My undocumented friend was in an accident and can't find an attorney

[teach1st]

The father of two former students was in an accident (not his fault), but he doesn't have a driver's license. He does have insurance. The police officers at the accident said they will send somebody to the hospital to talk with him. The family can't find an attorney - everybody seems shut down for Christmas. (The father does have an immigration attorney, but she's away for Christmas.)

Any advice for how this man should talk with the police? What should he say and not say?

This is Florida. Thanks!

[rzemanfl]

1. He should say he wants an attorney and say nothing IMO. n/t

[teach1st]

2. Thanks, rzemanfl!

[elleng]

5. RIGHT!

Say NOTHING.

[Motley13]

3. I don't have an answer, but what country is your friend from?

Florida favors Cubans, Haitians, not so much

[teach1st]

4. He's not from either.

From what I know, our local police are pretty fair. This family is from Mexico.

[Lochloosa]

6. Morgan and Morgan 24 hour hotline

They are personal injury but will find an attorney.

[teach1st]

7. We'll give it a try

Thanks!

[Motley13]

8. I didn't think you could get insurace w/o a valid drivers license

[Hassin Bin Sober]

16. I had a guy work for me about a year ago. He was on a green card but the rest of his family..

... was basically undocumented.

There are a lot of "fixes" out there for different problems. No questions insurance is one of them. And there are a lot of scams taking advantage of people.

Being undocumented, even in a "sanctuary city" like Chicago, is no picnic.

[More_Cowbell]

9. In general, car insurance follows the car, not the driver n/t

[marble falls]

10. My attorney tells me always to say nothing in a polite way to the police and to refer them to her.

[teach1st]

11. I've texted my former student that advice

She'll be doing the translation with police, I assume, and the problem is that she can be timid and easily intimidated.

[Skittles]

12. tell him not to say anything until he has counsel

it's his right to do that (at least it still is for now)

[teach1st]

13. Update

The police visited my friend in the hospital and issued a citation for no valid license. They didn't ask about citizenship, but they did remind him that they could have arrested him for NVDL, but didn't want to (all according to my 18-year-old former student).

DU is such a cool place. Where else can you get this many responses to a legal issue on Christmas Eve? Thanks, everybody!

PS: My friend and his other daughter (my other former student) are being released and are sore, but fine.

[Motley13]

18. So glad to hear that

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. Feign unconsciousness or extreme fatigue.

Talk to my attorney.

[teach1st]

15. And now I get to editorialize

I've known this family for fifteen years, as I've had their son and both their daughters in my class, and the children were raised wonderfully. The family love this country and its ideals; both the mom and the dad work two jobs, but never missed a school event or parent conference; and they own their home. These are the kind of people we need more of. It's such a shame that they have to worry about deportation. It's a fucking shame that people characterize them as anything but great citizens.

[awesomerwb1]

17. Nice story, glad it's working out ok

I'm sure your friends are awesome people, and tthey're also lucky to have someone like you as a friend.

[Motley13]

20. the human story, something our dear leader does not understand

[IluvPitties]

19. What part of FL?

[teach1st]

21. Tampa Bay area