Grandpa,
If you publish this letter, do not use my name! Under that condition, I will be up front. I need a way to convince a (person) who owes me money to pay up. I was in a car accident with an uninsured motorist. I was backing out of a parking spot and tapped this other car when it was moving behind me. It was on-street parking, but the other car was going slow. Well, to make a long story short, this (driver) did not have insurance. That means even though I hit that car, it is still legally the other driver’s fault. And I let the driver know that. (Other) asked me to not call the police in order to avoid a ticket for driving without insurance. We exchanged information and I agreed to “settle out of court” if that person would pay me enough to get my car fixed. I figured I could use the money for other bills because my car was not damaged badly. Well, as you can guess, it has been (some) weeks and I have not seen a dime. If I make a police report now, there will be questions that I don’t want to have to answer. Nor do I want that person to make an insurance claim against me. After all, I am the one who actually hit the other car. There are lots of reasons to just not go to court. But I want my money. If I sue in small claims court, how do you think this would turn out?
Grandpa says: You obviously don’t read this column often, or you would know I do not use names. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Grandpa. I believe you have me confused with my contemporary, Judge Judy. I do not practice law. I practice morality. Granted, the two have many common threads.
You are a fool. You entered into an agreement with another fool to avoid both legal and moral obligations. Your hands are not clean so you would not win a civil suit. You opted to try to screw over someone and got nailed. If the other driver does not pay for insurance, do you really expect them to pay you? On a verbal, unwitnessed, conversation?
By the way, lack of insurance does not automatically make the other driver at fault. It is a separate issue from fault in a collision. You committed an error and chose to commit a crime to cover it up. Not smart. Next time think with your head, not your wallet.
Grandpa says: Beloved readers, Grandpa has a tradition for this time of year. I ask you, my dear readers, to send to me a short note telling me what blessing you have for which you are grateful. The Thursday before Thanksgiving I will publish those letters. This year the letters will be published November 15. That means I will need to receive them before November 1. Please send your letters to the address below. I look forward to hearing from you! God Bless!
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, 314 N. Lake Street, Suite 2, Aurora, IL 60506 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.