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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Friend Knowingly Slammed the Gas While I Was Half Way Into Her Car

    Four weeks ago I was out with a friend. We got into a verbal argument on the way home (she was driving,) and I got out of her car near my house. I'd left stuff in the back seat, and as I was getting it I saw how much the argument had affected her and tried to sit, saying "oh my god... I can't let you leave like this..." She slammed the gas at that exact moment and I went flying from the car, into the street. My phone got banged up but still works, and I got bruised pretty badly around the arms, but only had a small cut on one elbow. The rest of the damage was psychological. I was shocked and not myself for days, but because I felt guilty about the argument -- I'd basically started it -- I didn't really do anything about it or even think along legal lines.

    However, when my father found out about this he got angry. The family situation for the ensuing weeks was miserable. But I pretty much got him to accept that I wasn't going to do anything about this.

    Well, the person who did this eventually sent me an e-mail to the effect of "I drove off in anger, and that wasn't the right thing to do. But I was justified because of how much you insulted me." That attitude hurt, but it also worried me. I have known her for many years, so the last thing in the world I expected was that this person would put me at serious risk of physical injury and then think I deserved it just because I said things that made her feel insulted, and I suspect the legal system would agree that knowingly putting someone in harms way is different from saying mean things to them. I have a very bad back and I might have ended up bed ridden for months if it had worsened the injury, or if a car had sped around the corner, which they often do on the particular street where it happened, or if my arm had caught the ground improperly and broken.

    Plus, I've been a psychological wreck since then. I'm having a lot of trouble trusting people, and on several occasions getting into cars I've remembered and felt anxious. Moreover, conversations with other friends have caused me to really start to wonder why I spent so much time defending her.

    I don't know if there were witnesses, as it happened at night. But it's already been a month. What my question is is: what could I still do now, if I were to pursue legal options, and what SHOULD I have done immediately after the incident happened, for future reference?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    20,594

    Default Re: Friend Knowingly Slammed the Gas While I Was Half Way Into Her Car

    If you feel you have been damaged, you can consult an attorney, see some professionals who will support your claim of long term injury, and sue your friend.

    You do not mention your state, but it is possible that there might be a criminal charge that can be applied here, though I suspect that this will be more o fa civil issue than a crime. Reckless driving with injury comes to mind, but that would really depend upon the statements of the driver, too. There may be another side of the story.

    Your first step if you want to sue her might be to speak with an attorney. And if you do sue her, does she have enough money to pay for any damages?

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