18 wheel side-swipe on highway Investigation?

[Timothy]

I was side-swiped by an 18 wheel truck and as soon as I gained my lane composure, (quite a toss even in an SUV), I was on the phone with the State Police.
They wished for a vehicle description and what ocurred. I then gave the plate of the offending trailer...as best as I could but it appears I was right with one extra number written down on my initial copy.
I would not have been able to get anything but the dispatcher had me accelerate, was stating my current speed & location, I had to push my SUV from 65+ to almost 90 to get a visual.
He kindly tapped the brakes and the two accelerated even faster than they were going.

I had to state to the dispatcher if this is not the correct plate, it will have to do as I can not justify this or any increase in my speed. I continued in the same direction I-95 S/B. Dispatcher was on the line (speaker phone), and stated a trooper has that truck stopped, (10 exits down the road) as I was exiting at 51.

She had him stopped at the exit 42 off ramp. I was maintaining my speed of 65 until I exited the highway. Does that distance say anything about speed and after seeing one truck and seeing another (the C/C), do anything to further investigate my claim?

I kindly asked the trooper if considering she walked along side the truck, and now mine is here and you know which side the impact occurred on, that doesn't prompt a closer look?

I would not want to be in traffic or I would have taken pictures from almost every angle and every inch of the truck, as he did to mine, (because his company insurance requires it. ) Doesn't every?

I could have easily requested a close examination of the truck in a lot, and if she wasn't in the hurry to use the facilities I would have. I still don't believe that calls for any incorrect statements, any things affected and needing replacement, but not mentioned, on my copy of her investigation.

I appreciate any responses and please do not take this in any way, shape or form as any type of disrespect.
I am fully aware that this is not major, but the damage she listed is minimal and makes it seem as I am missing which of the two trucks together it was, I burn transmissions up to pull plates from thin air. "There's no indications & he has no idea" - I asked how this truck was stopped. (plates).

Insurance wise and legally speaking, I would only like to see this looked into "better" since they know everything on my truck's side,will need to be replaced from my pocket.

I don't expect things to be fair, but maybe more justice..(a tape roll at least to measure and even glance if that could come from my truck's contact with his vehicle?)

Thanks

[cntryboy0531]

I'll be completely honest, I don't understand your question(s). What exactly are you looking for?

[Timothy]

I think everyone may very well have me on ignore now, but mind you one of the two 10+ year on the job officers thought it was a joke. Regardless of what happened, he couldn't believe they would let a copy of something like that be turned to the public.

Please keep in mind those are another officer's thoughts but I guess I have to agree with one thing and to quote..."There's no entry level spelling test at the academy but we have to deal with their B.S."

cntryboy0531.... I was looking for someone to tell me that if you have 3 officers on a scene it would only make sense to see if you can find a point of impact after seeing a vehicle you had drive another 10 exits for nothing but someone else to take pictures.

I was also hoping we can all share with the public how, when the damage is more than your deductible we might actually allow both parties involved to take pictures of the incident.

Should one individual not be allowed the same rights as the next?

Should the report include everything that will need to be replaced out of pocket since she said and this is a direct quote "I need to pee and we are done here, he needs to deliver his load".

(Maybe the speed and reckless in the first place?)

Was I not being nice to her considering the 5 restaurants around and two other fully capable troopers?

I do not believe one here can actually tell me I had no right to see if there was any damage the (C/C)?, could easily match with his vehicle while we are there.

It would be a long shot, but do I have a right to do it in a safe area? ( if she did the side in question, I am surprised there were no traffic accidents)

The not allowing me makes the whole thing pointless, this in any way has to be seen as one-sided.

And not for the victim with the side of the neglected items on the report that, never mentioned and will have to pay even more and the next 18 wheel accident in CT, maybe it was this very driver allowed to leave with no tickets.

I understand this is a "Police Forum" but the MPH he (the truck driver), doesn't raise a red flag with how much distance he got compared with someone going the speed limit?


Let's not forget, innocent drivers don't typically temporarily brake and then speed up following an impact.

I can only hope I made things clearer...these may be one sided statements but she essentially contradicted herself. Person A gets to have some fun lying. Then person B who tells the truth, and any officer who looks me dead in the face would know, well that person gets quickly dismissed for the bathroom.

It all seems so simple

[PapaBear]

I am going to state that you mention the incident was a sideswipe collision. Typically, that type of accident leaves very little evidence as to where the point or area of collision may have take place. Your speed, the distance traveled and the time involved may be sufficient in your mind to determine certain factors; but, the fact remains, this was a property damage accident only.

There were no injuries or fatalities; ergo: the information documented is based on your statement - which is biased - and the statement of the truck driver - which is biased - with no independant, uninvolved witnesses. In such a case, the officer(s) will do very little more than document the allegation that you were sideswiped and which vehicle you identified as having made contact with you. Beyond that, an in-depth investigation, such as what you are seeking, is beyond reality. There will likely be no prosecution for any act of the commercial driver.

At 60 feet long and 50,000# it is far unlikely that he was even aware of the contact between your vehicle and his. This is simply one of those cases where you refer all information to your insurance company and/or an attorney to recoup your losses.

I know full well that you want some kind of justice or service beyond what you are getting, but everything is not as cut and dried as you see on television or in the movies. Incidents are prioritized and yours appears to be a low priority documentation.

If this answer is not satisfactory, I suggest you make a written, formal complaint to the investigative agency; because, we are certainly not going to second guess the officers who were involved. They were there, we were not.

Good luck to you!

[Cat_Doc]

Mind you blind spot is good not your location 18 wheeler lane next! Quickly, safely but, move blind spot out position when in.

[Timothy]

PapaBear - I am going to take the fact that usually anyone reading a initial report of
car vs semi is not the person listed on the report.
Life is precious and this doesn't seem fightworthy.

Thank you

[mcsap]

This is a " he said-he said" type of claim. A 80,000 lb truck with a some trailer swing is not going to always result in an impact that the driver will feel. You of course will feel the shot. Your request for the police to investigate was done. The apparent fact that it was not done to your liking is understandable.

Our job is not to make you happy it is however to do the best job we can. If you are dissatisified with how the incident was handled, you have the opportunity to file a complaint with the troopers superior. But if you do so, have someone else read it first as it was VERY diffilcult for me ( with over 24 yrs on the job) to understand your story. And maybe that is why you got the repsone-reaction that you received along side of the road.

Credibility is important.

[Cat_Doc]

And maybe that is why you got the repsone-reaction that you received along side of the road.

Do you think he might talk like he writes?

[Timothy]

Do you think he might talk like he writes?

After my explanation to the forum Cat Doc, I can only shake my head at your ignorance. ADD & Bi-lingual, now with your years on the job is part of that not a basic understanding of people or you the type to have a bad day and take it out where you can?

Read back over what you wrote, as a moderator no less, and tell me that is called for in any form of honesty. Misguided, perhaps as I said what?

As a moderator maybe a "beating a dead horse thread" should be closed and anything after my last comment should be dropped?

[Curt581]

After my explanation to the forum Cat Doc, I can only shake my head at your ignorance. ADD & Bi-lingual, now with your years on the job is part of that not a basic understanding of people or you the type to have a bad day and take it out where you can?

Read back over what you wrote, as a moderator no less, and tell me that is called for in any form of honesty. Misguided, perhaps as I said what?

As a moderator maybe a "beating a dead horse thread" should be closed and anything after my last comment should be dropped?

Timothy, I've read many of your past posts, and nearly every one was unintelligible. I had no idea what you were trying to say. The first post in this thread was no different. How are we supposed to give a reasonable answer to a question we can't understand?

My own son is ADHD, but he doesn't have any problem putting together an understandable sentence. There are several treatments available for ADHD... maybe you should look into it.

That said, I think you've shown a lot of gall to first criticise how your incident was handled, then ask us if it was done right or not, then complain because you didn't like the answers you were given.

If you don't like the way the officer handled your incident, write a complaint to the agency, don't whine about it to us.

[retdetsgt]

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Trucks are always a problem.

[mcsap]

I agree to a point. Perhaps your less than best English skills were better....