JUSTICE: Not in this crash

So, you’re driving along and a man hits you, damaging the left side of your car. You are quite shook up. You exchange insurance info and ask him if he is going to call his insurance and the police. He says “Yes.” You go next door to your destination and wait.

After about 45 minutes, you start feeling pain and dizziness as the shock wears off. You go to your doctor. After examination and treatment, you call the police and wait for them. The Sheriff’s deputy arrives and begins yelling at you for leaving the scene and not notifying them. He takes pictures of your car and gives you a citation, which is a misdemeanor. The man, who says he had simply not been looking and admits he is to blame, does NOT get a citation.

You go to court. The prosecutor offers you a $1,000 fine and two days jail time. You feel you should NOT go to jail for being the victim. You plead “Not guilty” get a trial by jury date. You will have to now pay $1,500 for a lawyer, while the man who hits you gets NO CONSEQUENCES!

Since then you have had 15 chiropractic treatments and your car had a $3,700 repair bill. I used to have great respect for our police and justice system. I have now lost that faith. When the victim is punished and the driver at fault is not, there is something seriously wrong. BEWARE VICTIMS! IS THIS JUSTICE?

SUSAN KIRK

Rathdrum