[AT] Off topic - P/U Accident --- Front Dash Camera recommendation

Fri Aug 20 06:14:43 PDT 2021

Dean:  Can’t help with dash cams.  Can say I’ve had my share of troubles with crooks.  Had a run of bad renters over several years; ran one off the property at gun point, and that’s not my personality.  

So far you have done the right things by reporting to your insurance company and filing a police report, and by attempting to track the person down.  Since he is now claiming injury I would be extremely cautious as you know he has a bad reputation, a criminal record, and is likely being advised by others of like mind.  By your description of the incident, he was likely making a drug deal, or drunk, maybe both, as operating a vehicle in a rural area after dark with no lights is indicative.  I would NOT provide any more information unless through your insurance company providing the info or a lawyer.  

It is your insurance company that should handle this; that is what we pay them for.  Unfortunately, not all insurance companies are very helpful.  I use USAA, have for years, and to date they have been outstanding.  Was rear ended a few years ago and they handled it all; minor damage, no injuries, but I called them immediately and they took over.  Other driver was a young kid.  We were stopped at a red light, and BOOM.  I think he was a “distracted driver” as there were several other cars in front of us stopped at the same light.  Police arrived and just said to exchange insurance info, as we did.  USAA had my car fixed quickly; a bumper and taillight assembly, paint,, so forth, and I had my car back when the offender’s insurance company contacted me to see if I needed a rental car.  I didn’t or would had already had one through USAA, but State Farm was a week or more late to the party. 

I would avoid further contact with the other party, even though it was his fault, as all this is likely a scam.  Injury accidents can be a nightmare, and in the end it is your word against his.  Let your insurance company handle it, get your truck repaired, and move on.  

Brad’s suggestion of using a cell phone for pics is good.  Dash cams sound good, but unless you are taking on another techno project could be one more PIA, or would be for me. Let the insurance company handle it.  You have done your due diligence.  Back away. It is likely the other guy will do nothing unless you give him the opportunity.  As the local police advised me during the rental incident; the last place he would want to be is in a court of law.

Dave Gerber

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of deanvp at att.net
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 1:27 AM
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Off topic - P/U Accident --- Front Dash Camera recommendation

Sorry to change the subject but I have a little challenge right now. My antique Tractor puller P/U and I were in a little fender bender incident recently which has become very complex since  the other driver gave me all false data as to who he was, where he lived, how to contact him  and whether he was insured or not.  Other than that things are going well. After about 5 days of online investigation my wife and I tracked him down and have a working cell phone number for him.  I’ve talked to him and we have exchanged several text messages but I still don’t know where he lives and who his insurance company is. I gave him my insurance company verbally at the accident but he seems to have forgotten it and now repeatedly asks for who the company is. I refuse to give it to him until I get a valid insurance company name from him.  All he will talk about is getting his truck fixed.  And that the accident was my fault. To add more stupid stuff to this whole fiasco he is now claiming injury which is a crock of cow dung.  

He backed out of a blind driveway onto the road heading in the same direction as I was.  This was at about 9:45PM and it was pitch black dark with no street lights way out in the country.  I only noticed the reflection of my headlights off of the side of his black Dodge Pick Up. No tail lights, no back up lights, no brake lights, no running lights, no lights of any sort. I immediately slammed on the brakes and started steering and braking to the right  of his truck which was now close to being in the right orientation to head down the road. I saw the eye of a needle to try to get between the truck and the trees at the driveway exit.  Well, I came to a stop right after brushing the side of his truck and messing up my left fender. I got close to threading the needle.  Could have been a pretty violent rear-ender otherwise.   But as you might expect he is now blaming me and I hit him therefore I am at fault.  I have no witnesses to prove what happened.  I’ve informed my insurance Co and filed a collision report with the Washington State Patrol.  I’m pretty sure he is an uninsured driver which is illegal in our state. In my investigation tracking him down I have been told he is involved in illicit  drugs and he DOES have a criminal record..  So…. Due to this I am looking for a dash camera to mount on our vehicles so I don’t have to go through this situation of not having proof again. 

So I’m looking for Dash Camera suggestions for my 2003 Ford F250 and a 2016 Buick L:acrosse.  I usually don’t buy the fancy stuff I just get the basics  in a good product that are needed.    Suggestions would be appreciated???? I’ve had one recommended to me and that is a Rove 4 but I know nothing about it yet.

Dean VP

Snohomish, WA 98290

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

..Winston Churchill...

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