If the other driver drives off in an accident, would you do so as well?

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Likely because it gets more traffic and most of us on this subforum reply to everything. Same thread would possibly lay dormant in other subforuns

Where else would I put it? Damn I wish there were a forum for etiquette or legal advice or w/e.

The result of my court date is: I'm on probation for 1 year. If I have zero violations for a year, it would go off my record. If I violate my probation w/in the next year, however, it could get me in trouble, such as jail time. And they're counting the year from my 2nd court date on Oct 25th. In addition, the other driver filed a claim against my insurance. I recently received such letter.

The violation of probation isn't just restricted to traffic related. It could be any criminal offense at all. Because I'm on probation, even minor offenses could land me in jail. So I must not do anything bad at all, basically. I've given up driving for the next year. My family takes me where I need to go. I'm also cutting back on work hours so I have less chance of screwing things up. I've even told my supervisor why I'm only working weekends from now on. The whole detail. The next step is prolly stay out of the public as much as possible. Like even avoiding trips to Walmart.

Now my accident was 3 months ago, but I've drove my car the past 3 months bc my probation hadn't officially started yet. It will start this week. How bad off am I exactly?

It seems that you are not in trouble for having driven your car for the last three months. As I understand your post, this means that if you have another driving offense, then you're in jail. Ruby, I am sorry to hear this. I do hope you are careful going forward with everything you do, both at work and at home. Please take good care of yourself. Not driving may be the best option right now.

If I have ANY offence at all, not just driving/traffic, I could go to jail. A criminal action that normally gets other people a slap on the wrist would land me in jail bc of my incident 3 months ago.

Yes. So please stay out of trouble. Most especially with your ex boss and former place of employment. It doesn’t seem otherwise that you’re committing legal offenses. The one issue you seem to have faced legally was a possible restraining order from your former employer. So don’t go back there and be careful.

Thx. I have no desire to go back there. Or to do much of anything. The reason I got a probation and not a milder consequence is because it turned out I caused sufficient damage to his car. If he didn't sustain that much damage (over $1000), then he wouldn't have filed a claim. W/o my lawyer present, I woulda gone to jail instead of probation.

People say I'm stupid bc I couldn't tell he pulled over. I thought the only definition of pulling over is staying right where he was when I hit him. Or move to the side of the road. How could this be construed as stupid when he went to the nearby parking lot? Would anyone else in that situation have know what he's doing? I thought that he woulda gone to that parking lot even if I didn't hit him! Everyone make wrong assumptions. Does that make them all stupid?

I don’t think it’s stupid, but it’s wrong. The point isn’t that you had to follow him around checking where he went if you didn’t see him (now you are saying you saw where he went?).

The point is that you had to call the police. From there or from somewhere else. Or drive to police station. Or ask someone what to do if you don’t know. Even if he drove to the side or a parking lot he could still have physical injuries etc People are known to appear ok at first but injuries show up later. He could have a concussion or what not.

The point is that when you cause harm to people or their possessions driving around for months pretending nothing happened is wrong. Why do you still argue about it?

Yes there are other people who leave accident sites or crime scenes and don’t call police. They hope to avoid responsibility. Just because they do it, it doesn’t mean you should. Who cares if they are stupid. Just do the right thing next time

I saw he went to the parking lot. I didn't know what that means or what he was doing. If he stayed right where he was when I hit him or stayed on the side of the road, I woulda known he pulled over. I'm not trying to avoid responsibility. I just didn't know what he was doing. I thought he was driving off and leaving. It turned out his car sustained enough damage to file an insurance claim but thankfully, the person didn't get harmed.

you have to make police report if you hit someone. It doesn’t matter what he was doing. Now you know

Can you get a ticket for going 5 miles over the speed limit?

Yes. It is possible.

Oh crap. I better not drive. If I get into any trouble, I go to jail bc of my probation status.

I thought you planned on not driving, Ruby? Right?

Exactly.

You don’t have to stop driving but you don’t need to be speeding

I'm saying there's a risk in everything I do. Hell, I didn't wake up that morning and plan to get in an accident and then drive off. It happened bc I misinterpreted the other driver's actions. I thought him driving to the parking lot means he drove off. I didn't follow him bc I didn't think I could catch up to him since in my mind, he drove off. I now have to be more careful than other people. Other people didn't screw up and land themselves on probation.

My parents hate me. They said I ruined them and put them through hell. They were the ones who initially took my car keys upon hearing my probation starts this week. It was to prevent me from getting jail time. Now I'm starting to have even less desire to drive. Even if my folks suddenly give me back the car keys, I wouldn't take it. I even deactivated my Facebook account bc I don't wanna accidentally offend someone who might sue or otherwise get police involved.

My lawyer said today that I can't get any ticket, no nothing.

No, I would never drive off. Just call the police or insurance company.

Sounds like you made an honest mistake Ruby. I'm sorry your parents are being so hard on you for it.

Nobody plans an accident. But you do need to use impulse control and think before you act. Most of what you've gotten into trouble for was from following your impulses and not thinking things though. It's logical for someone to pull into a parking lot to get out of the way of traffic. (They also suggest you do that in drivers training) when someone suggests that you not stay after work they are telling you not to hang around.

It was an honest mistake that coulda landed me in jail if I didn't have a lawyer. And if I made an honest mistake in that hit and run incident, there's no telling what other mistakes I could inadvertently make while doing other stuff.

I screwed up at work before and have mostly learned my lesson. I no longer stalk ppl or have anger outbursts, although I'm currently working on not screwing around. I've made moderate strides in that. Anyway, just as my work situation is improving, I now have legal trouble. There's always something on my plate. But this time it's an honest mistake.

I didn't have driver training. I was taught to drive at home as a teenager.

All States DMV Driver License Handbooks & Manuals

Heres some resources for you

Yes we all make mistakes. Some mistakes could be avoided though. For example driving above speed limit is easy to avoid by driving at speed limit.

I also never had drivers training. But I did read the manual. Do read the manual

The law does not recognize ignorance of the law as a defense. Especially driving laws because it's considered a privilege to be earned not a right. It is you responsibleity to know driving laws, do read the manuals.