Legal Question in Traffic Law in California

What to do when an uninsured, unlicensed driver hits your parked car.

My neighbor backed out of their driveway and right into my sister's car. The damage is fairly extensive. They refused to exchange insurance info. They became defensive right away and offered her $600 if she wouldn't call and report it. They told us the driver didn't peak english or have a license. We called CHP and filed an accident report. The CHP officer was rude and chastized my sister and told her that she didn't need to call because the damage was under $750. The owner of the vehicle admitted to the CHP officer that they had no insurance. My sister only has PL/PD because her car is a 1990 Honda Civic with 180k miles on it. The car did have some damage in the area already. Luckily we have a picture showing the damage was nowhere near as bad as it is now. She went and had an estimate done at a body shop. The total cost is going to be $1487 to repair. Where do we go from here? Should she give them the estimate and ask them to pay for it? They may be uncooperative as they were really hostile after the accident. How long do they have to pay for the damages before she can file in small claims court?


Asked on 11/20/06, 6:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: What to do when an uninsured, unlicensed driver hits your parked car.

The time limitation that I am aware of it the time by which the action must be filed. If the neighbor has not agreed to and made arrangements to pay by now a small claims action should be filed and served.

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Answered on 12/04/06, 10:32 pm


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