Hit by Car in Gas Station

[purplebarbi]

My question involves an injury that occurred in the state of: South Carolina

Hello,

I was involved in an accident where the driver states that she was trying to avoid another vehicle that was pulling out of the parking lot. I saw her as she pulled in, she made eye contact with me as I was walking back to my car. The truck she was referring to was pulling out and leaving before she hit me. One of her first questions to the officer was will I be sued? I was taken to the emergency room and when I recieved the insurance information, it was reported that I was a contributor to the accident. I called the police department to complain about the officers behavior and was informed that I was the cause of the accident by walking in front of her car and that was witnessed by the clerk that the police officer spoke to. Now how convient is that!

Any advice?

[tigerdog]

Find out if the gas station has security cameras that cover that area of the parking lot.

[purplebarbi]

There were cameras, but they were dummy cameras, as the store clerk put it, and the cameras inside do not view the outside of the store. Greenlight! I think you have helped me without even knowing it. The store clerk said she saw me purposely walk in front of the drivers car, maybe the inside cameras will show what she really doing at the time? I really feel the police officer had something to do with her statement. Thank you, anything else you think I should check into?

Question? How do I request the video from the gas station?

[purplebarbi]

I was hit by a car in a gas station, unfortunately all the good samaritians who saw the accident refuse to provide statements (God bless em). The police officer was very rude and condescending treating me as if I was to blame, stating "sure your hurt huh" and other nonsense. The drivers main concern was she going to be sued? (duh?) anywho, I left the scene by ambulance, and when I returned and asked the store clerks if anyone witnessed the accident, one tells me I have given my statement to the police and you have to get it from them (?) so I said to her basically your telling me you lied? and she just repeated the same thing. I called the police and asked if there had been any statments and I was told just one and it said that I purposely walked in front of the car! That is rediculous! What can I do from here? Any resonse would be great!

Thank you in advance

[killwhatyouadore]

Usually there are security cameras outside of gas stations to catch people who may drive off with free gas. First off, you need to hire an attourney that specializes in helping victims of accidents such as the one you were in. The attourneys will try to obtain said footage from the cameras. It is going to be hard to prove that the cops were rude unless their dash cams were rolling, considering the cruelness of your witness. It will be hard to prove that you purposely walked in front of the car so your chances are fairly good. My advise to you would be to hire the best attourney you can. Even with their expenses, it may pay off.

Good luck

[LegalGeek]

It would also be helpful to consult a lawyer so your rights are protected.

[purplebarbi]

Thank you for your response,

I have contacted lawyer after lawyer and they are basically telling me there is nothing I can do, that is unacceptable. I have advised them I am not interested in suing for money her insurance will cover my medicals. I am not even sure of that because the clerk said I walked in front of her car, as I said I am not money hungry, I work 2 jobs and go to school part time, but I don't feel that she should walk away with nothing happening, she did'nt even recieve a ticket, citation, slap on the hand nothing. I feel that our system is trying to sweep my accident under the rug.

[SChinFChin]

Thank you for your response,

I have contacted lawyer after lawyer and they are basically telling me there is nothing I can do, that is unacceptable. I have advised them I am not interested in suing for money her insurance will cover my medicals. I am not even sure of that because the clerk said I walked in front of her car, as I said I am not money hungry, I work 2 jobs and go to school part time, but I don't feel that she should walk away with nothing happening, she did'nt even recieve a ticket, citation, slap on the hand nothing. I feel that our system is trying to sweep my accident under the rug.

Are you talking about paying some lawyer a retainer up front of a few thousand dollars, and see what he or she can do for what many finds to be a loser of a case?? Or are you talking about finding some lawyer to handle the case on a contingency basis, and if he or she brings a case, collects something, and then collects his fee??

I had mentioned on this board a few times that my wife's sister was killed by a major oil company truck going through a red light, confirmed by the truck driver himself and witnesses. Yet, after seeing 2 dozen lawyers who didn't want to handle the case, a retired lawyer finally took it up to "have something to do", the logic being that his mortgage is paid, his kids graduated college, and whether he collects the fee or not, is not a big issue. Other lawyers, with bills to pay, kids to put through college, cannot fight this oil company, and spend years collecting "zero".

This particular oil company had a reputation for never settling, and drags casses through the courts for years and years, and lawyers know this. Took this guy 6 to 8 years for his payday.

Are lawyers not taking this case here acceptable?? I don't know. Are they required to take cases where they know they are not going to get paid fees?? No.

I beleive if you think you have a case, despite what everyone tells you, then keep talking to attorneys. You might find one doing it "pro bono", or in many cases, people go to small claims handling cases themselves, for the simple reason that lawyers will not take the case.

[purplebarbi]

Thank you, and I will