[crystalrose86]

In December of 2003, while driving, I got into a car accident. My back tires hit a patch of ice, and I swerved into the oncoming traffic, so I reacted quickly and wound up jumping a curb, sliding across a fence, and then the car stopped. The fence (chain link) had some minor damage, and my car was scratched a lot, but still driveable.

As my luck (or lack thereof) would have it, a police officer happened to drive by minutes after the accident. She wrote me a ticket for improper left turn (it was NOT at an intersection), so I fought that ticket and won.

The city in which the accident happened sent me a bill for the fence, but on it, the quoted a $500 fee for an electrical pole and wires that were downed... Clearly, since I drove the car home that night, and neither me or my passengers were injured I did not do major damage to a pole. Plus, I would remember smashing into a pole.

Long story short, I made several attempts to contact someone at the city to discuss my discrepancy with the bill, but no one ever returned my calls. The only correspondence I received were a few more letters, and then finally a letter from a collection agency. The agency also hand delivered "court papers" to my house. I may not know much about law, but I do know if those papers were legit it would have had to be sent by registered mail.

It's now almost 3 years later, and again the collection agency is calling.

I'm curious if there is a statute of limitations regarding damage to city property, and if so how long is it? Also, I'm curious to if the fact that I was not legally an adult at the time of the accident is relevant?

Thanks so much,
Crystal

[excon]

I may not know much about law, but I do know if those papers were legit it would have had to be sent by registered mail.

Hello crystal:

Actually, having the papers served personally IS a proper way to obtain legal service. You were probably sued, and a default judgment was entered into against you. With judgment in hand, this collection agency can attach your bank account and garnish your wages.

Or, maybe you don't have any of those, so that's why they're calling to see if they can shake a few dollars out of you. What are they telling you?

excon