Rep Power: 692

I fell asleep at the wheel (yes yes, i am not going into details), and had a bump on the highway

now, i was in a rush to get into waterloo, i took down his info but only his plate, his name, and his cell and address, he only took my plate, my name, and my phone number, he claims he will take it to a dealer to have them look at it and see if there's frame damage because it felt quite hard (i hit him in the bumper, it felt hard, i mean i am having some neck pains too) and he claims his neck is hurting... but it got better over time

yet, its been a day, i called him a few hours after the accident, and his cell phone number given to me was wrong, i have not heard a single word from him, even if it is thanksgiving weekend, the dealership should be open, and the hospital emergency rooms should be open, he would have TONS of time to have himself checked out, and his car checked out

my friends are saying that the rule of thumb is tat if the party hit (in this case, him) did not contact me, nor ask me any information about my insurance etc. etc., that after 72 hours and no police reports have been filed, or any medical related tests and checks done 3-4 hours after, that the party responsible (ie. me) is no longer liable to pay damages because the time period has past? true or false

i mean, i tried to call him to get information about what to do next... but he gave me the wrong number, nothing was written down, there were no eyewitnesses names or numbers taken down, it took all but 15 minutes for it to be over...

i am not someone who do not take responsiblities, i wanted to get in touch to make sure this problem is sorted, but if he missed his chance, then am i still liable to pay him compensation? especially if he decides to call me 3 weeks after and claim ive damaged his car's frame and i need to buy him a new car? or claim i have hurt his neck badly and needed surgury etc. etc.? or lost wages for his kids, etc. etc.?

please help! i cant even sleep over this problem

 
Rep Power: 702

its a sticky situation, there is no real restriction on reporting an accident to your insurance company, you have 72 hours to put the accident on paper with the police (this way your case is more solid) the police usually do not contact the person that was also involved.

 
Rep Power: 692

still no calls, i know about that sticky situation...

 
Rep Power: 589

Here is the deal,

You ahve 72 hours to report to the collision reporting center.... There they take your name, info, and YOUR side of the story (make sure its a good one... you did NOT fall asleap at the wheal)

I dont know if they will charge you with, but usualy its careless driving (they gives those out like kandy)

However if you DONT report it.. you could get slapped with a "failure to report".

But im afraid i dont know what teh chances of these are. If you settle it w/o the insurance, thast the best solution...

But i guess this gets a little more interesting as, there is not real witnesses so how can you prove YOU hit her... i dont know...

 
Rep Power: 603

I don't know where you guys are getting 72 hours.

It's 24 hours .. And yes, you can be charged with fail to report accident if you don't.

This is all assuming that the amount of damages exceed more than 1000.00.

Glad to be of service.

 
Rep Power: 589

Unwritten rules

Ticket says you have 15 days to file the ticket for court.....
Reality is you usualy can get away with 30!!!!

Rule is 24 hours after the accident... I know you can get away with 48 no problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

ya one can get away within 48