seattleitjobs
New Member
Hi there,
The incident happened on the intersection that has two lanes in both directions and a middle turning lane. It was red light on the left turning lane and I had stopped. There were four cars in front of me. The light turned green and the second car in the row in front of me was not moving. The light turned red, and because I was in a hurry to pick up my daughter, I decided to try to go around the car in front of me and proceed straight as the light for the lanes going straight was still green. As I was trying to go around the car in front of me, I barely touched the passenger's rear side of the car in front of me with my driver's side front. I could feel I barely touched the car. Then I put it in reverse and returned in my previous standing position in the left turning lane. The lady from the car in front of me came out from the car asking, "Are you serious?", implying, why are you trying to go around me in such a tight space.
We agreed that we'll pull out on the side and exchange the insurance information. Then we waited for the next green light; the light tuned green again, and the car mentioned above did not move again. I was in a hurry to pick up my daughter, and at that moment, I believed I did not cause any damage to her car, so I don't need to exchange information with the lady. Once she dusts off her car, there would be no damage. By that time cars that were behind me already left (proceeded straight), so I had more room, I put my car in reverse, created more room to go around the car in front of me, and proceeded straight though the green light.
When I came back home, after picking up my daughter, the policeman was waiting for me. He instructed me that what I have done is a criminal offense, and charged me with hit and run attended. Now I have to go for a hearing scheduled on 9/15/10.
Once I came back home, looked at my car, I found out that there was minor damage to my car: there were two small "dots" of damage on the front bumper.
I was charged with code SMC 11.56.420 Hit and run (attended) -- Duty in case of accident with occupied vehicle in WA state.
I have a hearing next week.
Should I plead guilty?
What may happen in the worst and best case?
Any suggestion is welcomed!
Thanks!
The incident happened on the intersection that has two lanes in both directions and a middle turning lane. It was red light on the left turning lane and I had stopped. There were four cars in front of me. The light turned green and the second car in the row in front of me was not moving. The light turned red, and because I was in a hurry to pick up my daughter, I decided to try to go around the car in front of me and proceed straight as the light for the lanes going straight was still green. As I was trying to go around the car in front of me, I barely touched the passenger's rear side of the car in front of me with my driver's side front. I could feel I barely touched the car. Then I put it in reverse and returned in my previous standing position in the left turning lane. The lady from the car in front of me came out from the car asking, "Are you serious?", implying, why are you trying to go around me in such a tight space.
We agreed that we'll pull out on the side and exchange the insurance information. Then we waited for the next green light; the light tuned green again, and the car mentioned above did not move again. I was in a hurry to pick up my daughter, and at that moment, I believed I did not cause any damage to her car, so I don't need to exchange information with the lady. Once she dusts off her car, there would be no damage. By that time cars that were behind me already left (proceeded straight), so I had more room, I put my car in reverse, created more room to go around the car in front of me, and proceeded straight though the green light.
When I came back home, after picking up my daughter, the policeman was waiting for me. He instructed me that what I have done is a criminal offense, and charged me with hit and run attended. Now I have to go for a hearing scheduled on 9/15/10.
Once I came back home, looked at my car, I found out that there was minor damage to my car: there were two small "dots" of damage on the front bumper.
I was charged with code SMC 11.56.420 Hit and run (attended) -- Duty in case of accident with occupied vehicle in WA state.
I have a hearing next week.
Should I plead guilty?
What may happen in the worst and best case?
Any suggestion is welcomed!
Thanks!
