The Shoulder
The Shoulder
65
plain-marmot-137

Other driver completely made up what happened — what actually happens to them now?

Still kind of in shock about this whole thing. I was T-boned at an intersection a few weeks back and ended up in the hospital with a broken collarbone and some pretty serious soft tissue damage. Wasn't exactly in a position to be talking to cops on scene.

When I finally got the police report, I almost couldn't believe what I was reading. The other driver told the officer that I ran a red light and that she had the right of way. That is completely, 100% false. I had green. She blew through a red at a good 45+ mph and slammed into me.

Here's the thing though — my brother-in-law had just convinced me to set up a dashcam about a month before this happened. Total luck. The footage is crystal clear. You can see both lights, you can see her not even tapping her brakes. The attorney I've been working with got it over to her insurance company pretty quickly.

I'm grateful it exists, obviously, but I am furious. I was lying in a hospital bed and this person was out there actively trying to pin this on me. Like, who does that?

My question is — beyond the insurance claim going the right way now — does the other driver actually face any real consequences for lying to the police? Does her insurance drop her? Does she get charged with anything? I feel like she should face something for this but I have no idea how it actually works.

12replies

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12 replies

  • 21
    warm-crane-753

    I went through something really similar last year — guy who hit me told the officer I was on my phone and swerving. Pure fiction. Luckily a nearby business had exterior cameras that caught everything. His story fell apart completely. As far as I know his rates went through the roof and his insurer flagged him, but I don't think he got charged criminally. It still makes me sick thinking about it. The audacity of some people.

    • 2
      quiet-passenger976

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 20
    kind-mole-800

    From my time on the inside — when a claimant submits footage that directly contradicts what the insured told us, we absolutely note that in the file. It factors into renewals and can be grounds for a coverage review depending on the policy language around misrepresentation. I've seen policies get rescinded over this kind of thing, though that's more common when someone lies on the application. At minimum, she's going to have a very uncomfortable conversation with her own insurer and her rates are not going to be pretty at renewal.

    • 3
      soft-spoken-overpass566

      Adding this: keep copies of every email. It mattered for me.

  • 18
    careful-wren-628

    Quick question — did your attorney actually get the police report officially amended to reflect fault, or is it still sitting as "undetermined"? That distinction might matter down the line. Also curious whether there were any witnesses at the intersection beyond just the footage.

    • 4
      patient-dreamer183

      Curious whether you did this on your own or had help with it.

  • 14
    plain-elk-411

    First — how are you doing physically? A broken collarbone plus soft tissue injuries from that kind of impact is no joke. Please make sure you're following up with an orthopedic specialist and not just your GP. People underestimate how long clavicle fractures take to fully heal and the muscle compensation patterns that develop in the meantime can cause secondary problems for months. Take care of yourself first. The legal stuff will move forward — your recovery needs your attention too.

  • 10
    silent-bison-150

    Not legal advice, but to answer your question directly: giving a false statement to a law enforcement officer can technically be a criminal matter depending on your state — sometimes it's a misdemeanor. In practice though, police rarely pursue it unless there's a bigger investigation attached. The more immediate consequence is that her insurer now has documented proof she misrepresented the facts, which can affect her coverage and premiums. Your attorney is the right person to ask whether pushing on the false statement angle is worth it in your specific situation.

  • 10
    plain-wren-969

    The honest answer: she probably won't face criminal charges — that almost never happens. But between her insurance knowing she lied, the police report being amended if your attorney pushed for that, and whatever civil liability follows, she is in a genuinely bad spot of her own making. You've got the footage. Focus on getting what you're owed. Let her consequences be her problem.

    • 3
      hopeful-commuter952

      Going through something similar right now. Did following up actually move the needle for you?

  • 10
    wise-heron-371

    I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of recovering from actual injuries. It's such a betrayal — you're in a hospital bed and someone is out there actively trying to make your life worse. Really glad your dashcam caught everything. I hope you have good people around you right now.

  • 7
    gentle-fox-916

    Even with the dashcam, don't assume her insurance is just going to roll over and fully accept fault without trying to lowball you on the actual claim. They know the liability is there now, but the damages conversation is a whole separate battle. Keep documenting everything — every doctor visit, every prescription, every day you couldn't work. Don't let them rush you into a quick settlement while you're still dealing with that collarbone.