I had my big day in court. I showed up about 15 minutes early for my 10:00am court date, and had to wait until about 12:30 to be seen.
I was counter-sued by the defendant for damages to her car, which I had little worry about paying. On that count, I won.
As far as the bike, I did not win.
After going back and forth for over thirty minutes, the Judge said that the driver who hit me was 50% liable for the damage as she should have been paying better attention. He also said I was 50% liable for entering the street in a dangerous manner that led to the accident. As we were equally at fault, according to the Judge, both of our claims are dismissed.
So, I lost $31 for a filing fee. It was worth it to know what would have happened. I also had a life experience. I presented a case in a court of law. I hope I do not have to do so again. If so, I will be better prepared for what to expect.
