So I managed to get into a fender-bender on Wednesday of this week. The experience is rarely a positive one, and this was no exception. And to make matters worse, it was completely my fault. On Avenue B (the one I usually take), I can turn left onto it and take it several blocks before coming to a yield sign at a major intersection. But on Avenue C (the one I took on Wednesday), they decided to randomly throw in a stop sign before its major intersection. I hit a young Hispanic lady who was weeping and shaking uncontrollably. Bless her heart – it took her more than ten minutes just to calm down enough to move her car to the curb. Fortunately, it was not a high traffic intersection at all (no intersection in Sweetwater is “high traffic”).
I felt horrible about the situation, but it got worse when I found out that this young Hispanic lady did not have automobile insurance. She ended up getting a bigger ticket than I did, and my insurance is not responsible for the damages to her vehicle. The front bumper to my little white Toyota Camry is all scuffed up, a daily visual reminder of my mishap. Fortunately, Adina has been more than gracious.
I called the police to come and give a report of the accident, but I am wondering if that was the right decision considering the fact that I knew the Hispanic lady had no insurance. From a legal standpoint, I think it was the right thing to do. But from a moral/ethical standpoint, was it the right thing to do? She would not have received a ticket for not having insurance if I had not called the police. What do you think?
5 comments:
I don't think it was unethical, Than. You didn't call the police to get her in trouble. You called because that's what you're supposed to do, even though you knew you would get a ticket. She is responsible for her own actions (i.e. lack of insurance) and you don't do her any favors by shielding her from the natural consequences of her choices. And God's still in control. When you do what your God-given conscience tells you is right, He takes care of everything and everyone else according to His plan.
i also agree--do what is right. she needs to be ticketed for the lack of insurance and realize it is the law to have it. She made the choice to drive and also made the choice not to have insurance, therefore she has to risk the consequences of the actions she took. hope the white camery is okay.
this is holly by the way...
Bummer about the fender bender. Never fun. I've been responsible for a few myself. :-0
Question: You said it was completely your fault, but that your insurance would not cover the damages on her car. Who then will repair her car?
How would that be a moral or ethical consideration? Breaking the law is breaking the law, so you are doing nothing wrong by calling the police to report an accident, and she is in the wrong for driving while uninsured. So many uninsured drivers are here in the Dallas area that some of the cities are automatically towing the cars away so as to not have other people be liable for the actions of these uninsured. And her being Hispanic should not have anything to do with it, unless you are perhaps implying that she is illegal as well. I was so poor at one point that I couldn't afford to buy insurance, so I didn't drive my car for two years until I could afford it. I guess that puts me in the minority, since it seems that people seem to feel entitled to drive with no consequences to the law as long as they are enabled by those who fail to report them.
I have to clarify, now that I am more informed on the situation here. Even though the accident involved an uninsured motorist, I am still liable for her damages because the accident was technically my fault. But the fact that she was uninsured means that I am, most likely, not 100% liable. From what my State Farm agent stated, they break things down to percentages. They may only be willing to pay 60% of the damages instead of 100%.
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