Are Americans Sue-Happy or What??

[Amy]

I just found this online; sorry if it's already been posted:

Man Sues After Hitting His Own Car

LODI, Calif. -- Curtis Gokey has only himself to blame for an accident, but he sued anyway.

Gokey is suing the city of Lodi for driving a dump truck into his car. The only thing is, he was the city employee driving the truck.

Gokey was driving the truck when he backed into his own car. He filed a $3,600 claim for damages, which the city rejected.

City attorneys said Gokey was essentially suing himself.

Now, Gokey's wife is filing a claim in her own name, saying she's the one who uses the car. The city has rejected her claim, too. But Rhonda Gokey isn't giving up so easily. She said she's not as nice as her husband. She insisted she has "the right to sue the city because a city's vehicle damaged my private vehicle."

Rhonda Gokey's claim is for $1,200 more than Curtis'.​

Unbelievable! When will people start taking responsibility for their own actions?

 

[phorsenuf]

I just found this online; sorry if it's already been posted:

Man Sues After Hitting His Own Car

LODI, Calif. -- Curtis Gokey has only himself to blame for an accident, but he sued anyway.

Gokey is suing the city of Lodi for driving a dump truck into his car. The only thing is, he was the city employee driving the truck.

Gokey was driving the truck when he backed into his own car. He filed a $3,600 claim for damages, which the city rejected.

City attorneys said Gokey was essentially suing himself.

Now, Gokey's wife is filing a claim in her own name, saying she's the one who uses the car. The city has rejected her claim, too. But Rhonda Gokey isn't giving up so easily. She said she's not as nice as her husband. She insisted she has "the right to sue the city because a city's vehicle damaged my private vehicle."

Rhonda Gokey's claim is for $1,200 more than Curtis'.​

Unbelievable! When will people start taking responsibility for their own actions?

I'm confused. Are they actually suing for compensation or just wanting the city's Insurance company to pay for the damage?

 

[DawnCt1]

Vehicles are insured for the driver behind the wheel. His insurance company will probably not pay for the damages to his car, even though he probably has collision, comprehensive, etc. The vehicle who hit him and who was negligent causing the damage is responsible for the claim. Coincidentally he just happens to be both the driver and the "victim". He may have no choice but to pay it out of pocket if he doesn't sue for the damages to his car. How many of you would pay a claim of that size if you had insurance, even if you were the cause of the accident?

 

[Amy]

I don't know - I just think it's crazy that HE drove the truck into HIS car and he's suing to get somebody else to pay the damages! Yes, it's a lot of money, but c'mon. That's like burning your own house down to get the insurance money!

 

[Beth76]

Looks like someone is jonesing for Employee of the Month.

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't know - I just think it's crazy that HE drove the truck into HIS car and he's suing to get somebody else to pay the damages! Yes, it's a lot of money, but c'mon. That's like burning your own house down to get the insurance money!

But what if he drove his car into a tree? Wouldn't his insurance company have to pay? He wasn't driving "his" truck, which was the insured vehicle, he was driving the town's truck. I think that this is an insurance procedural issue that just sounds bizarre.

 

[kristen821]

I think the insurance company would have to pay for damages. If I hit my dh's car my insurance company would pay for it. (I think anyway!) I don't think they should get anything extra but the vehicle that hit his car (even if he was the idiot driving it) should have to pay for the damages that is what insurance is for.