My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Colorado.
This is a total can of worms so please bear with me. These are the details:
I have had ongoing issues with my insurance company as of late. I started my policy by paying in cash for the first month. I then set up a bank account with Chase bank, I gave my insurance company a blank check with all the necessary information to set up automatic payments.
Looking at my bank statements last month, I noticed that they hadn't taken any money out of my account for insurance payments. I contacted them promptly, inquiring about my policy and my payments. They said that they had the wrong account information. My policy had been canceled. I had to pay them more money due to "Non Payment" in order to re-activate my policy. I decided to start looking for a different insurance provider. The reason I haven't received any notices of cancellation by mail being I recently moved into an apartment. I should have notified them of my address change, but they also have my email address and my phone number...
Meanwhile, I was driving to and from work (work is about two miles one way) for roughly two weeks knowingly uninsured. My daily driver is a large work truck, it gets bad fuel mileage so I don't drive it unless I have to.
On the 30th of October I made the stupid decision to drive to a nearby town uninsured. I was following my girlfriend in her car. She wanted to drink and spend the night at her friend's house after we went out to dinner. I had to work the next morning, so my plan was to drive home and sleep. I was already tired before we went to dinner, so I was really exhausted and ready to just go to bed on the drive home. This impaired my ability to drive.
A block away from my house, I ran a yellow light at an intersection going north. A southbound driver turned left as the light turned red. I entered the intersection as the light turned red. I smashed into this car going about 30. Officers were there literally as it happened. There was a sheriff at the same intersection heading west, but a few cars back from the light. He witnessed the accident.
I'm screwed for the insurance thing. I already got a ticket and a court date for being uninsured, for running a red light, and for not wearing a seatbelt. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.
What concerns me is that I am totally at fault. The other party wasn't even charged with running the red light (I contacted the police department and they told me this). I know that I'll end up paying for everything unless I file a hardship claim (I don't make much and I really don't have any assets, I'm 19). The other thing that concerns me is the court hearing for the accident. It's been over a week and I haven't received any notifications for the hearing that should be happening soon. I'm guessing that it was also sent to my previous address if any notifications were even sent yet. If they make a judgement to collect any debt without notifying me, that could throw the case out or at least give me a chance to fight it...
Oh and just an extra little tidbit, the car I hit wasn't cheap. The damage would cost around $6000 to repair. The driver and three passengers refused medical treatment.
So what is my best course of action when I finally do go to civil court for this? Seek an attorney? File a hardship claim or formally contest any lawsuit or wage garnishment? Try to negotiate a payment plan? Like I mentioned, I'm only 19 years old. I'm not well off. I really don't have much for savings. I have no assets. I'm an apprentice carpenter, I make less than $13 an hour. I pay rent and my girlfriend lives with me.
This is a total can of worms so please bear with me. These are the details:
I have had ongoing issues with my insurance company as of late. I started my policy by paying in cash for the first month. I then set up a bank account with Chase bank, I gave my insurance company a blank check with all the necessary information to set up automatic payments.
Looking at my bank statements last month, I noticed that they hadn't taken any money out of my account for insurance payments. I contacted them promptly, inquiring about my policy and my payments. They said that they had the wrong account information. My policy had been canceled. I had to pay them more money due to "Non Payment" in order to re-activate my policy. I decided to start looking for a different insurance provider. The reason I haven't received any notices of cancellation by mail being I recently moved into an apartment. I should have notified them of my address change, but they also have my email address and my phone number...
Meanwhile, I was driving to and from work (work is about two miles one way) for roughly two weeks knowingly uninsured. My daily driver is a large work truck, it gets bad fuel mileage so I don't drive it unless I have to.
On the 30th of October I made the stupid decision to drive to a nearby town uninsured. I was following my girlfriend in her car. She wanted to drink and spend the night at her friend's house after we went out to dinner. I had to work the next morning, so my plan was to drive home and sleep. I was already tired before we went to dinner, so I was really exhausted and ready to just go to bed on the drive home. This impaired my ability to drive.
A block away from my house, I ran a yellow light at an intersection going north. A southbound driver turned left as the light turned red. I entered the intersection as the light turned red. I smashed into this car going about 30. Officers were there literally as it happened. There was a sheriff at the same intersection heading west, but a few cars back from the light. He witnessed the accident.
I'm screwed for the insurance thing. I already got a ticket and a court date for being uninsured, for running a red light, and for not wearing a seatbelt. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.
What concerns me is that I am totally at fault. The other party wasn't even charged with running the red light (I contacted the police department and they told me this). I know that I'll end up paying for everything unless I file a hardship claim (I don't make much and I really don't have any assets, I'm 19). The other thing that concerns me is the court hearing for the accident. It's been over a week and I haven't received any notifications for the hearing that should be happening soon. I'm guessing that it was also sent to my previous address if any notifications were even sent yet. If they make a judgement to collect any debt without notifying me, that could throw the case out or at least give me a chance to fight it...
Oh and just an extra little tidbit, the car I hit wasn't cheap. The damage would cost around $6000 to repair. The driver and three passengers refused medical treatment.
So what is my best course of action when I finally do go to civil court for this? Seek an attorney? File a hardship claim or formally contest any lawsuit or wage garnishment? Try to negotiate a payment plan? Like I mentioned, I'm only 19 years old. I'm not well off. I really don't have much for savings. I have no assets. I'm an apprentice carpenter, I make less than $13 an hour. I pay rent and my girlfriend lives with me.
Collection Lawsuits: Auto Accident, Judgement Being Made
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