The car accident

I was involved in a car accident almost 2 years ago. What I’m about to write is somewhat funny and I would like your input. About 20 some months ago I was driving east bound on 695 towards 95 N in Baltimore. At the time prior to the construction there was a merge lane getting onto 95 N. However the merge lane getting onto 95N was on the left hand side not the right. As I approached the merge the car in front of me came to a sudden stop and I collided into the car. The damages to my car were significant but the other car I hit, not much damage at all. Once the police officer arrived at the scene of the accident he took our statements down, towed my car, and the person I hit drove away.

Going to court for reckless driving

About 2 months after the accident, I received papers to appear in court for reckless driving. I was unaware that I was being charged with such a crime because personally I thought she stopped short and it was her fault as much as it was mine. I have a friend that is an attorney and was planning on representing me. At the last minute, he was called into court for another case he was working. Instead of appearing with me, he told me to ask for a postponement if the victim was in court and if not proceed and say “hearsay” once the case proceeded. “Hearsay” means that the evidence that is being presented by the officer is non circumstantial evidence and could not be backed up without a witness present. As I approached the bench, I noticed that indeed the victim was not present and within about 2 minutes my case was dismissed. As I was walking out of the court room with the officer, the lady I hit came running in and said what happened. “The case was dismissed” explained the officer. She held in her hand a stack of papers which I observed to be medical records and damage assessments. She proceeded in telling the officer that she wanted to speak with the judge and I shouldn’t leave! I was out of there within the minute.

The first attempt to serve me personal injury papers to appear in court

I received an anonym’s phone call on my cell phone about 6 months ago and the first thing the caller said was, hey “aka John Doe” what’s up? I thought who could this be? I went on talking as if I knew who I was talking to not to be rude. He went on and said, “Where are you right now?” I told him I was at my house having a cookout with my family. He said “Cool, what is your address again I will come over.” In the middle of this call, I had my kids jumping on me and for some crazy reason I blurted out an address off of my head that happened to be my mothers next door neighbor. Right after I told him, I said, “Who is this”? He told me he was about to serve me with a summons to appear in court for a personal injury case. The next morning around 6:00 in the A.M. there was someone knocking on my mother’s next door neighbor shouting my name that woke up my sister. My sister poked her head out of the window and said nothing. Obviously, I get a call that morning and my sister wasn’t too happy with me.

The compensation resulting from a minor car accident

That day I decided to call my insurance company because I thought the case was being handled out of court by my insurance company, which was not the case. As I spoke to my insurance agent she told me that indeed the insurance company would provide me with an attorney and it would be fine for me to get served the papers. She proceeded to tell me that this lady was suing my insurance company for more than $10,000 for damages resulting from the accident and the reason I was being contacted was because the insurance company didn’t agree on the settlement.

My options

At this point I had two options. My first option would be to get served and my second option was to avoid this person at all costs. In Maryland, if they don’t serve you papers within 2 years of the accident, I am told that the case will be dropped. I’ve decided on the second option. Do understand the following: when the accident occurred I was living in a different residency and I still haven’t filed with the MVA for change of address and won’t until this is settled. They currently have two addresses, one being my mother’s next door neighbor and the other my old address. There is no other information available as to where I live or at least information that I know about.

Techniques in trying to find you to serve you papers:

Over the last 6 months I have been hounded by phone calls from several different people trying to attempt to serve me with these papers. I have received voicemails stating that someone has found a camera which I don’t own, a lost credit card with my name, (I own a debit card) and even my motor vehicle registration. Other calls I have received include, I need to pick up a package at the Baltimore County post office and an address was skewed on a package that needs to be delivered to my address. Others include, I had won a special drawling from the Maryland Lottery and in order to claim the prize, I needed to show up at their offices within 2 hours and my drivers license was invalid and the motor vehicle would process my change of address over the phone.

My most recent call was from a girl that told me she wanted to meet up with me. According to this girl, I met her out one night in a drunken stupor and told her to call me. She proceeded in telling me she wanted to meet up with me for the day and go figure the rest. This had to be the best considering I’m happily married with two kids and never go out and drink unless it’s with my wife. I of course acted like I knew her and told her I would meet her at the Red Lobster at 8:00 P.M. Of course I get another call from her at around 8:30 P.M. and I proceeded to tell her as I was heading to the Red Lobster, I was involved in a car accident getting onto 95N from 695 and asked her to pick me up. She immediately hung the phone up on me!

My opinion

I am just one person doing my best to keep the insurance rates down. Its people like this (the one that was involved in the accident) that increase our insurance rates. The estimated damages on her end were no more than $3,500 dollars according to my insurance company, but when greed sets in and the payday presents itself, people tend to ask for more than they really deserve. I have already notified my insurance company that I do not intend to get served and I’m doing everything on my end to avoid these people at all costs. My opinion is if her lawyer didn’t advise her to take the settlement (why would he for only about $1,000) and she wasn’t smart enough to take the money, both the lawyer and the person I hit don’t deserve a cent! I am sick of all these frivolous lawsuits and I am now in a position to do my part.

The question

Has anyone ever gone through a similar situation and if so what was the result? Is there anything else that these people will do to try to find me?