Almost two weeks ago, my car was hit by an int’l grad student. We were on a wide boulevard with 3 lanes going each directions, not counting left turn lanes. There were cement islands separating the two directions of traffic.
I was in the left of the 3 lanes going west. She was in the middle lane going west.
She then attempted an illegal U turn and from the wrong lane (from the center of the 3 lanes that were going west). Neither of us was in a turn lane. Of course, she hit my car.
Anyway, she hit my car, didn’t stop, and actually crossed into oncoming traffic and proceeded to drive down the wrong side of traffic. She wouldn’t stop. She kept going. Luckily, a cop was heading down that street (she almost hit the cop head-on). The cop was able to get her to pull over. A witness stopped to provide the cop with verification of the accident.
The driver spoke broken English and was relying on her iPhone GPS that told her to make a U turn, but of course, the GPS didn’t know which lane she was in nor whether there were cars that she might hit. She kept telling me and the cop, “GPS told me make a U turn.”
She is from Saudi, where she wasn’t allowed to drive, has been here a year, somehow got a license with obviously very little experience. She is 29 years old. She lives alone while going to school. I have her apt address and unit number.
Anyway, she claimed to have insurance, but couldn’t produce any records. The car is registered in someone else’s name (maybe a relative’s) that lives in this state. The police were able to pull up some indication that Progressive is the company.
My insurance, Allstate, opened a claim so that I could get my car rental and get my car fixed. In the meantime, no one has been able to contact this lady. She doesn’t answer her phone.
Finally, I called Progressive and filed a claim. Progressive was very nice and took all the info and the police report. About 30 minutes ago, I get a call back from Progressive saying that they can’t (yet) find a policy for this car, owner, or driver. But, they said that will keep looking because with the unusual name (and long multiple names) they may have a policy, but can’t find it. I don’t know why they can’t search by VIN number, which I provided by police report.
The lady was cited for: Driving the wrong way, Making an illegal turn, Hit and run (serious), and not being able to provide car insurance info. I even had to go to the police station and sign and swear to the Magistrate that it was a hit and run. I was told that I would be subpoenaed later to appear.
Now, I’m really annoyed. If she doesn’t have insurance, or if Allstate “gives up” trying to find out if she has insurance, or if Progressive can’t find the policy, I take the hit with “uninsured motorist.” I have to pay the deductible, and I lose my “reduced” deductible that I have because of being a good driver with no claims. Ugh. It would be one thing if this was a poor woman, but she is not. She was driving a nice car, had nice clothes, nice purse, and had braces on her teeth. She lives by herself in one of the nicest apt complexes.
I have tried calling her numerous times. No answer. I have texted her. No answer (she has an iPhone, so I assume she has texting).
I was able to find her university email address thru the school directory.
Seriously, I think she may have decided to leave the country since she will likely lose her license - her only means to get to school, and she will be charged with the Hit and Run. I don’t know if that “crime” would mean that her education visa wouldn’t be renewed next year or not?
Oh…and one of the best parts…after the cops let us leave the accident scene, she AGAIN turned and started driving down the wrong way on the street, so the police had to go after her again. Get this lady off the road!
As an aside…what the heck was my state thinking giving this lady a license???
