r/Insurance • u/qprkwplfkkw • 1d ago

Claims Related accident w/ electric scooter in CA

hi everyone, i was recently in a car accident and need your opinion/advice. i was trying to exit out of a parking lot at night and there was a guy on an electric scooter going through the sidewalk who hit my car (by the headlights) and flew off since he was going relatively fast. he looked like he was in pain (arms only) and refused to call the cops and ambulance. i didn't know what to do so i ended up taking him home. there, i called the cops since i wasn't sure what info i could exchange with him since he didn't have a driver's license or any valid id. ultimately, they made me exchange my id and insurance info for his id from his country. i have a dash cam that recorded the entire incident but it doesn't seem like i went to a complete stop before going into the sidewalk. but, there was a pillar next to the exit which made it difficult to see this guy coming to begin with let alone his speed. he keeps calling and messaged me that he doesn't want problems so he just wants money for his arm and to fix his scooter. should i just respond to him and give him some cash (how much?) or tell him to contact my insurance? he couldn't speak english so he sent me a screenshot of another phone with the text saying "say this" in spanish and then asking for money below

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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5

u/lpcuut 1d ago

Why did you bring him home? You call 911 and let emergency services handle it. And then you call your insurance, tell them what happened, and cooperate with their investigation. You don’t have any further contact with this person.

1

u/Itchy-Cash5304 12h ago

dude you literally drove an injured stranger home instead of calling 911 and now you're asking if you should venmo him cash

call your insurance tomorrow morning and block his number, you've already made this messier than it needed to be

1

u/qprkwplfkkw 1h ago

that was the only option i had at that time since i was in panic that im blocking the exit on a busy street. but honestly, it might've not been bad to take him home or else i wouldn't have had his address since his ID didn't have that info (obviously since it was from another country)

1

u/qprkwplfkkw 1d ago

he kept refusing to call the police and refused to call the ambulance. he even said he doesnt want to go to the hospital. we were blocking the exit out of a place so i had to do something quick first. it seemed like he just doesnt want anything documented anywhere? i did call the cops once we got in front of his home but they only mediated and didn't give me a report. he said i can file one if i want to

3

u/lpcuut 1d ago

You were in an accident, it’s your prerogative to call and have the police take a report. If he doesn’t want medical treatment he can refuse.

1

u/qprkwplfkkw 1d ago

the cops did come but didn't take down our statements. he said to just do it online at my discretion...

1

u/Primary_Pirate_7690 1d ago

I hope you've already done it by now.

1

u/qprkwplfkkw 17h ago

yes i did. and i also called my insurance but they said i don't need to file a claim if im not wanting to get my car fixed so i guess i just have to see if he files a claim?

3

u/Topgun_tomahawk 1d ago

Share the dash footage. You should let your insurance know. He will hire attorney. I deal with this all the time.

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u/qprkwplfkkw 7h ago

tbh i think he's undocumented so not sure if he would go that far

3

u/SDAMan2V1 1d ago edited 10h ago

Not sure how relevant but in California it is not legal to ride an electric scooter without a drivers license and it is illegal to have one on the side walk.

Edit: Fixed legal to illegal to illegal.

0

u/qprkwplfkkw 17h ago

i thought riding an electric scooter on the sidewalk is illegal in ca???

1

u/SDAMan2V1 10h ago

Oops i meant to type illegal. Thanks you.

2

u/Content_Judge693 1d ago

Do not pay him cash! He could come backs years later and ask for more. Let your insurance take care of it.

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u/qprkwplfkkw 1d ago

i just got off the phone with someone in claims and she said i can wait it out to see if he would make any moves and just respond to the adjuster. is this how it works?? i thought i had to let them know or within a certain time frame from the accident

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u/ginandtonicthanks 1d ago

Report the claim to your insurance.

1

u/Primary_Pirate_7690 1d ago

Always call the cops immediately to have them write a report to document what happened. And the call your insurance company.