks. I wish I saw him getting cuffed to share in that joy, you'll have to keep us updated on this guy's punishment.

[BumpaD_Z28]

WOW ! Sorry for the accident, BUT it does sound like he got some of what he deserved ... looks like it will all be "body damage" and no structure or suspension pieces should be hurt so that is a positive thing ...

Just make sure you get a VERY REPUTABLE shop to repair it, I've been over that bridge too many times....

[2000Z-71]

Update:

It's been an interesting day. Dufus driver gave out information for State Farm as his insurance company last night. His proof of insurance was expired but he claimed it was still good. Turns out his State Farm policy expired on October 3rd. The secretary in the office next door who witnessed the whole thing was requested by Scottsdale PD to identify dufus in a lineup. She's been totally cool about the whole thing and is doing everything she can to help me out.

Dufus apparently made bail this morning and drove to the office in a different car with California plates. We called the police to report it thinking that if he was arrested last night for DUI he probably had his license pulled. Dufus also left a note on my car apologizing for hitting it and left the name, number and agent's name for a different insurance company. Phone number turned out to be bogus. I did an internet search for the agent and found him, some insurance company I've never heard of out of Sioux Falls, SD, WTF? Dufus supposedly is insured so I get to file on his rather than mine.

One of my draftsmen found and empty bottle of Cuervo in the men's room.

Dufus showed up a scond time this afternoon at the building. All of my draftsmen went nuts running for the windows, grabbing digital cameras and cell phones all taking photos of him driving and two even ran across the parking lot to Scottsdale PD to report it. I called Scottsdale PD again to report it. I was informed that he still has a license until the results from his blood test come back. If his test results were above the legal limit, a request goes into to DMV to suspend his license. That process could take 1 week or 1 month. I was asked that if we saw him acting drunk or suspicious to immediately call Scottsdale PD.

I talked to my rent-a-lawyer as well. He said I have a solid case and will have no problem getting a beneficial judgement. However collecting may be an entirely different story. Especially against what appears to be a development firm with only one or two employees. His suggestion was to try and file on his insurance since I can make more claims against his policy than I can my own. Fall back to claiming on my policy if that doesn't work. I can also ask the prosecutor to seek restitution for me as part of his criminal punishment. For that to happen he would need to be found guilty, and then there's the whole collection issue. There's also the option of filing against him in civil court as well. He said if I want my car fixed quickly to take care of it through insurance and go after anything over and above what they do not cover after it has been fixed.

This really sucks. I'm all for the proposal sheriff Joe made for convicted DUI drivers having bright orange license plates announcing that they were convicted.

[CMC #37]

Sounds like this guy is a good candidate for Pogo stick justice. This is something I came up for folks like this. They have a license to operate a pogo stick, that is it! Public transportation city buddy!!!!

[Formula WS6]

haha I like the orange license plate idea. I really like Sheriff Joe and I'm on the other side of the country. We need more Sheriff Joes. The pogo stick idea is fantastic as well.

Sorry about the car. I hope it all goes a lot smoother than it sounds.