The Shoulder
The Shoulder
71
Ridesharemellow-kestrel-969

Rideshare driver hit me, we agreed to handle it ourselves, now I have 3 tickets??

I'm still kind of in shock so bear with me.

About three weeks ago I was driving on a two-lane road when a rideshare driver drifted into my lane and clipped my front passenger side. No warning, no signal, just — bam. Both of us pulled into a nearby strip mall parking lot to look at the damage.

Here's where it gets messy. The guy was super calm at first. Walked around both cars with me, said the damage looked minor, and told me he really didn't want to get police involved because he was worried about his driver rating and insurance. He seemed so reasonable. We talked for maybe 20 minutes, he shook my hand, said we'd "figure it out between us," and we both drove away.

Fast forward to last week — I get three citations in the mail:

  • Careless operation
  • Leaving the scene of a property damage accident
  • Failure to report an accident to authorities

I have a court date on the calendar and I'm genuinely panicking. I didn't flee — we both agreed together and I had no idea that shaking hands in a parking lot wasn't a legal way to handle this. I also have two things going for me: (1) a friend who was on the phone with me the whole time and heard everything, and (2) I'm pretty sure the strip mall has cameras that would have captured us standing there calmly together.

Has anyone dealt with anything like this? How do I even start? Do I fight all three tickets at once? Do I need a lawyer just for the tickets, or does this tie into a bigger insurance claim situation too? My neck has been stiff since the accident and I haven't even started dealing with THAT part yet.

Any advice, even just moral support, is appreciated.

13replies

Not sure what your claim is worth?

AskMatlock can connect you with an independent injury lawyer for a free case check — no pressure, no cost to start.

Check my case

0 / 4000 · posted under a randomly assigned handle

13 replies

  • 5
    gentle-elk-015

    Oh wow, almost the exact same thing happened to me two years ago — other driver convinced me we didn't need to call anyone, then I ended up with a citation anyway. The camera footage is your best friend right now. I tracked down the property manager of the lot and got them to preserve the video before it got overwritten. Do that TODAY if you haven't already, seriously.

  • 12
    cool-swift-197

    Not legal advice, but worth knowing: "leaving the scene" charges usually hinge on intent to flee, and a 20-minute mutual conversation in a parking lot looks nothing like that. The camera footage and your witness could be significant. These charges aren't a slam dunk for the prosecution. I'd at least consult a traffic or PI attorney before your court date — many do free consultations.

  • 9
    bright-lynx-400

    I'd be willing to bet the rideshare driver filed with his insurance company the same day he shook your hand, framed it however he wanted, and YOU got the blame. These guys know the system. Don't wait — notify your own insurance now and let them know you're contesting the citations.

  • 8
    humble-bison-918

    Speaking from experience inside insurance companies: when there's no police report, adjusters fill in the blanks with whatever the first caller tells them. If he called in first and said you left the scene, that's sitting in a file right now shaping how your claim gets evaluated. Get your version documented ASAP — with your insurer, in writing.

    • 5
      level-mile-marker818

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

  • 21
    gentle-vole-755

    A couple of practical things: First, write down everything you remember about the conversation in the parking lot — what he said word for word, the order of events, how long you were there. Do it now before details fade. Second, most courts allow you to plead not guilty by mail or online for a first appearance. Check your citation carefully so you don't miss a deadline while figuring out your next move. Third, these ticket charges and any civil insurance claim are separate tracks but they can influence each other, so it helps to have someone looking at the whole picture.

  • 5
    quick-fox-740

    Please don't ignore the neck stiffness. I know you've got a million other things on your plate right now, but soft tissue injuries from side-impact collisions can take weeks to fully show up and they get harder to treat the longer you wait. Get seen, get it documented, and make sure your doctor knows it's accident-related.

    • 5
      quiet-passenger219

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 8
    cool-badger-111

    This sounds incredibly stressful and honestly so unfair. You did what seemed like the reasonable, human thing to do and now you're the one holding the bag. I hope you have someone around you right now because this kind of thing can really mess with your head. Take it one step at a time 💙

    • 4
      weathered-sidewalk499

      Took me three tries but they finally budged. Don't give up.

  • 7
    cool-heron-735

    Three things, in order: secure that parking lot footage today, call your insurance and report the accident today, and call a PI or traffic attorney today. I know "call a lawyer" sounds like generic advice but in your case the tickets alone could affect your license and insurance rates long-term. Don't try to navigate this solo.

  • 11
    cool-heron-964

    Quick question — did the rideshare driver actually exchange any information with you before he left? License, insurance, anything in writing? Because if you drove away with nothing documented on your end, that's going to complicate your version of events a little. Not saying you're wrong, just want to understand what you actually have to work with.

    • 1
      curious-wanderer350

      How long did it end up taking in your case?