Rear ended a car today while packing.

[71Commander]

I got onto a accident this morning. I was in the center lane and a disabled van was in the left lane. A car, traveling in the left lane, in order to avoid stopping for the van, swerved into the center lane, cutting me off. I avoided him but let him have it with my horn. After passing the van, opening up the left hand lane, I moved left. This idiot then moved left and slammed on his brakes. I ass ended him. Damage was minimal.

I was packing.

The driver then gets out of the car yelling. He wanted to know why I didn't want to let him in. I informed him that a signal is an intent not a right. He continued to scream. I just called the police and sat in my truck. Upon the arrival of the police, I asked to speak with one in private. This ??????? tries to butt into my private conversation. The officer told him to get into his car and sit there. I then informed the officer that I was carrying a legally licensed firearm. He asked for my drivers license and CCW.

I am not exactly your clean cut, middle class, surburban dweller. I have hair that is halfway down my back. A full beard and dress like a biker.

The officer then gives me a form to explain my version of the incident after I verbalized my version. The driver of the car was told to do the same. After reading my version and his version, the police came up to me, handed me my papers and told me I was free to go. You gotta remember that I ass ended him. I got outta Dodge.

My first incident with the police while packing and it went better than I could have ever imagined.

 

[Tory]

Sounds like you did

good work - on a couple of levels!

 

[AirForceShooter]

Very well done.
Complete control of yourself and the situation.

AFS

 

[HankB]

You didn't escalate the situation. Staying in your vehicle and calling the cops was a good move - if you got out when the other guy was screaming and things got violent you might have been viewed as "agreeing to fight" (regardless of your intent) which wouldn't have looked good if you'd subsequently had to shoot him.

Calmly asking to talk privately with the LEO was an excellent idea - and it probably helped your case when the OTHER guy tried to butt in.

You done good all around.

 

[20cows]

You passed the Attitude Test. In my experience, that is one of the most important things to do in a situation like this. It makes the difference between night and day, even if the accident is "your fault".

Let the other guy be a jerk, if he wants to.

 

[garyk/nm]

I can only hope that I would be as composed and organized if in a similar situation. I fear that I would not be....

Good job, TT.

 

[71Commander]

I can only hope that I would be as composed and organized if in a similar situation. I fear that I would not be....

There was a time in my life that I would have reacted differently. When I received my CCW, I realized that my attitude had to change.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

Sounds like you handled it the best way. Were you actually determined to be a fault? I've always wondered about that situation.

What happened to you is one of my bigget fears. I was in an accident, lost control on a ice coated road along with 14 other cars. I said very little to the woman I hit, no one was injured, but the lies this woman told the police and insurance company were phenomonal, some were just over the top. So now I'm wondering if while I'm carrying I get into an accident and the other person, not knowing I'm carrying, tells the police I threatened, or was angry etc... towards them. I'm commuting in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area so tempers while driving, are assumed to be short. The olny thing I've come up with is recording pictures/conversations with the camera & memo feature on my cell phone. Any other suggestions?

 

[WT]

Only concern I have is that the wacko will get a copy of the accident report with your name and home address. Keep an eye open for the next month or so.

 

[71Commander]

I received no ticket. Not at fault. In 99.9% of these kinds of accidents, I would have received a ticket. Not this time.

The other person had no idea I was carrying. Didn't seem something he should know about. My appearance had him fooled.

 

[MudPuppy]

Yup. Good job.

 

[TallPine]

As I have gotten older - and hopefully a little more mature - I have learned that the horn is only useful for avoiding an accident, not for expressing your frustration at other drivers.

 

[Edmond]

I feel bad for the other guy. He's going to do that to the wrong person one day and face some serious consequences...

 

[Shane333]

I'm convinced that your calm attitude went a long way towards the outcome. Good job handling the situation. It's a good example to follow for anyone who packs.

 

[ScottsGT]

It's the Cops fault
hey, after reading the post on the frat prank, I had to throw that one in!

Actually, I hope the PO informed the hot headed driver that he took a chance at getting shot by aggressively confronting another driver that was packing! It might make the moron think twice next time about causing an accident. Stupid people..............

 

[Standing Wolf]

But... but... but...! Didn't the leftist extremists promise us every fender bender would turn into a shoot-out?

 

[grampster]

Blood on the highway.....

 

[Stand_Watie]

Actually TennTucker, after having lived in Michigan quite a few years, I will say that Michigan cops are probably a lot less likely to be turned off by the beard and long hair than Tennessee cops. The bad side of that is that they are more likely to be turned off by the CCW than Tennessee cops.

Are you a biker? My cousin (now deceased, unfortunately firearm related and at his own hand) used to be president of a club out of Holland called 'sinners'. Despite the fierce appearance he was a kind soul who'd give you the shirt off of his back if he thought you were in need.

 

[KONY]

It makes the difference between night and day, even if the accident is "your fault".

received no ticket. Not at fault. In 99.9% of these kinds of accidents, I would have received a ticket. Not this time.

Really won't matter who's fault this is with regard to your insurance company premiums. However, AFAIK, if you witness someone else putting on their signal on and you do not make an attempt to let them through, you usually get blamed.

 

[hrb02]

Well done. Sounds like an excellent attitude that was well rewarded.

 

[sturmruger]

Sound like you handled it by the book. I wish more people would just sit in there car. I really don't know why people always get out of there car and argue, especially if there are carrying!!

 

[M2 Carbine]

Well done TennTucker.
Good control.
Good attitude.

 

[S_O_Laban]

Excellent report and outcome.

My Dad used to say "attitude is everything!"

We recently had a member over at MissouriCarry.com who was involved in a car accident. His account in his words is posted below:

OK, it happened. I was involved in a serious auto wreck this morning and I was carrying my Glock 23. I was trapped upside down and couldn't reach my weapon. When help arrived I asked for a police officer and informed him that I had a conceled weapon. He asked where it was and I told him it was in my holster on my belt. He told me not to worry about it until they got me out. As the paramedics where taking me out through the window I handed it to him. I wasn't in any position to ask for a reciept or even his name. I told another officer that i had a rifle in a case behind the seat. He said it would be taken care of.
When the officer came to question me at the hospital, he asked if there was a family member that could take possession of my weapons. He gave them to my sister without question. Not only my Glock, but my rifle, my ammo can full of ammo and 3 knives. He told me he didn't want to take them to the station because then he would have to put them in the evidence room and it would be very dificult for me to get them back.
I feel this officer went out of his way to make it convinient for me. And saved himslef a lot more paperwork I'm sure. My hat is off to the Maryland Heights Police Dept.
I also can't say enough about my Bianchi holster with the retension lock. It held my gun in place and safe thru out this whole ordeal until I took it out. No telling where it would have wound up without the retension lock.
_________________

BTW this incident happened in Missouri.
_________________

 

[71Commander]

Really won't matter who's fault this is with regard to your insurance company premiums. However, AFAIK, if you witness someone else putting on their signal on and you do not make an attempt to let them through, you usually get blamed.

That varies from state to state. In Michigan, the person merging has to increase/decrease their speed in order to make a smooth transition. Traffic had no legal requirement. In Ohio, the law used to be that the traffic had to allow the car to merge into traffic, but I believe that this has since changed to the same standard of Michigan.

At any rate, this is a moot point because I was even with his back quarter and couldn't see his signals, if he used them at all. The only thing that saved me then was my locking my brakes up.

 

[MarkDido]

I rear-ended a car full of British tourists in a rental car just before Christmas.

They were headed to their hotel after landing at KMCO.

Not much I could say except "Welcome to Florida"

Lady in the back was complaining of some neck pain, so they responded OCSO and Rescue.

Being a former Paramedic, I assessed the patient, took vitals, asked all the appropriate questions and turned the patient over to Rescue when they arrived.

20 minutes later FHP shows up. I'm carrying. I don't volunteer the information (not a requirement in Florida) and he doesn't ask, but I KNOW that he knows. My CCW is tied to my DL.

I also didn't volunteer the fact that I worked for the S. O.

Trooper asks me what happened. I told him. "The light was yellow, he stopped, I didn't, my fault."

He takes our paperwork and sits in the car for about 10 minutes while I shoot the breeze with the other driver.

Trooper gets out, hands us both some papers, says "have a nice day" and drives away.

I open the paperwork and see that it is an exchange of insurance information form - not a ticket (Merry Christmas!)

Gave the Brit my cell phone number and asked him to call me and let me know how the lady they took to the hospital was. He calls me and tells me that everything turned out OK. I also got a phone call from the lady's husband, AFTER they returned to the U. K. thanking me for being so caring (working up the patient prior to Rescue arriving) and just generally being so decent and forthcoming.

So other than a dent on the bumper of my Ranger, no ticket and those Brits probably think we in the U. S. (well at least Florida) are pretty decent folk and will probably come back again.

You're right - attitude is EVERYTHING!