I can top that one - As an insurance adjuster, I got a message from someone who had pulled out from a business on a corner, crossing the oncoming lane of traffic to go across the intersection - after the light changed. Our insured hit her vehicle - which was NOT supposed to be making a turn due to their light having gone green & her crossing more than one lane of traffic to get to "her" lane.
The driver and passengers in "our" insured's vehicle ended up in the hospital, their vehicle was totaled, and HER insurance paid for it all.
But our insurance OWED her money because they hit her car and she needed it fixed.......she was on her third lawyer trying to file against the company for damages (state notorious for insurance fraud) and every lawyer dropped her in a New York minute after they got a look at the police report citing her for crossing illegally after the light changed, etc. But apparently she would go to the next lawyer to give him "her version of what really happened" and how that reckless couple drove too fast through the light and hit her car....because there would be another lawyer trying to "help" her with her lawsuit & damages./quote
Years ago, I worked as a school crossing guard. One morning I was talking with a student who needed to cross as we waited for traffic to clear when we heard *SCREECH* CRUNCH!! A pickup truck had rear-ended a car right at the corner where we were standing. The drivers moved their vehicles into an adjacent parking lot to exchange information. Later that day when I was working my afternoon shift, the driver of the pickup truck stopped by to ask me a few questions about what I saw of the accident and to get my contact information in case my statement might be needed as a witness. However, I never heard anything else from him -- until...
About six months later, I got a frantic phone call one morning just as I was leaving for my shift. It was the pickup truck driver. He was being taken to small claims court later that day by the driver of the car for damages. The car's driver was claiming that he had been forced to stop suddenly because I stepped out into traffic unexpectedly to allow a student to cross. The pickup truck driver disputed his claim (and so did I). So, since I was available during the time of the hearing, I agreed to appear.
We got to court and I was called up as the pickup truck driver's witness. I reported what I had seen, and answered a few questions from the judge. If I remember correctly, the driver of the car only presented information on the damages to his car. After both sides had presented their cases, the judge asked a few more questions to clarify matters. Things were going well until he asked the driver of the car, "So you need this money because your insurance company refused to pay to repair your car?"
"Oh, no, the insurance company paid for everything. My car is in great shape."
The judge almost yelled at him in amazement, "Then why did you file this claim?!"
The car's driver said, "I just wanted to see if I could get some more money."
The judge threatened the driver with contempt if he didn't leave immediately and said he'd better never waste the court's time like that again.
